If you have read this blog for any length of time you know I home school our two sons. Christians home school for a variety of reasons. We home school because we believe we can do a better job than our public schools, and it allows us to spend more time with our kids. Others do it because they believe the schools are going to make their kids evil, and some do it out of a legalism perpetuated in their churches. I have learned over the last couple years that home schoolers are a finicky bunch. Like many Christians, they will shun you at the drop of a hat if your theology is not right. I’m not saying this is just a Christian problem, but that is my world and what I know.
My son experienced this legalism recently at the yearly standardized testing. On the first morning the kids are usually feeling each other out, remembering names and congregating with their age groups. My oldest son befriended a boy and they talked until it was time to go to the testing room. During the breaks they ran and played chase. First day was over and we all went our separate ways with good-byes and see you tomorrow. That is where my ability to be a father began to come into question.
As we left the house I reminded my boys to take a book with them to read if they finish their tests early, a simple thing I had forgotten to do the day before. When we arrived at the testing facility the talking and fun of the day before was quickly renewed. Then the fateful thing happened. The boy from the day before saw My son’s Pokémon book. “What is that?” he asked
“Pokémon,” my son answered.
“Do you believe in evolution?” the boy shot back.
“Ugh,” was the best my son could muster as he stared at me.
“If you believe in evolution your going to go to hell,” said the boy.
“I don’t,” my son responded still not sure what the kid was talking about.
“If you don’t, you need to throw that book in the trash can,” this was about when I snapped.
I stopped what I was doing and said, “It’s okay son. You can still read your book. Just focus on the test.” He threw back a thumbs up and walked off to the testing room. He told me when I picked him up the kid wouldn’t even talk to him the rest of the day. We had a long conversation about creation and evolution and how some people who are supposed to love Jesus think everyone should do what they say.
I can’t help but think of the wake-up call that kid will get when he grows up. Of course he’ll just be the pastor of a legalistic church so he can be assured everyone he encounters believes like he does.
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