A Few More Bible Verse Pop Ups Would Have Been Nice

Below you will find three posts from the Gospel Coalition website. Each post is written by a mother who gives justification for how her family has chosen to educate her children.

Here is Mrs. Jen Wilkin on why her family chose public school.

Next is Mrs. Jenni Hamm on why her family chose private school.

Finally, we have Mrs. Amanda Allen on why her family chose to homeschool.

Here is a warm, friendly dialogue between Christian mothers on why they chose a particular option to educate their children. There is no animosity. There is not even any debate. Each family gives their personal reasons why they did what they did. They all emphasize that other families can make other choices and be fine. They wanted to make sure they don't demean the other two choices. They all point out that they are honoring God, but the other families are as well.

What are we to make of this? The articles were not all bad. They all gave some good food for thought. However, I found that in the end they left a bad taste in my mouth. So what didn't I like about the articles? They are entirely pragmatic. Each family chose what works for them. The families' decisions are not rooted in Scripture, at least not in the articles. There is one passing reference to God's Word in Mrs. Wilkin's article, but it is quickly swept under the rug by saying any option can fulfill Ephesians 6:4. So the education of our children is basically like choosing a car or a house. Pick the one that best fits your lifestyle and budget. We all end up in the same place anyway. What we have in these articles are not three different perspectives. We have one perspective, do what works best for you, with three different applications.

We are Christians. The Bible is the foundation for what we do. Explain to me how your decision is Biblical. I don't want to know if it worked for you. I want to know if God commanded it. The Bible often requires us to do things that "don't work." Explain to me why you chose to make your decision pragmatically (cost/curriculum/time with one another) when often the Bible requires us to do what is not immediately beneficial. When it comes to children, including educating them, the Bible is not silent. How did all the verses on children inform your decision? While these ladies may disagree on what the Bible says, at least act like what it says matters.  I am not asking for a dissertation, but a few more Bible verse pop ups would have been nice.