Several weeks ago when I had my sabbatical, I wrote a few entries about some of the things I was thinking about. If you didn’t read them, they are here, here and here. I know those pieces resonated with several people who wrote to me privately and a few others who left comments. I know that what I wrote probably caused some people to scratch their heads in perplexity because they have not run into those kinds of churches/people/teachings in their experiences.
This article was mentioned by Karen at fromtheprairie. It addresses a lot of what I alluded to in my sabbatical blogging, but from a more scholarly approach. The article is sadly fascinating and all too familiar to me. I think it will be for some of my blog friends as well.
I know there are people who visit my blog who will read this article and find it hard to believe a lot of what is in there. But believe it. What this article discusses is a lot more widespread than you can imagine.
A suggestion: If the article comes up with tiny print (like it did on my computer), copy and paste it into a Word document for easier reading. Taking the time to read this article is worthwhile for everyone because I believe you will eventually come across someone in your church or circle of friends who is thinking about the topics addressed in this article.
My parents know a pastor whose family positive church attracted a number of these type of families until people in the community started to get saved and, *shock, horror*, began to attend the church too. —————————— I grew up home schooled and know most of the names mentioned in the article and have varying degrees of respect for a number of them. It is far easier to turn your back on culture and just do everything differently than to take each issue on a case by case basis and have to humbly ask God for His wisdom all the time. Of course, it is even easier to just go with the flow of culture and not have to make any of these decisions at all. —————————————- It was nice to see that the curriculum that my dh and I have already chosen for our children’s education was mentioned positively. My parents took a similar approach of introducing difficult situations, concepts, and worldviews to us as we were able to handle them, and as such, we were never blown out of the water by the world’s beliefs or reasoning. —————————————– Child training is certainly one of the more difficult tasks that God assigns us in our Christian life. Like so many areas of life it is a tight rope walk; the results are damaging no matter which side you fall off on. May God give us all His Grace today and everyday!!