What Can Christian Parents Do?
This isn’t about attacking public school teachers. Many are Christians themselves, doing their best within a system they didn’t design. And this isn’t about shaming families who can’t afford private school or don’t have the capacity to homeschool.
But it is about opening our eyes to what’s really happening in our children’s education—and taking responsibility for their spiritual formation.
Here are some practical steps:
1. Don’t Outsource Discipleship
Going to church and youth group is important, but it’s not enough. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 calls parents to talk about God’s truth “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Make spiritual conversations part of everyday life.
2. Engage With What They’re Learning
Ask your kids what they’re studying. When they learn about evolution, the founding of America, or ethical dilemmas, talk through those topics from a Christian perspective. Help them see how a biblical worldview shapes our understanding of everything.
3. Teach Them to Think Critically
Don’t just tell your kids what to think—teach them how to think. Help them identify the worldview assumptions behind what they’re being taught. This equips them to navigate a secular culture with discernment.
4. Consider Your Options Prayerfully
God hasn’t mandated one form of education for all families. Some are called to homeschool. Some will choose Christian schools. Others will keep their kids in public school and be intentional about discipleship at home. What matters is that you make the decision with your eyes open, not assuming any option is neutral.
5. Build Community
Whether your kids are in public school, private school, or homeschooled, connect with other Christian families who share your values. Your children need to see that following Jesus isn’t something they do alone.
The Bottom Line
Secularism isn’t neutral. It’s a worldview that has shaped education, media, ethics, and culture—often in ways we don’t even notice.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be a victim of cultural trends. You can be intentional. You can disciple your children. You can help them see the world through the lens of Scripture, not just the lens of the culture around them.
As Cornelius Van Til wrote, Christian education is about helping our children “see the vision of the all-conquering Christ as he wrests the culture of mankind away from Satan and brings it to its consummation.”
That might sound dramatic. But if we believe Jesus is Lord over all of life—not just our Sunday mornings—then it’s simply the truth.
The question is: are we living like it?
