"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be wide gates to Hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not constantly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."

--Martin Luther

Are We Sacrificing Our Children?

According to polls, the majority of Christian families in the United States educate their children in the public school system. Those children, if they eventually graduate, are called “products” of that system. Several major denominations and many Christian leaders have begun to question the wisdom of educating Christian children in a secular setting.

Parents, not politics, should choose schools for children.

If parents enthusiastically know and support the worldview of their child's school (whether religious or secular), they should send their child there. However, many parents feel that their local public school not only doesn't support their worldview, but actually undermines it. (See Frequently Asked Questions, below.) Shouldn't those families also have the right to choose an affordable education for their children, that reinforces and teaches their religion and views?

Until recently, if you dared to support school choice, homeschools, charter schools or vouchers, you were publically shamed. Often parents who supported school choice were accused of hurting the public schools and damaging children. Now, those myths have been debunked.

A few examples: A popular myth claims "Private schools are hostile to tolerance and democratic values." In actuality, studies show that "Public schools"--not private--"are heavily segregated because they reproduce segregated housing patterns. Empirical research shows that vouchers break down racial barriers, putting students in less segregated schools."

Another myth claims that "Private schools aren't really better than public schools." The truth? "Top-quality studies find that vouchers improve academic outcomes." In addition, studies show that "private schools provide a better education for a much lower cost, and they also have a positive fiscal effect on public schools because school district costs are reduced much further than their expenses."--The Facts: Vouchers Benefit State and Public School Budgets, The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/schoolchoice/myths.jsp , 2009.

What if parents want to homeschool or private school their child, because they feel their local school is not safe? Should only the rich have the right to decide where to send their child to school?

"Reform America, an Ohio based non profit Christian organization, is leading the charge to reform education by calling on fathers to take responsibility for the education of their children. The recent tragedy and the ensuing cover up at Mifflin High School, where a 16 year old developmentally disabled female was sexually assaulted, highlights the fact that government schools have utterly failed."--Mark Harrington, President, Reform America.

It’s time to ask the question: “Are we sacrificing our children?”

It seems strange now, but throughout history, most parents have not turned their children over to the state to be educated. America’s founders looked at education and socialization far differently than most Christian families today.

CHRISTIAN SOCIALIZATION, PARENT CHOICE, PILGRIM STYLE

Despite popular belief, the Pilgrims did not come from Holland to America to escape religious persecution. (However, that is why they originally fled from England to Holland.)

Why then, did the Pilgrims withstand poverty, deprivation and hardship in their journey to America? They traveled to America in order to escape "the great licentiousness of youth in that country," which influenced their children. In other words, the Pilgrims came to American to escape negative socialization--a pagan worldview--which was being inflicted upon their children.

It is now many generations later. School years pass. Some of us celebrate graduation, plan summer vacations, or think about next year's school plans. However, the refrain, "school's out," can mean something far more radical.

"School's out" can mean a chance to re-evaluate our most accepted institutions and ideas about how--and what--our children should be taught. It can compel us to speak out about a generation of Christian schoolchildren who have become children of the pagan state.

If the state is the parent, what goals and ideals will it teach? Our children will shape tomorrow. Will they shape tomorrow with a Christian worldview, or will pagan ideals permeate their thoughts and their actions? Are public schools truly public, representing the common beliefs of the community? Or are they teaching their own agenda, promoting, in a real sense, their own pagan religion of "man is god"?

THE NEW WORLDVIEW

How did our worldview change? John Taylor Gatto, former New York State and New York City Teacher of the Year, had this to say: "Instead of remaining merely a useful description of how things work, great synthesizing theories like Big Bang or Natural Selection purport to explain the origin of the universe or how life best progresses. Yet these things, by their nature, are beyond proof or disproof. Few laymen understand that the synthesizing theories of Science are religious revelations in disguise."

"In the years around the beginning of the twentieth century, the scientific outlook as a substitute religion took command of compulsion schools and began to work to eradicate any transcendental curriculum in them. This happened in stages. First was the passage of compulsion school legislation and invention of the factory school (isolated from family and community), appearing in conjunction with the extermination of the one-room school. That job was largely done by 1900. The second stage was introduction of hierarchical layers of school management and government selected and regulated teaching staff. That job was complete by 1930. The third stage comprised socialization of the school into a world of "classes" and de-individualized individuals who looked to school authorities for leadership instead of their own parents and churches. This was accomplished by 1960. The fourth and last stage (so far) was the psychologizing of the classroom, a process begun full scale in 1960, which, with the advent of national standardized testing, outcomes-based education, Title I legislation, school-to-work legislation, et.al., was accelerating as the last century ended."

"All these are ambitious designs to control how children think, feel, and behave."--John Taylor Gatto, former New York State and New York City Teacher of the Year, author of The Underground History of American Education: A Schoolteacher's Intimate Investigation Into the Problem of Modern Schooling Author's Special Pre-Publication Edition), The Oxford Village Press, New York, 2001

A PAGAN AGENDA

What, then, is being taught? The neo-pagan philosophy that "truth is unknowable; therefore, all ideas are equally valid" permeates the core curriculum taught by government schools in America.

This philosophy, however, is not new--just persistent. Wasn't Jesus asked, "What is truth?" The "truth is relative" idea is embedded in education goals from the federal level, and local schools must apply these goals if they want to use your tax dollars.

"Truth is relative," is accepted and taught without question, even in many Christian schools. All who dare to disagree are labeled "intolerant." However, the education establishment is intolerant of Christ, the biblical worldview, and the Bible. The common idea that government-run education can be value-neutral is a myth. You may say it is wrong to judge others. However, that is a judgment.

Many government schools also propagate other so-called values, such as:

FORNICATION AS A VIRTUE

In government school, children may learn to use "protection" for fornication. Children hear that they can wait until marriage, but it is inferred that they would be foolish to wait.

Paganism teaches that homosexuality can be a good, healthy, acceptable lifestyle. These are essential tenets of pagan religions. Fornication is a common "sacred" right among various pagan religions and in witchcraft.

Heather Has Two Mommies is in the pagan school library, but the Holy Bible is banned. Their bumper sticker says, "Hate is not a family value." This is a tragic, libelous distortion of a Christian's love for family and strong stand against sin.

SCHOOL GOLDEN RULE: INTOLERANCE IS THE ONLY EVIL

Schools may preach that there are many paths to God. The pagans believe that to say otherwise is evil. The Holy Bible is banned from many public school libraries. In other words, all religions should be tolerated--except for Christianity. Ghosts, "new age" religious chants, and witches (clearly pagan) are okay year round in public schools; but never Christ at Christmas--and certainly not at Easter.

EVOLUTIONISM MUST PERMEATE EVERY SUBJECT

Evolutionism permeates the schools, as well as government "public" television. Although educrats claim to be tolerant, they will not tolerate the idea of intelligent design, regardless of scientific evidence. Evolutionism teaches that humans are just animals, accidents of nature.

Sadly, children seldom learn that evolution was not discovered by Darwin. Evolution is not even a science (it is not observable), but a religion or philosophy, a variation of ancient pagan myths to explain creation in human terms.

Patrick Young, technical service manager at the DuPont Laboratories in Ohio, USA, is holder of patents related to Kevlar and Mylar. "The key to a person's thinking stretches back to the foundations of their education," says Dr. Young. He is critical of the US public education system's handling of the creation/evolution debate, which, he says, "attempts to brainwash children to go in a certain direction, i.e. undermining the very foundations of Christianity. "Little wonder," says Dr. Young, "that so many Christians today are ineffective when it comes to sharing their faith. The frozen chosen," he calls them, sadly--paralyzed through a lack of understanding of the foundational truths of the Gospel. (Creation Magazine, March-May 2001)

An evolutionist bumper sticker shows a four legged fish eating the symbol for Christ, the fisher of men. However, the fossil remains of these so-called transitional creatures have never been found, Darwin is dead, and our Creator lives! Also see The Case For Creation, http://www.eaglesnesthome.com/creation.htm .

RITE TO MURDER

The "right to choose" (ancient pagan religious rite, that is) to murder your unborn baby is essential to freedom, if you believe the schools.

Most Christians today, products of the school system, are aborting their children at about the same rate as non-Christians, according to some polls. Does that shock you? I hope so. It is the "dirty little secret" of the church. The schools will never reveal that abortion and infanticide are associated with paganism from ancient times to the present.

Still, much of the ancient world was more civilized than modern America. Doctors that followed the Hippocratic oath promised to "do no harm," and not to provide abortion or euthanasia.

School children are taught that we should save eagle eggs and trees, but that it is okay to kill their own offspring. Their bumper stickers say, "Save the whales," "Pro-Choice," and "Keep abortion legal." Also visit Hate Crimes, Violence and Abortion in America http://www.eaglesnesthome.com/violence.htm .

THE SURVIVAL OF THE "FITTEST"

School socialization usually results in adults looking the other way when bullies abuse kids. Many adults believe that they should not interfere; kids should learn to work out their own problems. Officials believe it makes them (the bullies and the picked on kids) tougher that way.

In school, kids learn that friends are more important than God or family. Socialization in schools often breeds a culture of peer dependence, violence and death. Bullying in school will not stop, no matter how many "anti-violence" programs that schools adopt. After all, morals based on relativism are meaningless. Their bumper sticker says, "No fear." Read more at our Resources section, below.

GREED IS GOOD

Finally, in the brave new school worldview, greed is good. Children are indoctrinated in selfishness. They are told to always put their own desires first. "It is up to you to decide what is right for you."

It's a very immature philosophy; a childish encouragement of a two-year old's "You're not the boss of me!"

In the New World school order, patriotism and love of country become not just foolish ideals, but outright evil. President Kennedy's famous idea distorts into "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you." Paganism hides the truth that self-worship is the first sin, which caused the downfall of Satan and mankind. Government school teaches the lie:

"Get a good education, make lots of money, and you'll be happy."

Their bumper sticker says, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins."

These ideals taught in many schools are direct opposites of God's clear teaching in the Bible. The "seven deadly sins" are not just white-washed--they become worthy goals! Do you know--really know--what your child is learning in school?

GOD'S WORLDVIEW

God says: 1Co 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

1Co 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

2Ki 21:2 "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

Isa 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

2Co 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (Reader please note: although 2 Co. 6:14 is usually associated with marriage, the context does not refer to marriage. Read the verse in context.)

CHRISTIANS SACRIFICE THEIR CHILDREN

When we allow an unholy system to teach our kids, are we "unequally yoked together with unbelievers?" Before you read anymore, please understand that I am only trying to relay information. I am not trying to offend anyone, but to speak the truth in love.

Galatians 4:16 says "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"

Have government schools become the pagan temples of our modern civilization? Perhaps idol worship is alive and well--only the idol is...ourselves.

If so, then the education establishment, including the NEA, becomes high priests of the pagan church. Their young, impressionable congregation obediently learns their doctrine, in school classrooms across the country. Christian pastors have failed to provide leadership to their congregations and have even sacrificed their own offspring as well.

"But my children are witnesses at school. They have brought others to Christ."

"My children are not being hurt. Their teacher is a Christian."

"I can't afford to homeschool or pay for a Christian school."

These statements become horrendous if we find that the schools are pagan temples. Imagine this:

*"But my children are witnesses in the pagan temple. They have brought others to Christ." Should we even let our children enter a pagan temple? We certainly would not, unless they were with us every moment, under our protection.

Yes, God can use our children in whatever position we put them, but what is His will? Our children have only a limited ability to witness in pagan schools. Children (even--or perhaps especially--high schoolers) are much more likely to have their own worldview questioned, if not ridiculed or destroyed.

We can be in the world, but not part of the system. Our children can be witnesses, when they are under proper parental authority, not pagan authority. We can still witness to the children in our neighborhood, as well as to their parents.

How about reaching out to the neighborhood youth through the church?

How about hosting a neighborhood Bible club in your yard?

How about hosting a block party, or inviting the neighbors to your backyard for burgers?

*"My children are not being hurt. Their teacher is a Christian." Praise God, a Christian is teaching in a pagan temple. But wait a minute--teachers and students aren't allowed to mention the name of Christ. In a local public school, a teacher lost his job, just for having his personal Bible on his desk. How much good can they do? Several teachers in our area have been punished (and are no longer teaching in their school) for praying with kids or talking about Christ.

*"I can't afford to homeschool or pay for a Christian school." Many families struggle financially. They deserve our compassion and help, not our condescension. Most of all, they do not deserve to be sacrificed to the pagan worldview because of a limited income.

Cash-poor families are at least as dedicated to their child's education as their richer counter-parts. Most Christian families on a limited income will joyfully remove their kids out of dead-end pagan schools, if they can see a way to do it.

One grandmother (who was living on social security) asked for help finding homeschool materials from a local mission. When she was shown educational materials to use, she was able to homeschool her grandchildren.

Although Christian schooling may put an extra financial burden on a family, homeschooling costs can be minimal. We personally know families who have successfully homeschooled on family incomes of $10,000 per year. Many families find that although homeschooling was their second choice, it turned out to be the best method to educate their children in the Christian worldview.

SPEAKING HERESY IN A PAGAN LAND

The NEA may call this heresy: The public schools will never get any better, no matter how much money is thrown at them. How can a pagan temple improve by spending more money on it? The idea is ludicrous. In the view of many Christian parents, public schools promote the pagan worldview. Every child in public school is an endorsement of the public school program. The system will not change unless Christians remove their children from the system in large enough numbers to frighten the education establishment. If we really want to change the system, we'll have to take our kids out of it.

The choice is clear: Support the Local Pagan Temple levy? Or support the work of God?

Does this sound harsh, or extreme? Did the Pilgrims act harshly, when they refused to allow their young people to be influenced by pagans? Should we call our Pilgrim fathers and mothers extreme, when they removed their kids from the pagan system in Holland, and sailed to a new land?

Mt 5:13 says: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

We are the salt of the world, of America. But our children have become tasteless, or worse, they have become pagans themselves. Studies have shown that most Christian kids share a worldview that is essentially the same as that of the world. Christian kids are having abortions, premarital sex, and using drugs, at about the same rate as their non-Christian peers. Why not? They are just acting like animals. After all, they've been taught in school that evolution is a fact.

Times have changed. Most teachers agree that kids are different now than they were thirty years ago, when gum-chewing was a major discipline problem. Public school life today involves intense persecution and brutal temptations on a daily basis--much more than we face as adults. School bullying can be vicious, especially for children with physical or learning differences. Why put the heaviest burden on our kids, essentially babes in Christ?

An army doesn't put its weakest and least experienced troops in the front lines. Christian leaders, wake up! Parents, grow up! God appointed parents, not the state, to teach His children.

We can home school, charter school, or start a private school if we can't find or afford one that teaches God's Word. We can give up our incomes, our homes, or our cars. Whatever it takes, let's stop sacrificing our kids!

HOMEWORK For Parents

What can parents do?

* The National Education Association (NEA) may be the most powerful union and political lobby in the United States, perhaps the world. The NEA goal is to change the world, by teaching their values to our kids. Do you know what the NEA leadership values? If you don't know, you are not alone. Many, perhaps most, of the NEA membership do not know, either. Please note: most of the NEA members do not share the pagan values of the leadership.

Obtain a copy of the NEA yearly goals (called "Resolutions"), published at the NEA website. You can read about the worldview in the education establishment's own words. This information is buried in the website, so go to http://www.nea.org . You can download a complete copy to read and show to your pastor. You can also search by keywords. Try doing a search at the website for words like "diversity" and "sexual preference," to see what they want to teach our kids. (Hint: It's more important to them than teaching kids math skills or reading.) Then share this information with other parents, teachers, political leaders, and church leadership.

*Earnestly pray for our political leaders and church leaders. Pray for the children. Take immediate action according to God's leading, to protect your own children. If you investigate you public schools, and find that they have an agenda for your children that opposes your values, the only responsible action would be to remove your children from public school. Support homeschooling or private school instead.

*Send a link to this web page to your church leadership, and influential people in your community. (If you copy and paste the information, please include the copyright notice at the end.)

REFERENCES and RELATED LINKS:

*Harris, John, Saga of the Pilgrims: From Europe to the New World, The Globe Pequot Press, Box Q, Chester, Ct. 06412, 1990; http://www.globe-pequot.com ; out of print, but the publisher offers numerous travel books, as well as books to research the history of your destination

*Separation of School and State http://www.sepschool.org

*School Is Dead; Learn In Freedom http://learninfreedom.org

*National Education Association, http://www.nea.org/resolutions/

Homeschooling Information

*Homeschool laws, state by state: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/default.asp

*Big Book of Home Learning, Mary Pride; comprehensive curriculum reviews; Mary Pride's site contains an international listing of homeschooling support groups; http://www.home-school.com

*Strengths of Their Own--Home Schoolers Across America: Academic Achievement, Family Characteristics, and Longitudinal Traits, Brian D. Ray (National Home Education Research Institute, 1997); includes study of family income. Also, free information fact sheets available on-line at http://www.nheri.org

*Christian Home Educator's Curriculum Manual: Elementary Grades, Cathy Duffy (Home Run Enterprises, 1995); also Christian Home Educator's Curriculum Manual: Junior/Senior High

*Home Education Resource Guide: A Comprehensive Guide for the Parent-Educator to Curriculums, Correspondence Schools . . ., Cheryl Gorder (Blue Bird Publishing, 1996)

*The Home-Schooling Resource Guide and Directory of Organizations, Mary Hood (Ambleside Educational Press, 1996)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa L. Morgan is co-author of

Educational Travel on a Shoestring : Frugal Family Fun and Learning Away from Home

Ho meschooling on a Shoestring.

Find out more at http://eaglesnesthome.com/shoe.htm . Melissa is available for interviews about "Homeschooling On a Shoestring," and about "A Pagan Worldview."

Frequently Asked Questions About Schools

(Please read below, before sending an e-mail, to see if your question has already been answered. Many have gone before you.)

Question:

Where can I find more information about how to get my kids out of the government schools?

Answer:

Visit the following Links:

http://www.GetTheKidsOut.org , Grady Arnold.

Southern Baptist proposed Resolution by Voddie Baucham and Bruce Shortt,

http://exodusmandate.org/art_20050509-sbc-resolution.htm

Rev. Steven Warhurst to the Presbyterian Church in America to get the kids out,

(Resolution not yet online. Contact him at reforming@yahoo.com .

Rev E Ray Moore's Exodus Mandate, http://www.exodusmandate.org

Alliance for Separation of School & State, http://www.HonestEdu.org .

Question

"I am not a Christian. How Dare You Use the hateful term "pagan" to describe our schools?

Answer

The word "pagan" is not an insult and is certainly not hateful; paganism is a recognized, current religion that many, many Americans proudly identify with. A simple search on the internet will verify this. Many millions more have assimilated some pagan ideals and beliefs without realizing it. And I don't need to define pagan; it is easy to look it up. The dictionary lists "pagan \pa-gen\ n [ME, fr. LL paganus, fr. L, country dweller, fr. pagus country district] : heathen pagan adj paganism \-ge-ni-zem\ n (C) 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (C) 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated)"

Here is the dictionary listing for "heathen \he-then\ n, pl heathens or heathen 1 : an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible 2 : an uncivilized or irreligious person heathen adj heathendom n heathenish adj heathenism n (C) 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (C) 1994 by
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated"

So, the word pagan, meaning the most common, number one definition: country dweller (one who dwells in a country) or heathen (an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible ), is certainly not a hateful insult. It is merely a misunderstood descriptive term. Certainly the majority of the leadership in our government school system no longer acknowledges the God of the Bible, making this a heathen school system, according to the dictionary definition.

I admit, however, that the term "pagan" certainly commands attention these days, as it is not often talked about. I have had a self-professed Christian write me also, as they took offense and said I was calling them pagans in the article!

However, we never wanted to give the impression that all teachers or principals, students or parents in the government system are pagans; only that the basic government school system is controlled by pagans. If Christian parents do not agree with what their children are taught, they may wish to consider removing their children from the system. In the article, I quote from a former Teacher of the Year, who has researched the pagan ties in the education system. I don't know if he is a Christian, or not, as I think his publisher is secular. His research his excruciatingly meticulous and thorough. You may be interested to read his book; it would be available through inter-library loan.

Question

How dare you judge!? Why do you Christians say you are the only way to heaven?"

Answer

Perhaps you and I cannot agree on everything; but, I hope we can respectfully disagree. I appreciate your feedback, and I'll bet we both agree about the importance of these issues. As for judging, please reconsider what the Bible actually says. We are NOT told never to judge (that is a pagan idea, not a Christian one)--in fact, if you do a Bible search under the word "judge," you will find references where we are COMMANDED to judge. We are only told that we will be judged by the same standard. Read Matthew 7 in context, and you will see first that Jesus was addressing hypocrites, then He goes on to say that if your life is clean you can judge others.

If you personally feel that I am judging you, however, I am sorry, as that was not the article's intent. It was directed to Christian parents. I'm sorry if that hurts someone's feelings, and it isn't easy for me, to say something that is unpopular. (I want people to like me, just like most people). However, we don't do parents a favor when we pretend state-sponsored paganism doesn't exist. It won't help the kids, either, when we keep silent while they are indoctrinated against their parent's wishes.

Remember: when we tell others "judge not!" we ourselves are also judging others, by accusing them of judging.

An accusation of "Judge Not!" is a great ploy, to shut Christians up. Jesus was not a wimp. He told people the truth--he told people that they were wrong, even the religious leaders. He even used a whip to clean God's temple out, when the leaders were cheating the people. Some of the leaders didn't like it either, and killed Him for it. Jesus died; but He did something else that only God can do--He raised Himself from the dead, and appeared to hundreds of witnesses. Pagans to this day, reject Him for telling them the truth--that He is the Way. So also should we tell the truth in love--even if it makes us unpopular, or if people accuse of intolerance or judging.

The story in John 8 must be read in context. Yes, Jesus told the men not to kill her, because they were guilty of adultery or other sin. Notice the man was not being stoned. If she was caught in the act, certainly, the man was caught, wouldn't you think? This was hypocritical of the crowd. Jesus did not simply forgive her, either, but told her to "go and sin no more." This is the essence of repentance. Also read what Jesus said about adultery in Matthew 5:27-30. Jesus was not soft on adultery, or any other sin. Jesus says people can be cast into hell for their sin. But, He also made a way to avoid it.

In pagan schools (and I hope you see now that they fit the definition), Christians can't openly quote from the Bible or speak the name of Jesus. Most kids are learning the pagan rule--that right and wrong is whatever man says it is, not what God says it is, in the Bible. If there is no common standard in a civilization, right and wrong is as changeable as the shifting sand.

Prayer and Bible reading in government school is usually only permitted in the case of school shootings, and in those cases it usually involves student martyrs, killed by troubled youth who hate Christians. A famous example is Rachel Scott; perhaps you have heard of her. Did you know she was shot because she wouldn't deny Christ? Kids in pagan school are learning that they were NOT created in the image of God (which means that the pagan school system also doesn't believe in "We hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR, with certain inalienable rights...")

Kids are learning, more through the attitude of the system than the words in the textbooks, that the Bible, and Christians, are evil or at the very least, something to be scorned.

Christians get in trouble, no matter what they do. The Bible commands Christians to tell people that Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life. (Notice the emphasis on death, not life, in the pagan system. They even teach "Death ed," of all things, to kids who can barely read!) Then Christians are told they shouldn't say Jesus is the way. But Christ receives criticism that should be directed at Christians, not Christ, when people ask, "What about people that have never heard about Jesus?" Well, Jesus clearly says in the Bible, that is the job He gave to Christians--in other words, we aren't doing what we should, if people haven't heard. People that are not Christians have a good point, but Christians (including me) are to blame, not Christ.

Still, fallible humans are no problem for God, who is just (as in JUSTICE) even when all humans fail. What is the main difference between man and God? He is certainly more powerful--His creative ability extends to areas we can't even begin to understand. He knows everything. He can do everything, I'm sure you've heard. But there is one thing maybe you haven't heard--there is something God can't do.

Sin.

That is the main difference between man and God, and the most important one. Man is so steeped in sin (everyone has lied, at least once, for instance--God never lies!), that we even try to judge God by our imperfect standards, while we tell other human beings that they should not judge.

Question

How Can I Know God?

Answer

When Christians fail to carry out God's commandment to tell the whole world, does this limit God? No. Of course not. God has no problem working individually with every human being on the face of the earth, and dealing with each one in a just way. Again, remember that He created each one of those human beings, and we are about as far below Him as the ants are below us. Why would such a powerful, just God care enough about you and I to take the form of a man, and come to earth and die on a cross (I have heard physicians say that dying on a cross is the most painful death imaginable) to pay for our sins? That is a question I can't answer, except to say that it proved His love to me. His love for each person, me, you, everybody. Even those "who have never heard," due to the imperfect Christian church.

God is not powerless to speak directly to an individual's heart, if Christians "miss some." Your question was asked by honest seekers from New Testament times, and answered thoroughly in the Bible. I've listed some of the references. Some of them I quoted, but I ask you to make the effort to look them up for yourself, even those I typed in. You know what they say: No pain, no gain.

God knows who will accept Him, and who will reject Him, although everyone has free will and choice. God says that everyone can clearly see His creation, and know in their heart that there is a creator (in spite of evolutionism). Also, everyone knows right from wrong, as God has put that knowledge in every person's heart, no matter how isolated they may be from Christianity and the modern so-called civilized world. No one will ever be condemned for what they don't know. People WILL be condemned for what they do--or don't do--with whatever knowledge that they have. An important point, by the way: God does not condemn anyone--Satan, a fallen being who hates God, is the accuser. The Bible clearly says that God does not want ANYONE to perish. That's why He died for us, took the punishment that we each deserve. Think about it. If we all went to heaven, the way we are right now, each of us with our sins, who would want to go there? It would be as bad as things are now. A perfect, sinless God cannot allow sin to come into heaven. The only way to cleanse ourselves of our sin is through accepting the free gift of God, who took our place (as Jesus, the Son of God), and died for us on the cross. We can be born again (just like we become a newborn, without ever having done anything wrong in God's eyes, only in spirit, not in body), whence ask Jesus to live in us through His Holy Spirit.

That's my basic understanding of what God says in the Bible. Of course, there is much more, and I don't know everything. But if I have been confusing, please let me know, and I'll try to clarify. Don't worry if you don't understand it all yet--you don't have to know how a television works, to watch it. So you don't need to understand everything about God, either, to know Him.

Here's my own personal experience, that I share in the hope that it will help you. I also struggled with the questions that you have asked, when I was in my late teens and early twenties (I am 43, now). In the late 1970s, my husband and I visited Cherokee Village, in North Carolina. We were visiting to learn more about some of our Cherokee ancestors. While there, we had the privilege of listening to a native Cherokee lecturer. He related a story that you are not likely to hear anywhere else. When the European missionaries first told the Cherokee people about Jesus, they were met with several surprises. For one, the missionaries were greeted with open arms, and the Cherokee people immediately converted to Christianity, almost every one of them. The startled missionaries had to know why such a sudden conversion. The reason? The Cherokee had a story about a visitor, who when described, sounded remarkably like Christ. Proof of this story, to me, is the native Cherokee word which is almost identical to the Hebrew word for God. So God can do what He wants, but He proved His love. You can't do anymore for anyone than die for them.

Again, I am asking you to take the time to look up the Bible verses that I list, below--if you don't have access to a Bible, please tell me, and I can send you one for free if you promise to read it all. Or if you wish, I will tell you where you can get a free electronic version. But please be aware: the Bible is a spiritual book, which God directed His people to write. God did not physically write it, but it is His Word, as if His people were taking dictation.

If we are like ants to God, how can we possibly understand Him? We can't by ourselves. That's why people say all the time, "I can't understand the Bible." But we can understand some of it--the most important parts, and what we need to know now--if we ask Him to help us, through His Spirit (remember I said the Bible is a spiritual book--the Holy Spirit is how God talks to people.)

I want you to know that God is calling you, just like He called me, and just like He visited (according to ancient Cherokee legend) the Cherokee. He loves you so much, He called me to write to you, instead of playing with my little toddler right now (which I'm going to do in just a minute, because Jesus--and I--love her, too!). I would like you to promise me that you will do something. Because I took the time to look up these verses for you, and try to answer your great questions, would you promise me that you will pray a prayer every day? Just talk to God, in Jesus name, the way you would talk to a person. Every day, just ask God "God, help me to know Jesus." Will you promise to do that, and read the verses every day, because Jesus loves you? Do this, and be WILLING to believe (I didn't say you have to have blind faith--I said you need to be willing to listen), when God helps you to understand. Simple, I know. Please let me know that you will do this, and write me when you can.

Now, here are some verses.

Romans 2:11-16
Hebrews 8:10-12
1 Colossians 1:13-23
Hebrews 11:3
John 14:6,7 Jesus is THE WAY to God. NO ONE comes to the Father except
through Jesus.
1 Peter 1:6-9
1 John 5:10-13
Mark 16:16
John 3:3,5,6,14-21 Jesus said, "You must be born again."
Matthew 10:22
2 Corinthians 6:2
Matthew 28 Christians are COMMANDED to teach the world all of the commands
of Christ.

Please pray every day, read these verses over every day, and be willing to listen to Jesus. He WILL make Himself known to you, if you are bold enough to meet Him, and take the time. When you feel the desire for more, you may wish to start reading through the book of John in the Bible. Are you up to the challenge?

In Christ's love,

Melissa Morgan

Eagle's Nest Home/Homeschooling on a Shoestring

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