I think the best response I’ve ever heard to the “socialization” issue was by R.C. Sproul Jr. in the book When You Rise Up. Here’s a bit of his answer:
“It {the Bible} tells us that it equips us for every good work. It tells us likewise that we are to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But it not only doesn’t tell us how to socialize our children, but doesn’t tell us that they should be socialized. There is no commandment from God, “Thou shalt socialize thy children.” In fact, I’m sometimes a little unclear as to what it is these objectors are seeking for my children. What does it mean to be socialized?………What they want for my daughter….is for her to be hip to all the things other ten-year-olds are concerned about, like fashion labels, television shows, pop singers, and other essentials to the good life. They are concerned that my daughter is not under the sway of Madison Avenue, that she is free. But I have none of that concern. I raise my daughters, her sisters, and her brother to be free. Their identity is in Christ, not in pop culture.”
He goes on to address (very well, IMO) the questions of “what about their ability to get along with those who are different?”, “how will they meet people where they are?”, “how will they witness if they never run into the lost?” Definitely worth reading!
Rachel H.
