Homeschooling and Apologetics

By SES Alumnus Josh Erlien,

Danny was a religious kid and active in his church. But he began to be troubled by something. Let me tell it to you in his own words.

I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the universe. I remember saying to a minister, “I don’t get it. I read a book that said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?” Unfortunately, the response I got was, “Nice boys don’t ask that question.” A light went off, and I said, “The Bible doesn’t make sense. Science makes much more sense to me.” And I just gravitated away from religion. [1]

This is the story of Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code. The bad news is that this is not an unfamiliar story. Most Christian young people will “gravitate away from religion.” Young Danny’s question was a watershed moment in his life.
It went unanswered, so the question became doubt, and doubt became skepticism. We need to take seriously the questions and objections that our children are faced with. It is dangerous to ignore them.

The good news is that you are in a great position to equip your children with the tools they need. Homeschooling gives you the unique opportunity to shape the worldview of your child. Every educational option is shaping the worldview of your child. Often these educational options are competing with you in the worldview training process. Darwinian science is accepted without critical review and even credible dissent is banned from the coursework. The social revolution of LGBT activists is part of even elementary education. The Bible is dismissed as being unsophisticated and backward. Parents are undermined and their worldview is attacked. With homeschooling, you can ensure that your child hears every side of an issue and has learned how to think clearly about himself, the world, and God. You can teach him how to think and not just what to think.

A few years ago, a friend was relating to us how God had opened her heart to apologetics (the art and science of giving an answer). She said, “Just last week, my son came to me and said, ‘Mom… Why can’t Buddhism be true?’” As parents, we might be tempted to stiffen. We might have thoughts of shaved heads and orange robes and a rejection of the gospel. Maybe we might even say, “nice boys don’t ask those questions,” or something similar.

Instead of panicking, take it as a teaching opportunity. We don’t have to be an expert on Buddhism. We might ask a question like this:
“Well, Johnny, some forms of Buddhism say that there is no God. Christianity says that there is a God. Can there be a God and not be a God at the same time?”
Even little Johnny knows that they can’t both be true. So, if Christianity is true then Buddhism must be false. Not only have we answered Johnny’s question, but we also taught him how to answer a lot of questions. Applying the Law of Non-contradiction to religious questions will serve him well through life.

Whether we choose to homeschool or not, when we see a need in our children’s lives, we seek to answer that need. Your children need to think well about Math and Science. But they also need to think well about God and the World. Worldview questions are watershed moments for our children. Questions ignored or disregarded can turn into doubt and lifelong skepticism. Honest questions asked and answered can solidify faith and fill a child with courage and joy in believing. You can help them and we can help you.

Start the conversation now. SES has the people and resources to equip you and your children. As a graduate of SES, I can tell you first hand that SES is committed to making a difference in the lives of God’s people. I use the training I received in my homeschooling, as Director of a Ratio Christi college apologetics ministry at UNC Charlotte, and in the Worldview classes for homeschool students that I offer at the SES campus. What are the next steps for you? Southern Evangelical Seminary can help.

Beginner Training: Mobile App |  The National Conference on Christian Apologetics.  | Lay Institute

Intermediate Training: Certificates

Advanced Training: Degrees 

Ministry for your community: TEAM

1. http://parade.com/106060/jameskaplan/13-dan-brown-life-after-da-vinci-code/ Accessed 1/14/16