Being "Salt & Light"

But for now, we would not assume that our kids are ready to be missionaries and sent out into the world in order to be "salt and light". These words in Scripture are so misused, if you're applying them to children. I don't mind if you send your kids to public school, but don't give this as the reason! "Salt and Light" are not adjectives about how good or respectful you are. They refer to sold out, devoted, Christ-followers like Paul who could defend his faith in a single sentence...."For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." They are ones who are mature in their faith enough to attract the darkness to them. Jesus hung out with sinners, yes, but he didn't go into their homes, spending 8 hours a day with them. They followed HIM, not the other way around, and even He didn't start speaking out about His Father until He was 12. (If He had, wouldn't it have been recorded?) We couldn't have defended our faith apologetically when we were in elementary school, or even middle school, so why would I expect my kids to? In fact, even as an adult, if I walked into a classroom full of middle schoolers, it would be hard to remember that Jesus' opinion of me is the only thing that matters, and not their opinions. (And believe me, I taught middle school-- they have opinions of everything, and it shows up on their faces!) Children are mentioned several times in Scripture, but not in accordance with the Great Commission. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses tells parents to teach their children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, and gives practical ways of how to do this. All I can say is, when I was working, and my kids were in school all day, this was not happening in our home. We all got home and "vegged" or just didn't make time. If you are able to do all of this, kudos. (And there are families who do...like my sister-in-law, who always seems to have it all together. Don't ask me how.) Then there was little David, who had the faith to kill a giant, yes, but didn't even he go back to shepherding until he was grown? When Jesus told the disciples to let the children come to Him, wasn't it just to spend time with them and love on them? I don't believe that a classroom full of other children of the exact same age is a relevant application to sending little "Christians" into the "real world". This to me, is an argument that will only be answered with more searching of God's Word, open-hearted prayer over the decision and waiting on God, because He knows us better than we know ourselves, our children, or what life is going to bring. He has my family homeschooling because we are called to do it. It works for us.