Legitimacy of Homeschooling in Christian Education
Christian education, whether in a formal school setting or at home, is understood by many traditions as a fundamental aspect of discipleship, rooted in the belief that human beings possess both an intellectual and a religious nature [3]. Neglecting the religious dimension in education would be considered unreasonable [3]. The concept of "nurture and admonition" in Christian education is seen as something Christ exercises through His word and Spirit, influencing and controlling the parent as His instrument [3].
The responsibility for educating children, particularly in matters of faith, primarily rests with parents. Thomas Aquinas, for instance, states that parents, by their very nature, have the care of their children [7]. This implies that parents should not abandon this responsibility, even for religious pursuits, without making provisions for their children's care [7]. The Presbyterian tradition, as reflected in the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Titus 2:12, emphasizes that God's grace disciplines believers, much like children need discipline, teaching them to deny ungodliness and live righteously [6].
While the sources do not directly address "homeschooling" as a distinct modern practice, they provide principles that inform its legitimacy within Christian thought. Charles Hodge, a prominent Old Princeton theologian, argued that if the state assumes the function of education, it is bound in a Christian country to conduct schools on Christian principles [2]. He contended that for the state to prohibit religious instruction in public schools would effectively make them "infidel" in deference to a minority [5]. Hodge also asserted that the "Christian people of a country are the Church of that country," and since schools belong to the people, they should reflect Christian values [1]. This perspective suggests a strong preference for Christian-informed education, whether provided by the state or by parents.
The broader theological framework emphasizes the importance of Christian formation from a young age. John Calvin noted that even before effectual calling, children can be "trained to bear the yoke of righteousness" through tuition, preparing them for future spiritual discipline [4]. This underscores the value of early religious instruction and moral guidance. The idea that parents are instruments through whom Christ exercises nurture and admonition [3] provides a theological basis for parental involvement in their children's education, including the option of homeschooling.
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: its primary schools. If that be irreligious (in the negative sense, if in this case there be such a sense), their whole training is irreligious. 2. It is to be remembered that the Christian people of a country are the Church of that country. The Christians of Antioch were the Church of Antioch, and the Christians of Rome were the Church of Rome. In like manner the Christians in the United are the Church in the United States. As therefore the 354 schools belong to the people, as they are their organs for the education of their children; if”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: a state, composed of Christians, must be governed by Christianity, so far as its spirit and precepts apply to matters of civil government. If therefore the state assumes that the education of the people is one of its functions, it is bound in a Christian country, — a country in which ninety hundredths of the population consist of Christians, — to conduct the schools on Christian principles, otherwise it tramples on the most sacred rights of the people. This the people never will submit to, until they lose all interest in their religion. N”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: that is, not only such as Christ approves and enjoins, but which is truly his, 353 i.e ., that which He exercises by his word and Spirit through the parent as his organ. “Christ is represented as exercising this nurture and admonition, in so far as He by his Spirit influences and controls the parent.” 322 322 Meyer, Commentary in loco. According to the Apostle, this religious or Christian element is essential in the education of the young. Man has a religious as well as an intellectual nature. To neglect the former would be as unreasonabl”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 43: this tuition is not without its use, even to the children of God, who, previous to their effectual calling, being destitute of the Spirit of holiness, freely indulge the lusts of the flesh. When, by the fear of Divine vengeance, they are deterred from open outbreakings, though, from not being subdued in mind, they profit little at present, still they are in some measure trained to bear the yoke of righteousness, so that when they are called, they are not like mere novices, studying a discipline of which previously they had no knowl”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: far better to refer the matter to the people of each school district, than by a general law to prohibit all religious instruction from the public schools. This would, in fact, be to make them infidel, in deference to a numerically insignificant minority of the people. It is constantly said that the state, if it provides for anything more than secular education, is travelling out of its sphere; that civil government is no more organized to teach religion than a fire company is. This latter assertion may be admitted so far as this, that the”
- Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:12: Teaching--Greek, "disciplining us." Grace exercises discipline, and is imparted in connection with disciplining chastisements (Co1 11:32; Heb 12:6-7). The education which the Christian receives from "the grace" of God is a discipline often trying to flesh and blood: just as children need disciplining. The discipline which it exercises teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Greek, "age," or course of things) where such self-discipline is needed, seeing that its spirit is oppos”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Entrance Into Religious Life, Art. 6: Article: Whether one ought to be withdrawn from entering religion through deference to one's parents? I answer that, As stated above (Question [101], Article [2], ad 2) when we were treating of piety, parents as such have the character of a principle, wherefore it is competent to them as such to have the care of their children. Hence it is unlawful for a person having children to enter religion so as altogether to set aside the care for their children, namely without prov”