Many OT laws continue to be in effect today, like the 10 commandments, for instance. But sometimes Scripture makes it clear that a particular class of OT laws are no longer in effect.

For example, the dietary laws were temporary. God instituted them to make a clear distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles (cf. Deut. 14:2 and 14:21). But in the New Testament, this wall between the Jews and Gentiles was explicitly broken down (cf. Eph. 2:14). Therefore, there is no further need for the dietary laws, separating Jews and Gentiles. This Scriptural background explains why God gave Peter that particular vision in Acts 10, simultaneously declaring all foods clean and declaring the Gentiles clean. God tells Peter to eat animals previously considered unclean, and tells Peter to go to Cornelius’ house, because the dietary laws had been specifically connected to the wall between Jews and Gentiles. Now that there is no more wall, there are also no more such dietary laws.

Similar Biblical evidence can be shown in regard to the other OT references you made.

But where does the NT ever turn the wisdom of Psalm 1 on its head, and reverse it? That never happens! Psalm 1 is just as applicable today as it was 3000 years ago. If you put your child under the counsel of the godly, then you are blessing your child. If you put your child under the counsel of the ungodly (i.e. public school), then you are cursing your child.

As for John 17:15-18, please read it more closely. To “take them out of the world” would be either to “send them into outer space”, or more likely, “to send them to heaven”. In other words, Jesus is simply saying that it is not God’s will to immediately take all Christians off the planet. Rather, God wants Christians to live in this fallen world, as a testament to God’s light and righteousness.

So, how do we accomplish this? We cannot accomplish it by sending our children to godless institutions to learn from humanists for 7 hours a day! We cannot accomplish it by disregarding Deut. 6:7, Psalm 1, Luke 6:40, etc.

Luke 6:40 says that a student will be like his teacher. If you send your children to be taught in a godless school system, then what do you expect? Luke 6:40 says you can expect them to become godless! Did you know that 7 out of 10 *Christian* children sent to public school turn their backs on Jesus and the Church when they grow up? That is a 70% casualty rate! Thankfully Christian homeschooling doesn’t even have a fraction of that problem.

Jesus leaves Christians in the world, not to be like the world, but rather to be that “city on a hill” He spoke of in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7).

Jesus leaves Christians in the world to be salt and light, and that purpose is defeated if you send your children to the godless public school. 70% of Christian children in public schools are perfect examples of “salt losing its saltiness”, which is now “good for nothing, but to be cast out and trampled under the feet of men” (cf. the sermon on the mount). Your children can only remain salt and light if they are filled with Christ, rather than filled with godless education for over 10,000 hours per year in public schools. Your children can only be salt and light to the world if you protect them from becoming part of that 70% spiritual casualty rate.

If you want to be in the world, but not of the world, then homeschool your children. Obey Deuteronomy 6:7, which commands you to diligently teach godliness to your children from the time they wake up in the morning, until the time they go to sleep at night. Fill their hearts and minds with a fully biblical worldview, that is radically different from what they would get in the godless public school.

THEN your children will grow up to be strong and godly. They will be the saltiest of salt, and the brightest of light. And during this whole process, God does not take you or them out of the world . . . God leaves you in the world as a testimony to the blessings that come upon those who live for Him, and do not bow down to the spirit of the age.

Blessings to you and your family!

in Christ,
Pastor Joseph Gleason

You’ve GOT to listen to this! I’ll post it to my blog later.

Jeremy

http://highlandsstudycenter.org/MP3/3G.mp3

John 17:15-18 “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

Jesus himself says he doesn’t want us to be taken out of this world (in fact he is sending us INTO the world), but His prayer is that God would protect us while we are in the world…following Jesus’ example and making a difference as we go.

And how exactly does this thinking fit into Jesus’ statement in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” The ENTIRE law and prophets is wrapped up here? So where does that leave the idea that I shouldn’t send my kids to secular school? How does that fit into Jesus’ two commands that wrap up everything else?

And if you don’t buy into that…how about a few other examples:

How carefully do watch what you eat? Leviticus 11 is pretty clear on God’s commands for them (i.e. pork)?

How about Leviticus 15:13-15…follow that one?

How about shaving? Leviticus 19:27

BTW, have you done a word study on the word “blessed” in Psalm 1? Are you sure it means what you think it means (blessed/cursed)? And if so, does this mean you should never be around or “stand with” sinners or you are cursed?

And why does this principle only apply to where I send my kids to school? I work in a secular workplace with a boss and plenty of people around me that don’t know God. If I seek their advice or get counsel from them–or am in their presence for most of my day am I cursed? Should I quit my job? Should I only go to a store or place of business that is run by Christians? Should I let my kids have friends that don’t know Christ? Where do I draw the line?