Jesus said, "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher." Luke 6 :40

Unity in the home can not be achieved by exposure to a diversity of voices or activities which teach contradictory views about God and the truth as revealed in His word. Jesus said,

I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one, even as Thou Father, art in Me and In in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. John 17 :20,21

Jesus makes it very clear that belief in the written word of God as set down by God through various men is the prerequisite to unity. Any deviation from the written word of God no matter how slight will produce disunity.

Jesus went on the say that it is the unity of believers that is the greatest tool of evangelism. He said the world will believe (continually believe) that the Father sent Him when it sees unity. We know that the world of our modern society doesn't believe that the Father heart of of God sent Jesus. Over half of the professing visible major denominations debate the virgin birth, the deity of Christ and the atoning work of Calvary to cover the spirit, soul and body needs of man. God's word is continually rejected by non-Christians and so called Christians in favor of cults, the occult, psychology, psychiatry, modern science and medicine. The divergent voices, opinions, doctrines and traditions make it very clear to those outside of Christ that the church they can visibly see offers nothing different from what they already have.

It is not the purpose of this chapter to delve into unity, but it must be noted that families can only be united by hearing the same voice. I Corinthians 1 :10 gives us further insight into the Greed word katartizo which means "to complete, prepare." It says,

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree (speak the same things) and there by no division among you, but you be made complete (united) in the same mind and in the same judgment.

There is only one way this verse can be achieved in hometraining families. The Bible must be the sure, complete, perfect foundation upon which every other educational endeavor must be built. If not, the family will not be the evangelical tool the Lord desires it to be.

The generation gap and teenage rebellion have their root in the ignorant refusal to give the Word of God it's dominant place in the education of young children. If non-believers observe Christian families with all the same problems, dilemmas, heartaches and grief of the world, what kind of witness are we portraying? It is a negative witness of hopelessness, despair and futility. However, if members of a Christian family think alike and talk alike as Paul exhorts us, then the non-believer has the true hope and trust that he too can posses such unity and common purpose.

Matthew 4 :21 and Mark 1:19 both verify the completeness or prepared state the Lord wants for His disciples and families. In both these verses the Greek word katartizo is translated "mending." It refers to the work the disciples were doing when Jesus called them to follow Him. In the natural they knew no fish could be caught if there were gaping holes in their fishing nets. It is in this context that Jesus said,

Follow (come here after Me), and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4 :17

It is the responsibility of hometraining parents to be certain that our families are mended, prepared and ready to catch the harvest of people that God will send our way. Any gaping holes of humanistic philosophy or divergent activities must be sewn up and mended with the truths contained in the Word of God. Only then will we be complete and prepared for whatever the Lord sends our way. Only then we will be of effective help to another fellow human being. The youngest to the oldest must realize the importance of being able to speak the Word of God effectively into any needful situation. Ephesians 4 :29 says,

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that is may give grace to those who hear.

Galatians 6 :5 opens with this same idea of being a unit that can be used to restore and repair others who need God's grace. God needs homes of refuge and safety where the word of the Lord can be heard clearly without condemnation or guilt but does bring conviction and repentance. In the following passage the word translated "restore" is the same Greek word katartizo which means "to complete, prepare." Paul exhorts with these words,

Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each shall bear his own load.

This is God's plan and purpose to reach those around us, and in Matthew 121 :16 we realize this type of evangelistic witness knows no age barrier. In this passage the same Greek word katartizo which means "to complete, prepare" is translated "prepared." It says,

Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself.

This passage demonstrates that not only does God wish to use children as a sign and wonder as Isaiah stated, but it also indicates that these young ones are still in the homes. A child who is being nursed by his mother cannot be one who is far from her side. Does our modern culture ignorantly stop the praise of God from young children's mouths by plucking them out of their mothers' arms too soon? Is the praise of our God choked in the throats of these little ones because other voices are so loud and so demanding of attention that these little sounds are brushed aside or ignored?

In its context it is easy to see that God's plan for young children and the praise and thankfulness that they exude is a strong spiritual weapon against the enemy. Psalm 8 :1-2 says,

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth, who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou has established strength because of Thine adversaries, Thou makes the enemy and the revengeful cease.

This Psalm shows us that praise in a young child's mouth has enough power behind it to stop the work of the enemy. This is not a religious program or method that entertains the natural man. This is true spiritual warfare that occurs in the security and safety of the home. Psalm 149 :5-9 teaches us this same principle concerning God's will for families. It says,

Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord.

Verse 5 makes it very clear this activity does not occur in a church service. Singing for joy on our beds makes no sense when given a religious interpretation. The praises of God within the security of the home is a worthwhile activity not just for the spiritual education and edification of ourselves, but it also serves as a much wider sphere of influence. The devil and his forces are bound when families praise and thank God. There is no age limit to this activity and the ramifications of this truth are staggering.

Is the enemy running rampant in our society because abortion violates the sanctity of the womb and stops young mouths from praising our Lord? Does the enemy go unchecked because TV programs, radio broadcasts, video games and worldly music and entertainment silence the words and music of praise of our children ages 1-7? Are the kindergartens and day-care centers really the devil's program to stop the praise and thankfulness from young lips that would bind his activity? Do these institutions and modern trends help or hinder the Kingdom of God? The Word of God makes it very clear what curriculum and what kind of activity hometraining parents should be promoting. The sphere of influence one home in one neighborhood could have is limitless. Do we realize now why the opposition from family, friends, neighbors and even churches is so strong? The enemy even used Peter to oppose the will of God in Jesus' life. In Matthew 16 :23 we read Jesus' words,

Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.

Training our children at home is not a trendy idea. It is God's will and purpose that will meet opposition and resistance from the enemy. It will take many forms, but if we are dedicated to see God's will performed in our lives, He will do His part to help us in every battle we may face.

In I Peter 5 :10 we see another scripture using the Greek word katartizo which means "to complete, prepare." It says,

And after you have suffered for a little, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

What a beautiful promise. We can trust in the written Word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit to provide a total, complete curriculum for our children. Hometraining parents do not have to be defensive, but we must be diligent. We should not be argumentative, but we must be persuasive. We do not need educational credentials, but we are to be full of faith and wisdom. Be encouraged by the words of Paul,

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord , so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.