Wake Up, Look Up

Hello, everyone. Thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch. And this summer, we're doing something a little unique as I do a little traveling. I'm having some of my friends guest host episodes that I have produced.

I could not be more excited for you to hear what they have to say, and today's episode is no exception. You're gonna love it. Hi. I'm Laura Simmonds, and today we are considering, can we guarantee human flourishing? And this is prompted by an article that I read in the Washington Post by Patrick Brown titled The Success Sequence Goes to School.

And I found it really interesting that in this article, he points to data that shows that public schools in red states are outperforming public schools in blue states, And that policymakers in those states are doing away with stuff that may not really help education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as gender ideology, and instead are reorienting education to focus on things that do help students, the importance of work, the value of marriage, and the joy of family life. And what these lawmakers, educators, policymakers are pointing to is data that proves that when young adults follow the success sequence, which is graduate from high school, get a job, get married, and then have children in that order, they are less likely to live in poverty and more likely to be successful across various social and economic domains. Furthermore, they point to children who grow up and married two parent households that they are happier and, more successful and that they're overall contented. And so policymakers, lawmakers, educators alike are showing that the success sequence leads to long term human flourishing. And this is really garnering a bunch of support in Sunbelt states, for parents want schools to uphold what they're teaching in the home that they don't have to undo something that they didn't agree with that happened earlier.

And so this is guarding a bunch of parental support. And I really appreciate the way that the writer concludes. He does say that the moral formation of children falls on parents, not on schools. However, this should spark interesting conversations about who that young adult wants to be, not so much what they want to do. So how do we think about this through a biblical worldview?

Well, I think first and foremost, we can acknowledge that this reorientation of education is really what the design has been since the beginning. In Genesis one and two, when God commanded Adam and Eve to have dominion over the earth and to be fruitful and multiply. So therefore, whether or not someone holds to a Christian worldview, we have to see that work, marriage, and family life are part of his good gifts and blessings to all mankind. So we should want that for our neighbor because it will help them flourish as God had designed. The second thing I think we need to think through is that should this legislation come to your local school district or in your own state, should you uphold it?

And I would say it's a resounding yes. In Jeremiah 29, when God's people are living in exile, he tells them to build houses and live in them, to plant gardens and eat of its produce, to find a spouse and have children, and to seek the welfare of the city. For in its welfare, you will find your welfare. In other words, when it thrives, you will thrive. And this is part of loving our neighbor as Jesus talked about.

We are to love God in his ways and to love our neighbors. And I really think that this kind of hearkens back though to what the author was talking about the end of his article that parents, you do bear the responsibilities, even if this legislation does come to your local area. And it's a good thing that you agree with. You can't rely on the school district to do all of the work. Why?

Because in Deuteronomy chapter six verses four through nine, the Lord is very clear in his instructions to fathers and mothers that they are to teach their children about who he is, what he is like, and what he has done. And that they are to delight in obeying what he has asked them to do, and that they are to love him with all of their heart, with all of their soul, and with all of their might. But I think we, as parents, have to know that while the success sequence can certainly lead to a good life, it's really not how the Bible defines flourishing. In second Peter three eighteen, it talks about one who is flourishing is growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and savior. So we want that for our children.

Furthermore, if you look at Psalm one, we see this beautiful display of someone who was flourishing. Why? Because they're delighting in God and his ways. It actually talks about how they're like a tree planted by streams of water. And I think the last thing that we have to be quick to clarify whether to our own children or to our neighbors is that the success sequence while that's good, we can't place our hope there.

Bad things can happen, job loss, diagnosis, and those things don't bring us everlasting hope and peace, only Jesus can. And I think about Philippians four eleven through 13 when Paul is writing from prison. So he is not winning here, but he does say that he can do all things through him who gives him strength. Why? Because he knows contentment being brought low.

He knows that it is only Jesus who can make him feel secure when the waves of this world seem to be against him. Hey. Thanks for watching this episode of Wake Up, Look Up. If you enjoyed it, please help us get the word out by sharing it with someone you think might benefit from it. And while you're here, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get further content or even download the CCC app where you'll find even more resources to help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have an article you’d like Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!