School Choice: A Cause for Worship, Not War

Considering school choice, I made up my mind years ago about the type of education I wanted for my children. I’ve desired to homeschool since before I had kids. For years, I felt like I had to have a biblically compelling reason for my choice. There are multiple factors my husband and I considered regarding our children’s education, but ultimately, I homeschool because . . . I want to.

I may be a rare breed of Christian, as I attended public school, was homeschooled, and then attended a private school. I worked in education for 9 years in various capacities at a public charter school and a private Christian school in California and two public schools here in Texas.

Due to my work experience, I’m very aware of the division that the school choice conversation has among American Christians. It’s disheartening and ultimately, unnecessary.

Having the ability to choose an education type for our children ought not lead to war, but to worship. God owes us nothing, yet in His kindness, He’s given us everything in Jesus. He is our Wonderful Counselor who gives wisdom to all who ask without reproach (James 1:5), even wisdom for schooling decisions. In addition, He gives us freedom to make different educational choices for our children, and freedom almost always requires wisdom.

Many of us are blessed with an abundance of educational options. While the Bible doesn’t contain the words “school” and “education,” it provides wisdom sufficient for navigating school choice. Not every child is the same, and not every child has the same academic needs. Not every school option is a great fit for each child. Like many morally neutral areas, education is not one size fits all.

Some have used Deuteronomy 6:4-7 as a proof text to justify their school choice. However, these verses are not about education, but spiritual formation. They essentially encourage parents to take every opportunity to teach their kids to love and fear God. These verses don’t provide explicit commands for how this ought to occur, which means there is so much freedom in their application. It’s also helpful to consider that when these verses were originally recorded, many of our modern academic settings didn’t exist.

I am a mom who homeschools, but I don’t refer to myself as a homeschool mom. The term is often accompanied by stereotypes and baggage that I’d rather avoid. I know many moms who love Jesus and don’t homeschool their kids. Some have shared with me how they’ve been hurt by moms who homeschool because they’ve been made to feel less than. Recently reflecting on this made me realize that my righteousness and identity are not in the education choices I’ve made for my children—they’re in Christ and Christ alone. School dress codes vary, but Christians, regardless of school choice, are all robed in Christ’s righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

The gospel isn’t repent and make a specific school choice; it’s “. . . if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” (Romans 10:9). Jesus, not a particular school choice, is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Making a particular school choice doesn’t save us, but being saved frees us to steward school choice wisely. Being wise stewards, we do well to proceed from love, not fear, and to believe the best of brothers and sisters who have different convictions and make different choices than we do.

I know of individuals who were homeschooled for their entire academic careers, and once graduated, pursued sinful living with hearts hard toward God. I also know of individuals who had the same educational experience and love Jesus wholeheartedly. This is revealing. The biggest threat to our kids isn’t outside of them; it’s the sin in their hearts. No school choice we make can save them from this, but Jesus can, and I’m hopeful that He will.