Michael P. Farris, Esq.
Chairman &
General Counsel

The Christian Education Resolution

Volume 55, Program 2 9/14/2004

On today's Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith speaks with Bruce Shortt about the issues facing Christians when they decide how to educate their children.

Mike Smith:
My guest this week is Bruce Shortt, a Southern Baptist church member and coauthor of the Christian Education Resolution that was submitted for consideration at the Southern Baptist Convention's June annual meeting. Bruce, what led you to write the Christian Education Resolution?


Bruce Shortt:
Unfortunately, too many parents and pastors still think of government schools in terms of what they were many years ago. They don't understand that because of court rulings and other influences, government schools are now aggressively anti-Christian. Not only do government schools treat the Bible as contraband, they're indoctrinating our children with false and destructive beliefs such as moral relativism. In fact, government schools have done such an effective job of teaching moral relativism that Barna Research found that only 9% of evangelical children believe that there is any such thing as absolute moral truth. And what are the consequences to our culture? The Guttmacher Institute projects that 50% of young adults will contract a venereal disease by age 25. And a Zogby poll shows that two-thirds of college students support homosexual marriage. Astonishingly, there are homosexual clubs in 2,000–3,000 middle schools and high schools. As you can see, Mike, government schools are dangerous places for Christian children.


Mike:
Thank you, Bruce. Listeners, join us next time as we continue our discussion of a Christian response to public education. And until then, I'm Mike Smith.