The Good and the Beautiful vs. Truly Christian Curriculum: What Parents Need to Know

Perhaps you’re looking for more. More than just a "beautiful" education that is affordable. More than just a "clean" curriculum that avoids the "bad" in modern schooling.

For us, that journey began with our own homeschool adventure. I’ll never forget sitting in our living room with our precious children, opening the very first Language Arts workbook I had ever cracked open as a homeschool mother.

The first thing I encountered was "M for mad." WHAT?! M for mad?? Were they serious? Did someone actually print this for Kindergartners? Every alarm bell and red flag went off in my mind. I thumbed through a few more pages, shut the book, and told our son, "I’m sorry, but we’re taking this right back." I knew there had to be something better.

I can point to specific moments that led us to say "yes" to God for the mission of creating That It May Go Well (TMGW), and this was definitely a stone on the pathway.

Defining What We Won't Teach

I knew for sure what we wouldn't teach our kids:

• We weren’t teaching "M is for Mad." That was certain.

• We weren’t teaching evolution.

• We weren’t teaching Common Core.

• We weren’t teaching gender confusion.

The list goes on, but you get the idea. But the bigger question remained: What were we teaching?

I grew up using Christian curriculum, so Abeka was a natural first thought. But once I saw the price, I wondered, “Can we even afford to homeschool?!” I won’t knock other believers who have created what God called them to create, but perhaps you know the feeling of a Christian education feeling financially out of reach or practically impossible.

We’re here because we’re real parents who have walked the path of an actual homeschool family. We didn’t create TMGW as a "Fortune 500" business idea. We created it because the Lipse family needed it—and God impressed upon us to actually DO it, not just crave it!

My Experience with The Good and the Beautiful (TGTB)

Fast forward from the "M is for Mad" ordeal. I asked a few parents for advice and landed on The Good and the Beautiful.

It is, in fact, beautiful. I loved the style of the workbooks and much of the teaching within them. However, it left me wanting more. Perhaps it was designed this way on purpose—to be desirable for the masses and not "too religious" so as not to offend anyone or lose market share.

I found myself slowly skipping things. Why were we staring at that specific painting, after all? I found myself craving more Jesus in our schooling! I wanted more of the Word of God—both the written Word and the Word made flesh.

Something was missing. It felt like a core component of a healthy "educational diet" was absent. I began to feel like the content was neither hot nor cold, and I started to worry that Jesus might spit it right out.

Evaluating Faith-Based Homeschool Options

We tried one more curriculum on our journey, but truth be told, it just felt too dated for me. While I had no serious theological reservations and the cost was reasonable, I still couldn't shake the notion that there was a better way to homeschool.

I wanted a way to teach where, as we added our second child, I wouldn't be overwhelmed or left desiring more of Jesus and less of someone else’s artwork to meditate on.

So, what is the concern with TGTB?

When we used TGTB, I didn’t know it was created by someone with an LDS (Latter-day Saints/Mormon) background. I only found out after I had already expressed my concerns. For some families, that isn't a dealbreaker. For us, it likely would have been; I just didn't know. Maybe it wasn't public knowledge then, or maybe I didn't look hard enough.

Testing the Fruit: Is it Truly Christian?

Here is my encouragement to you, and this applies far beyond just homeschooling: Just because something or someone carries a "Christian" label, do not take them at their word. You must observe, test, and audit it for yourself.

Does the tree bear good fruit? Is the label on the tree correct? Just because a little plaque says "Apple Tree," don't be convinced until you see apples. If you see oranges hanging on those branches, don't believe it's going to grow apples!

I don’t want to be nasty; there is more than enough of that on the internet. I know the measure I use will likely be used against me. When you put your family "out there," you realize you live in a glass house. I’m not in the business of throwing rocks, but I am in the business of telling you to look in the windows.

Use that same measure with TMGW. If you see something we wrote that isn't right, don't teach it to your kids. We are humans and we make mistakes; only Jesus is perfect. One of my favorite Bible study authors once said she doesn’t always agree with her past self! I share that sentiment. When you create for long enough, you realize that as you mature, you could have said some things better.

The fear of the Lord makes me both open my mouth and shut it. Trembling before Him keeps me humble on both counts.

A Bible-Based Alternative for Your Home

For the time we used TGTB, I found myself questioning that "Christian" label. Does Christian simply mean the absence of evil? What about being lukewarm? If you want an education that points your children to the narrow path—to "pick up your cross and follow Christ"—you may find yourself wanting more.

As Christian homeschool parents, we have the opportunity to make our children’s education truly Bible-based:

• To use parables instead of fables.

• To use scripture instead of rhymes.

• To stare at Jesus instead of secular artwork.

• To worship instead of just wonder.

• To trade the world’s wisdom for the fear of the Lord.

  
  

You will find these truths at the heart of That It May Go Well. If you are looking for an alternative to The Good and the Beautiful that is affordable, beautiful, and unapologetically Christian, That It May Go Well Christian Homeschool Curriculum might be exactly what your family has been praying for.