President Ronald Reagan insightfully said: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

It is difficult to live free. Freedom is not the default state of sinful man. Left to himself, man will not progress toward liberty but spiral downward into bondage. Scripture warns us to not be taken captive by worldly philosophies, and reminds us that Christian ideas bring liberty (Col. 2:8).

Liberty produces flourishing – personal, familial, economic, governmental, and cultural flourishing. History affirms that liberty produces prosperity, but more importantly we learn from history that Christianity produces liberty.

The founders of America embraced the truths that freedom comes from God, not government, and that freedom is the product of Christian education.

Understanding these important ideas reveals why America became the most free and prosperous nation in history, and also why we have been losing our liberties. Education in early America was thoroughly Christian. Home-centered biblical education produced the free nation of America. Christian education prepared citizens to love their neighbor, to govern themselves, to think biblically, and to pass on to posterity the character and worldview necessary to to live free.

However, the rise of government controlled schools and secular education has produced a decline of moral and academic excellence, which has led to a loss of liberty. Schools have become progressively dangerous. Some of the most negative influences that young Americans can face today are found in public schools. Exposure to drugs, assault, rape, and murder are becoming more and more common. Radical transgender and homosexual ideology is promoted in classrooms, and reinforced by biological males having access to girls’ restrooms and being allowed to compete in girls’ sports.

In addition to children facing physical danger they are also facing ideological danger in the classroom. Secular humanism has replaced Christianity as the underlying tenet of public schools. With this, academic performance has declined over the decades. As numerous authors have pointed out, Johnny can’t read, Johnny can’t think, and Johnny can’t tell right from wrong.

The educrats who have overseen this decline are working hard to keep parents in the dark about all that is happening in schools. When parents attempt to speak, they are often ignored and some have even been arrested.

Our modern government schools are built upon the pagan idea that the state is the ultimate authority in the earth and everything comes under its domain, especially the education of children. This is not a new idea. From ancient history until modern times, kings and rulers have sought to govern all aspects of education. But the Bible teaches education according to Christ is outside the control of government, that it is parents who have the right and responsibility to govern the education of their children. Scripture teaches that the fear of the Lord and knowledge of truth is the foundation for education that brings liberty.

Therefore, the solution to our loss of liberty and loss of societal flourishing is to restore the biblical education upon which America was built – to prepare citizens who are Educated for Liberty.

Educated for Liberty, hosted by Providence Foundation President Stephen McDowell, explores the characteristics, model, fruit, and societal impact of biblical education, as well as the role of the family and church in educating future generations. This film contains numerous interviews of national leaders in Christian education, school administrators, teachers, pastors, and parents. It seeks to encourage families to govern the education of their children and to inspire pastors and leaders in the church to become actively involved in education, thereby assisting parents in fulfilling their responsibility to educate their children.

Some of those interviewed for the film are pictured below: David Barton (Founder WallBuilders), Alex Newman (Author and Journalist), Abraham Hamilton (American Family Association), Meeke and Wil Addison (Culture Proof), Michael Farris (Founder HSLDA and Patrick Henry College), George Barna (Author, Pollster, and Professor), Rhonda Thomas (Truth in Education), Dave Brat Former Congressman)

In addition to those pictured above, other people interviewed for this film include: Leigh Bortins, Founder Classical Conversations; Alex McFarland, Author and Educator; Walker Wildmon, American Family Radio; Jeff Keaton, President Renewanation; Tim Barton, President WallBuilders; E. Ray Moore, Exodus Mandate; Dan Smithwick, Nehemiah Institute; Sam Sorbo, Actress, and more.

The target completion date for Educated for Liberty is fall 2024. This film is intended to be freely distributed through online viewing, with DVD purchase and downloads available upon request. Educated for Liberty is a project of the Providence Foundation and Create Studios (Dale Robinson, President). The trailer can be viewed at this link and will soon be available at the website: educatedforliberty.com

To view the trailer Click Here

If you wish to support this important project you can make a donation here. For questions, contact Stephen McDowell at in**@pr******************.com or call the Providence Foundation at 434-978-4535.