Fifty Years and Counting - a Tribute to George Carman

This post was written by Kaye Kiser. I asked if I could share it. George and Hilda have been friends to Tanya and me ever since we first met. They have touched many lives, both here and around the world.

On May 15, 2016, Dr. George Carman celebrated his 50th anniversary of preaching the gospel throughout the world! The Keller church of Christ, where George is currently a member, was privileged to hear him preach on this momentous occasion!  Following the sermon, the elders presented George  with a reprint of the Gutenberg Bible in honor of his lifelong, and oftentimes dangerous, service. It must also be mentioned that throughout his entire career, his wife, Hilda, was at his side providing support, encouragement, and service!

He has a bachelor degree in Biblical Studies from Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI) and his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctor of Divinity degrees in Biblical studies from Theological University of America.   He is also a certified satellite school administrator, founding the Keller School of Biblical Studies (KSBS) at the Keller congregation and serving as administrator for their first six years, retiring from the position just last year.  George has either taught or overseen preacher training schools for over 15 years.  He served for 8 years establishing and organizing preacher training schools in Asia as a Regional Dean for Asia for the Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI).  

George preached his first official sermon on May 15, 1966 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where he grew up. For the next few months, he preached at various congregations in New Mexico until August when he moved to Lubbock, Texas to begin his formal training in ministry at the Sunset School of Preaching (currently known as Sunset International Bible Institute or SIBI). While attending school, he began his first preaching position, serving as minister for the congregation in Estelline, Texas, a small community outside Lubbock.  He served in this position from 1966-1968. Upon completion of his training with Sunset, he was hired by the 12th Street congregation in Seagraves, Texas where he served until 1970. 

George’s missionary work began in 1970 when he and his family moved to Thailand.  Next, he took a brief missionary position in Columbiana, Ohio from 1973-74, returning to Thailand until 1977.  From 2003 to 2009, George worked for Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI) establishing satellite school of preaching in Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, and South Korea, establishing ten schools in total.  His last missionary post was in the Northeastern United States.

Throughout his 50 years in ministry, George served as a pulpit minister in Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico for a total of 24 years and as a missionary throughout Asia and the United States for a total of 26 years.  George has left an unprecedented mark on the brotherhood through his missionary work, establishing schools of preaching, published writings, and serving at various congregations.  The churches of Christ have truly been blessed by this great evangelist's example and teaching!

Now I Sit Me Down in School

This anonymous piece has been attributed to various sources, typically a teenager in a school somewhere. Because the Lord’s Prayer is not allowed in most U.S. public schools any more, a student reportedly wrote the following.

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God’s name is prohibited by the State.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the unwed daddy, our Senior King.

It’s “inappropriate” to teach right from wrong,

We’re taught that such “judgments” do not belong.

We can get free tools for birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot, my soul please take!

What’s in Your Wallet?

He was arguably the greatest basketball coach of all time, whether at the college or professional level. He broke all kinds of records. He led the UCLA Bruins to ten national titles in twelve years, including seven consecutive championships. His players at one point won 88 games in a row, and he was chosen as the national coach of the year six times.

As you may know, he was John Wooden. He died in 2010, just a few months shy of his 100th birthday. Wooden believed that, before you could lead anyone else, you had to lead yourself. His personal principles empowered him to have the great influence he exerted, both on and off the court. No matter your field, whether ministry, business, or sports, you would do well to study the life and character of John Wooden.

What made the difference in his life was an item that he kept in his wallet.

It was a piece of paper that Wooden's father gave him when he was only twelve. Tattered and worn, it was his constant companion and source of guiding principles. Here’s how it read:

Be true to yourself.

Make each day your masterpiece.

Help others.

Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.

Make friendship a fine art.

Build shelter against a rainy day.

Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

For 87 years, until he was 99 years old plus, this creed molded Coach Wooden’s life.

In addition, he believed that happiness comes from making and keeping nine promises:

1. Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness and prosperity as often as possible.

2. Promise yourself to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special that you value.

3. Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best in yourself and others.

4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

5. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.

7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.

8. Promise to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

If the Apostle Paul had owned a wallet, what would he have kept in it? What were his guiding principles, his compass points, his fundamental beliefs? Here is a passage that gives us a clear sense of the road map that he followed, and the one that must be ours as well.

Phil 3:8–14 (NASB95)

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

What’s in your wallet?

Cory Collins

Life's Journey - Guest Post from Jim Parrow

This post was written by our brother and friend Jim Parrow, who presented it recently to the Keller church of Christ. Jim is not only a fine man; he is a native New Yorker and a very capable speaker. Thank you, brother! Note: this post appears unedited, just as Jim gave it.

LIFE’S JOURNEY

What was started after the French had given up on a project they began in 1881 and was restarted by John Findlay Wallace in 1904, then handed off to John Frank Stevens in 1905, completed under George Washington Goethals between 1905 -1914?

48 miles long

110 feet wide

37 feet deep

Displaced 211 million cubic yards of earth

Took 10 years to build – Once the US took over the project

Cost $375 Million dollars and 25,000 lives 1881 -1914

Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Via 3 UP LOCKS & 3 DOWN LOCKS

Connected through the 164 SQ MILE manmade GATUN lake

Now used by more than 15,000 ships per year

Construction was through very dense jungle

Swarming with venomous snakes, insects, and spiders

Exposing workers to mosquitos carrying Malaria and Yellow fever and a host of tropical diseases.

Workers were dying at the rate of 200 per month.

The project required the construction of housing, cafeterias, hotels, water systems, sewage systems, repair shops, warehouses, and a railway ALL IN ADDITION TO THE Project itself.

Years of arguments, disputes, claims, counter claims, accusations and a flood of criticism overwhelmed all the Engineers in Charge but especially Col Goethals. He never let the obstacles or criticism sway him from the completing the monumental and very difficult task before him.

Oh yes - the project is known as the Panama Canal

Helped to shorten a war that the critics could not have foreseen in 1914

while enhancing world trade and reducing a 67 day journey to 8 hours.

We can turn to Genesis 5:32 through 10:1 and find another overwhelming project that was put before a man to accomplish facing odds and challenges we cannot comprehend, and at the time, unlike the Panama Canal, for no apparent reason to every ones understanding, except of course for Noah. Do ya think Noah would be criticized???

At the age of 500, he was assigned his civilization saving task. I’m only 69 and I already have lower back problems, hurt when I carry in the groceries, along with a host of other issues, so I can’t begin to imagine what Noah must have felt like at his age doing such tremendous manual labor, let alone the mental challenges he would face.

Vs 5 of Gen 6 tells us “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

In Vs 7 he went on to say – “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created and with them the animals, birds, and creatures that move along the ground” – but Vs 8 “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord”.

Ch 6 vs 9 / Ch 7 vs 4 outlines the specific instructions of WHAT he was to build, HOW he was to build it, WHAT would be permitted to go into it, and HOW he would need to provide for the survival of the precious cargo and VS 5 tells us Noah “DID ALL THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM”!

At 600 years of age the floodwaters came. Noah, his wife , Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives entered the ark and after 150 days, God sent a wind Ch 8 vs 1and “the water receded”.

On the 601st year on the 2nd month on the 27th day the land was once again dry and God told Noah to come out of the ark. Ch 8 vs 13-15

Ch 9 then goes on to tell us about God’s covenant with Noah and via the rainbow in the sky declares unto Noah God will never flood the earth again.

Noah lived to see God’s plan move forward until at the age of 950 years he died. Noah never allowed the difficulty of the task, or his obvious critics to sway him from him completeing his God’s task – God’s Way.

We know that George Goethals lived with 10 years of critics who kept telling him he was a fool, the project could never be done, it was not worth the time and money and lives, and on and on.

We do not read the specific of the Critics that must have berated Noah as he and his family followed God’s commands, but I believe it is logical to believe that building a huge boat in the middle of dry land with no water in sight could not have been accomplished without a century of criticism and ridicule.

Those who do not know God will always criticize those who do and though we live in the world we must refuse to be a part of the world.

2 Peter 2:5 – goes right back to Noah – “And spared not the world, but saved Noah the eighth person, A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”

1 John 2:15 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM”

John 15:19 – “If ye were of the world the world would love his own: BUT because ye are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hates you”

In our schools, our jobs, our athletic teams, our business dealings our neighborhoods, our political system, the world will tempt you to cheat, steal, gossip, backstab, lie, fulfill the desires of the flesh, hate, seek revenge or look the other way when someone else does, OR FACE THE RIDUCULE, CONTEMPT AND REJECTION OF THOSE WHO DO! They may be your Boss, Co-Worker, Neighbor, Class mate, your closest friend or even a family member. The Devil does not give up! He will not stop trying to tempt you to “go along to get along”. Even when you don’t, others will claim that you do.

Matthew 11:19 claims Jesus was a glutton, a wino, friend of sinners

Mark        14:64 claims Jesus spoke blasphemy

John          8:48 - 52 that Jesus was possessed by the devil

As Children of the Almighty and Everlasting God we MUST heed the words of Romans 12:2 “Be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed [Metamorphose – Metamorphosis – change from one thing into something else] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God”

Like a Spiritual Panama Canal – We must make our own spiritual journey from the Kingdom of the World to the Kingdom of Almighty God through a world full of even more challenges and dangers than Goethals faced.

Like Noah we must enter into our own Spiritual Ark to carry us through the crashing waves, and stormy seas that are all around us here on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:17 assures us that “. . .if any man be IN Christ [Our Spiritual Ark] he is a new creature. The Old Things [like life on earth before the flood] are passed away, behold ALL things become new [like Mankind after God directed Noah to leave the Ark.]

If you need help to face your critics, to face the challenges before you, this making your life difficult and effecting your walk with the lord, we are all here for you. These are challenges common to us all and no one in this family of God will judge you because you have fallen and need help to get back up and make yourself right with the Lord.

If we can lift you up and lighten your load

As we sing # 394 “What Will You Do with Jesus” Ask yourself - What will “I” do with Jesus? Will “I” enter in to His Ark of Salvation so “I” can make my Journey to Eternal Life Safe in His Care?

If we can help you in any way 

Come forward now as we stand and sing!   

What About the Met Church?

Photo from the Met Church's website. 
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56b268caab48de758e6c50a3/t/56e99dcd4d088ec97ee94b06/1458367050074/music.jpg

Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Recently several people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have asked about the teachings and practices of the “Met Church.” Such questions are important, and they deserve accurate answers. As Christians we must examine current religious teachings in the light of Scripture. By doing so we reaffirm God’s authority, learn and correct our own beliefs where needed, and speak the truth in love regarding error. We are accountable to God to stay in the Word and to challenge the church, our youth, and the religious community to do the same. 2 Tim 4:1-5

The best way to know for sure what other people think, believe, and teach is to have them speak for themselves. Without judging or questioning anyone’s heart or sincerity, we must look objectively at specific teachings and compare them to those of the Bible.

Thanks to the Internet these materials are often publicly accessible. Churches of various types publish doctrinal statements for the express purpose of making others aware of them. They want everyone to know where they stand, so that others can assess their teachings. It is important that we reference the primary sources, as we have done below, for the sake of accuracy. We must never prejudge anyone or treat anyone unfairly.

We must also remember that not every person who attends services at a particular church necessarily agrees with that group’s published beliefs. Many who attend may not even be aware of all the group’s beliefs. Be careful not to assume. Let each person speak for himself or herself.

If any leaders of the Met Church should find any inaccuracy in this post, please comment below so that this material can be corrected or clarified.

Read about the Met Church by following these links to the church’s doctrines and practices.

http://www.metchurch.com/

http://www.metchurch.com/the-met-story/

http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

http://www.metchurch.com/worship-services/

http://www.metchurch.com/staff-page/

Now let’s note various statements that are made on these web pages and then offer comments and Scriptures in italics.

OUR STORY
http://www.metchurch.com/the-met-story/

Bill Ramsey: “The Met began in my heart in 1987 when I felt God was calling me to minister to people who, in the past, would have never entered a church. I wanted to reach people through an energetic service with contemporary music and practical messages that people could apply to their every day lives. At that time I was the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and I knew God was calling me to a new vision and adventure. So, on August 11, 1996, I launched Metroport Cities Fellowship (The Met) in the auditorium of Carroll High School in Southlake. Our vision was to reach people living in the Alliance corridor, which developers were calling the Metroport area.” 

“The Met ministers to over 3000 people each week and over 6000 people call The Met their church home.”

The Met was begun by founding pastor and now Senior Pastor Bill Ramsey, who was formerly the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. He felt God calling him (in an undefined way) to minister to the unchurched. He currently leads the executive team at the Met Church.

STAFF
http://www.metchurch.com/staff-page/

There is no overall description of the church’s leadership on this page, but there are references to various teams, executives, and staff members. These include “pastors” – both male and female – over various areas. One woman is the Executive Adult Pastor. Another woman leads as the children’s pastor. A third woman is the Worship Director. I could not find any references to elders, deacons, or evangelists, at least not using those biblical terms.

I did not see any reference to the Bible’s teachings on male spiritual leadership in 1 Tim 3:2 or Tit 1:5-6. Nor did I see any mention of the Bible’s teachings on women’s roles given in 1 Tim 2:11-15 or 1 Cor 14:33-35.

SALVATION
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe salvation is a sovereign gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe man is justified by grace through faith apart from works (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:4-5 & 2:8-10). We believe all true believers elect of God, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever (Romans 8:1, 29-30; John 10:27-30).”

The Met’s statement does not mention repentance or baptism as necessary expressions of faith for the forgiveness of sins. See Acts 2:38; Rom 6:1-4.

The words “sovereign gift of God … elect of God … once saved … kept secure in Christ forever” identify the belief that one who has come to Christ cannot choose at any future point to leave the faith, fall away, and be lost. He or she does not have the free will to do so. This belief has its roots in Calvinism. See Heb 6:4-6.

THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe Christ instituted the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, both of which are to be observed by believers until He returns (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26). We believe by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with his Savior and that infants of believing parents may be dedicated to the Lord but should not be baptized until they can personally articulate their faith and the purpose of baptism. We believe the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. We believe every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper but that participation must always be preceded by solemn self-examination.”

The Met’s statement declares the purpose of baptism by immersion to be one’s public identification with one’s Savior. No specific Scripture is noted in support of this idea. In the Scripture that is noted – Matt 28:19-20 – Jesus Himself says that baptism is a necessary step for one to be made a disciple. The New Testament also teaches that baptism is “into Christ” and “into His death” (Rom 6:1-4) and that by it one is “clothed with Christ” (Gal 3:26-27). Saul of Tarsus was told to “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

On the matter of baptism also note this:

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts men of sin. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them into the Church, the Body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and fills those yielded to Him (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; I Corinthians 12:4-11,13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18).”

Here the Met Church’s website notes that the Holy Spirit “regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them into the Church …” The idea seems to be that there is first a “Spirit baptism” that is separate from water. At this point one comes into the church; one is saved and sealed and cannot ever be lost. Later on there is to be a “water baptism,” to take place on the first Wednesday of the month, to identify oneself publicly with Christ (see below, under “1st Wednesday”).

The New Testament teaches that there is only one baptism (Eph 4:5) and that the one new birth (“regeneration”) involves both water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5; Tit 3:5).

THE ETERNAL STATE
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe the souls of believers in Jesus Christ do, at death, immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the Church, when soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. We believe the souls of unbelievers remain after death in constant misery in Hades until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord (Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).”

The Met’s mention of “the millennium” refers to a belief in a one-thousand-year physical reign of Christ on earth in Jerusalem.

1ST WEDNESDAY
http://www.metchurch.com/worship-services/

“First Wednesday is designed to bring our church together for corporate worship and have a special time to rejoice together through the celebration of Baptism. This is also when we come together as a church and take the Lord’s Supper and spend time in corporate and personal prayer. Every service at The Met is designed to connect you with God but at 1st Wednesday we focus less on teaching and extend the time of worship to provide an environment for you to worship God and spend more time with Him.”

The Met’s statement indicates that baptisms take place on the first Wednesday of each month. It also notes that the Lord’s Supper is observed monthly on the first Wednesday.

According to New Testament teaching, those pricked in the heart and convicted of their sins are to repent and be baptized immediately for the forgiveness of those sins. Never in Scripture was a baptism delayed, because it was considered essential and urgent. See Acts 2:36-38; 8:26-40; 10:47-48; 10:47-48; 16:30-34.

According to New Testament teaching, the church was (and is) to observe the Lord’s Supper – the breaking of bread – on the first day of the week. See Acts 20:7.

Once again, the purpose of this post is to help answer people’s questions about the Met Church by referencing that church’s own materials and responding with biblical texts and teachings. Only God’s Word is perfect. Our only goal is to understand it better and follow it more closely.

May God bless each reader as we all seek to serve the King of kings.

Lead Us Not …

My friend and our brother at Keller, Louis Stein, presented this devotional message recently. I asked him if I could share it with you.

James 1: 2-4, 12

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone. He was short on time and couldn’t find a space with a parking meter. So, he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: “I have circled the block a 100 times. If I don’t park here, I will miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.”

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. “I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.”

James 1:2-3 says: “²Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

Temptation is one of our trials. We will experience trials. We all will be tempted. Adam and Eve were tempted in the garden, Eve by the serpent and Adam by Eve; temptation has been with us from the very beginning. Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness. Jesus resisted the temptation, Adam and Eve did not. What was the difference?

I believe attitude was the difference. Jesus did not face temptation with defeatism, but as an opportunity to turn to the scriptures for strength and understanding. Temptation is not sin, but succumbing to temptation is the start of sinning. Rather, temptation is testing and should be viewed as a chance to strengthen our faith. It has been said that “Temptation is to the Christian what a football game is to the trained athlete – an opportunity to prove their ability to win.” When you resist temptation, as James 1:3 says, you show your endurance. And then, the endurance can lead to the desired outcome:     James 1:4 “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

When you are tested by temptation and resist, you gain endurance, for we know that we will be tested again. You gain maturity and grow stronger in your faith (“…so that you may be perfect and complete”), You gain independence as your endurance and faith increase (“…lacking in nothing”). You are responsible for your temptation, regardless of where it comes from. And when you have successfully resisted the temptations of this life, at the right time in God’s plan, you will receive from Jesus your just reward.   James 1: 12  “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Public School, Required Reading, and Christian Parenting

This post is written by my colleague and friend, Spencer Ross. I am grateful and glad to share it.

          Should I send my kids to public or private school? In this twisted world, should I just home school my kiddos? Every Christian family must honestly consider each option and choose the best route for them. A majority of Christians opt to utilize the public school option.  This comes with a price (other than paying your taxes). Our schools do not teach and view the world through the lens of Christianity. For many different reasons, public education is immersed in secularism.

          At the end of summer, I often ask students if they are ready for the new school year. Most of them are hesitant to say “yes” because they have not finished their dreaded required summer reading. Most school districts have similar recommend reading lists that teachers will use for their student’s required reading.

          Recently, one parent at the church where I labor noticed the content of one of the books his daughter was reading. The book was Anthem by Ayn Rand. The messages in the book were very disturbing to this Christian father.  Anthem promotes human autonomy, freedom from any higher authority than oneself, and the view that the author herself is “god.” This book denies the need to serve others unselfishly and calls the reader instead to live a self-centered, self-serving life. It presents a philosophy or belief system regarding deity, humanity, self, others, and the meaning of life. In that sense it is a religious book. Atheism, as well as theism, is a faith system or worldview.

          How should a Christian parent respond? How should a Christian parent respond to anything that the education system promotes that is opposed to Christ? Let me offer just three general suggestions that parents can specifically apply to their unique situations.

(1) Create An Environment of Open Discussion

          Our teenage students are going through this fast paced age of reasoning and enlightenment stage of life. They want to understand why they have been taught to believe and act in a certain way. They are curious to what opposing views advocate. My prayer as a parent is to create an environment where my children feel comfortable to ask questions and challenge fundamental beliefs without the fear of quick retaliation. I want to use opportunities like homework about humanism as an occasion to emphasis why the Christian worldview is superior.

          Jesus did not have scheduled Bible study sessions. In Scripture, he would use everyday life as classrooms to communicate spiritual truths. As a parent I can use the awkward experiences of inappropriate behavior we are exposed to on television, movies, and music as teachable moments to discuss the Christian worldview.

          God has blessed us with a mind and wisdom, and we should embrace education and learning. Paul was a well-versed student of secular studies as evidenced by his quotations in his speech on Mars Hill.

(2) Be a Concerned Parent

          My position on the whole public, private, or home school debate is that we must be concerned parents. I feel compelled as a Christian parent to come across as a “nosy” father. As we grow up we can reflect on our childhood and conclude that our parents seemed to care about us by how much they invested in my school, extracurricular activities, and faith. There seems to be a correlation between uninvolved parenting and sinful activity with teenagers.

          Ken Ham’s book Already Gone documents research about how our teens are losing their faith before they even leave the home of their parents. In the study, students did not believe in the literal Genesis account and the complete inspiration of Scripture. It is strongly recommend that concerned parents emphasis apologetics in their home. Apologetics is the study of reasoned arguments in justification of Christianity.

          Teens deep down would admit that they are appreciate to have concerned parents because it is a demonstration that they truly care about their physical, social, educational, and spiritual well-being.

(3) Take Appropriate Action

          We represent Christ with our words and actions. 1 Peter 3:21 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” It is perfectly justifiable to be angry about literature that is contrary to God’s word. However, we must be “angry and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26).  Remember our attitudes when we address these situations.

          We should not be hesitant to express our concerns to teachers, school boards, and other parents. You never know what kind of reaction you may get just for bringing something up. Many people never firmly and kindly express their complaints. Most school districts have policies in place to request the removal of books. Many parents can offer suggestions. For example, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis would be a comparable reading to serve as a counter study to Anthem. This would create more balance and diversity.

           Ask the Lord for wisdom how you as a Christian ought to react to anything in the public school system that bothers your conscious and challenges your core beliefs. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).