Should Homeschoolers Be Politically Active?

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (I Timothy 2:1-2)

It was a surreal experience. On my right was United States Senator Lindsay Graham. On my left was United States Congressman Joe Wilson. Completing the trio was Senate hopeful Jim DeMint. And me. Me, who three months earlier thought that Wilson was a tennis ball company, grahams went with chocolate to make s’mores, and de mint was what you ate after de meal. Now I listened to their plans for our state and country and asked questions that were reasonably intelligent. To what did I owe this newfound political savvy?  My 15-year-old politically interested homeschooled daughter.

Interested in the political process and wanting to earn her high school credit in Government, my daughter made contact with several of the local candidates running for political office and volunteered her services. The rest as they say, is history. 

Smart candidates recognize the goldmine of time, energy, and enthusiasm that belongs to most homeschoolers. They realize that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to hand out stickers in a parade, staple yard signs together, prepare mailers, and waive signs at polling places. Each hour my daughter worked counted toward elusive Carnegie unit for Government. Each hour she  worked taught her valuable things about the political process.

More than that though, our whole family has learned that our elected officials really do care about the people they serve. Each of the men took the time to thank my daughter for her service as warmly as if she had donated much more than time to their campaign. They took time out of their busy schedules to tell stories of when they were 15-years-old and working on their first campaigns. They recognized that the young people volunteering with them are the future - citizens, voters, and possibly elected officials, and planted seeds of that vision in them.

Now, eight years later, my daughter works for one of the same candidates she campaigned for so long ago. She lives on Capitol Hill and sometimes leads tours for homeschooling families just like ours. Exploring the field of government during high school birthed a desire in her heart to be a part of the governmental process rather than just complain about it. As a believer, she has an opportunity to be a light in a very dark place and an influence on those around her.

If your family has never gotten involved in a political campaign, I urge you to consider it today. Choose a candidate whose views mirror yours and give their campaign headquarters a call. It's a great way to meet the men and women who represent us at the school board, county council, statehouse, and in Washington. Your children will be on their way to becoming an active part in our country’s democracy, and you might even learn what House district you live in once and for all.

Application Questions:

1. Have you and your family been passive or involved in the political process?
2. Have you ever considered volunteering to help a local candidate run for office?
3. Which candidates’ or currently elected officials’ platforms most closely align with a biblical worldview on current issues?
4. Is it important to you that your children learn the political process?

Action Step for This Week:

Teach your children how to find a candidate or incumbent within your area whose political views most closely align with your own. Contact his/her office to volunteer.

Prayer of Commitment:

“Lord, it is so easy to be passive when it comes to government. There’s a lot I don’t understand, and sometimes it seems that only the immoral and dishonest get elected. Please show me how You would like for our family to be a part of the political process. Help us to find a godly man or woman like Daniel or Mordecai to come alongside with our prayers, our time, and our effort.”

This post is an excerpt from Lori's devotional book for homeschooling moms, Joy In the Journey ~ Encouragement for Homeschooling Moms

 

  Homeschooling is HARD!

With a devotion for every week of the school year, Joy in the Journey helps remind you that God wants to be a vital, active part of your homeschool. Each chapter contains devotions specific to what a homeschooling mom encounters each month, application questions, an action step, and a prayer. It's suitable for personal devotions or for use by your support group for meeting topic ideas.

You've invested in wonderful curriculum for your children's new school year, why not invest in something for yourself?

To read more about Joy in the Journey and what other homeschooling moms are saying about it, click here.

Click here to order a paperback or Kindle copy: Joy In the Journey ~ Encouragement for Homeschooling Moms
To read the post "Homeschooling--The hardest thing I've ever done" Click here.

To read the post "Homeschooling--When you've lost your joy," Click Here.

To read the post "Homeschooling and God's mercy--When you feel like a failure," Click Here.

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