If you think homeschooled children are somehow "less" educated than children whose parents outsourced the job to government indoctrination - compare this essay written by a homeschooled 10th grader
This essay reflects on the lessons to be learned from Sun Tzu's Art of War. We will all be called upon to be Christian "warriors", for we do not battle the flesh, but are engaged in a spiritual war.
As parents, have you prepared your children for the likely possibility they will experience full scale persecution in America for professing Christ as their Savior? Unthinkable? How many things were unthinkable just 20 years ago?
Enjoy my 16-year old's interpretation of this classic:
----There are many ways we can use Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” in our daily lives. Sun Tzu may not realize it, but his advice on military strategies can actually be used as a metaphor for lessons that Christians can use everyday. The three topics that stand out are the church, telling others about our faith, and keeping our own faith in times of trial.
The first way “Art of War” can be applied to our faith concerns the church itself. If the church is united, it can move forward and bring in converts. However, if people can’t get along over every little thing, the church will fall apart. Sun Tzu gives a good analogy of this by saying: “maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude most dangerous.” Also for a church to be successful, Christians must realize that every person has an important role, no matter how small and insignificant they may feel. Sun Tzu explains this concept applying it to the army saying: “We may take it then that an army without its baggage train is lost, without provisions it is lost, without bases of supply it is lost.”
The second way “Art of War” applies to Christians deals with telling others about our faith. When we are debating with non-Christians about God, we should either know what we are talking about or be ready and willing to admit we don’t have all the answers and that we will try to find them with further Biblical study. Sun Tzu sums this up with an interesting metaphor. “Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.” So be ready for anything with knowledge of Scripture. Sun Tzu agrees saying: “the art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him”.
The last topic that stands out talks about keeping the strength not to lose our faith. When you are in a situation where you are the only Christian (and make no mistake, this will happen), it is very easy to wander away from God just to fit in. Even though Sun Tzu is talking about war, he understands this concept very well. “When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated situations.” He also says, “Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy”. So be careful not to give in and make sure you have Christian friends to pray with you. Another way people might lose their faith is by not being a Christian for God, but because it makes them look good. Be careful not to fall into this trap. “The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without feeling disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his Sovereign is the jewel of the kingdom”.
“Art of War” clearly is a wonderful guide for Christianity if you know how to decipher the metaphors. It is helpful when dealing with the church itself. It explains how to be ready for anything, even if for us that means sharing our faith. Finally, “Art of War” helps us realize we must keep our faith and not fall into a deadly trap, even when in strange territory. It just shows that we are fighting a war as Christians, because the lessons we must learn are the same as those of an army.
The first way “Art of War” can be applied to our faith concerns the church itself. If the church is united, it can move forward and bring in converts. However, if people can’t get along over every little thing, the church will fall apart. Sun Tzu gives a good analogy of this by saying: “maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude most dangerous.” Also for a church to be successful, Christians must realize that every person has an important role, no matter how small and insignificant they may feel. Sun Tzu explains this concept applying it to the army saying: “We may take it then that an army without its baggage train is lost, without provisions it is lost, without bases of supply it is lost.”
The second way “Art of War” applies to Christians deals with telling others about our faith. When we are debating with non-Christians about God, we should either know what we are talking about or be ready and willing to admit we don’t have all the answers and that we will try to find them with further Biblical study. Sun Tzu sums this up with an interesting metaphor. “Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.” So be ready for anything with knowledge of Scripture. Sun Tzu agrees saying: “the art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him”.
The last topic that stands out talks about keeping the strength not to lose our faith. When you are in a situation where you are the only Christian (and make no mistake, this will happen), it is very easy to wander away from God just to fit in. Even though Sun Tzu is talking about war, he understands this concept very well. “When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated situations.” He also says, “Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy”. So be careful not to give in and make sure you have Christian friends to pray with you. Another way people might lose their faith is by not being a Christian for God, but because it makes them look good. Be careful not to fall into this trap. “The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without feeling disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his Sovereign is the jewel of the kingdom”.
“Art of War” clearly is a wonderful guide for Christianity if you know how to decipher the metaphors. It is helpful when dealing with the church itself. It explains how to be ready for anything, even if for us that means sharing our faith. Finally, “Art of War” helps us realize we must keep our faith and not fall into a deadly trap, even when in strange territory. It just shows that we are fighting a war as Christians, because the lessons we must learn are the same as those of an army.
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