I had planned on sharing my new year plan today. Plans changed.
The Chicago Tribune came out with this article yesterday. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-lgbtq-history-illinois-schools-law-20190826-m2k4qtpiifhkzp5a76dwtwlbwy-story.html A Christian organization Illinois Family Institute wrote an article about it. https://illinoisfamily.org/media/toxic-progressivism-in-public-schools-and-at-the-chicago-tribune/
I became frantic, skimming my homeschool organization for help. The ICHE site for advice. The whole ordeal shook me up.
Summer 2019 and an Ice Cream Shop
While Chicago celebrated the month of Pride in the summer, I basically ignored it. During my high school days twenty years ago (my graduating year was 2000) there was a gay and lesbian booth. In college, I had friends who had same-sex partners. When I taught the Bible on campus, the issue always came up during the study of Genesis. I veered away from the discussion because God created “male” and “female” and left it at that. It was the day of tolerance. And I was in agreement. Or at least I thought.
But then this summer, Silas, my four-year-old son, noticed the “colorful flag” at the ice cream shop we were at.
That’s when my eyes opened.
Not that I hadn’t seen the rainbow flags before. I saw them everywhere. It was the month of Pride after all. I’m not blind. I just thought my family could stay immune to the influence. As long as we don’t associate with anyone who is gay or lesbian (and since we’re attending church and a Christian homeschool I reasoned that would be unlikely), as long as I keep the news off the television, my kids won’t know. I don’t have to worry.
Wrong.
When Silas said he liked the flag, I nearly wept. Not because he noticed, but because God put a burden on my heart. The time is now.
I was already prepared to explain how a male might love another male just as mommy loves daddy. I can share how some families have two mommies. Because I know that these families are the exception, that these are rare. And I live in a community where none of these families live in my building or on my block (or so I assume).
I was more worried about how to explain the Muslim culture and the Jews because they are prevalent in Rogers Park. But that’s easy. It’s a culture, a preference, a religion. And we learn about history in our homeschool group, Classical Conversations. Done and done.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve corrected Silas on the playground when he called a boy a “she” by mistake. (And he really is a he.)
But it occurred to me that day in the ice cream shop: it’s a huge possibility that the day has come when I’m the one who could be wrong. My kids could very well meet public school students on the playground who identify him- or herself as the opposite sex. In the past, transgender was obvious. Not so anymore. And I don’t know what to say.
Parenting 101 501, Ready or Not
I can be respectful and keep to myself—but a four-year-old? A seven-year-old? This is their generation. Their peers. This is beyond political correctness. This is life. This is society.
Today is the first week of school for us. We learn the first six days of creation on Friday. On the sixth day, “God made them male and female.”
But this isn’t enough anymore.
It’s hard enough to explain to a seven-year-old about sexuality. That no one, except daddy and mommy and the doctor but only while we are in the room, should touch or look at his private parts.
And to avoid the issue of love between same-sex partners, we kept to the fact that “a boy has a penis and a girl doesn’t.” But that’s not necessarily true anymore.
How the heck are we supposed to raise our kids?
Maybe you’re like me. I want to get this right the first time. I don’t want to teach my kids anything that isn’t true. I know that everything I say and demonstrate is how my kids react in public, and I don’t want them to get hurt.
Kids in the playground will be learning about the history of LGBTQ and I want my kids to at least be respectful. At the most to be confident in their own identity as boys.
Or is that the goal?
And that’s why I’m writing today
Because God called me as a writer.
And God put this burden on my heart. And I’ll be the first to admit my prayer life stinks. I’m only a little bit better at reading the Bible, but not by much. But I’m ready! I’m available and I’ve spent the entire school day today writing this lengthy post, which should tell you something. This is huge. And I’m going to do this. Starting today. Now.
God saved me fifteen years ago through the revelation of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose from the dead to make me more than a conqueror over sin and death.
I’m also a young parent in a really confusing time in history in America. And I live in progressive Chicago, which is a great training ground for parenting skills apparently.
Am I talking to anyone who can relate?!
I have a preposition for Christian parents
Teach the truth
It’s not enough to teach your kids the six days of creation. As Christian parents, it is critical to teach the Truth. Upper-case T. Because there is only one truth. And I’m not only talking about the person Jesus Christ, although He is the Truth. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6.
But I’m talking about the priority of God’s Word as the ultimate and only guide of absolute truth. God’s Word is without error and is inspired by God. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” ~ Hebrews 4:12
Have a passionate relationship with God and His Word… I’m talking to YOU, Mom and Dad.
Christian parents, do you believe this about the Bible? If so, how much and how passionately do you read God’s Word? This is more relevant today than ever before. “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:7 Our kids don’t learn by obedience like our generation did. They learn by example. If you don’t do it—or if you do it with a bad attitude—kids notice. And that’s how they behave. No matter what we say otherwise.
(Ever heard a seven-year-old say, “Well, you don’t do that.” Yeah. That’s what I mean.)
Learn to evangelize. Seriously.
It’s not enough to teach that God is love. We also have to teach how much God hates sin. Even the little ones can understand justice. And they’re smarter than we give them credit for.
It is more critical than ever to share the gospel effectively and proficiently to our kids. Now. Three things specifically: 1) You and I are sinners, which mean we are separated from God. 2) Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins against God. 3) When a person accepts Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and resurrection from the dead, that person is saved for eternity and is restored into a relationship with God, starting immediately, but must grow in holiness, also known as sanctification.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 6:23
How am I going to respond to this new law in Illinois? What am I going to teach my kids?
First, I’m going to passionately seek God myself. I’m going to read the Bible daily, in big chunks, according to John Stonestreet’s advice. God is the God of revelation. God is alive. And I really, really need Him. And I’m going to show this to my kids.
Second, I’m going to cry out to God for revelation, for guidance concerning sharing God and the gospel with my kids. Which means I have to learn the gospel too. And I know—I’m not confident of much but I know this absolutely—that God will answer such a prayer swiftly. He always does, in my experience. (Other prayers? Not so quickly.)
Third, I’m going to practice evangelism on my kids. At every opportunity. As critical importance. I’ve always known my life is not guaranteed to last for decades. Neither are my kids’ lives. Sharing the gospel to them has always been on my radar—now, it’s even more important.
My kids don’t need to be familiar with the gospel. They gotta believe it. Hold to it. As the foundation of their life, of their family. More than ever our families have to be “Christ-centered,” not just characterized with verses on the walls but imprinted in our hearts. An identity.
As important as when our ancestors came from Europe and explained to no end to their kids where they came from, why and what that should mean to them. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19
Hey, Christian parents, this is a call-out to you to be vocal. To exercise apologetics and be well-versed in the Bible as the number one academic of your family.
Starting with me.
And I’ll be praying for you. May God be glorified!
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ~ Galatians 1:3-5
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