Arizona has spent another week fighting over Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, teachers unions, school choice, and what happens inside our classrooms. But underneath all the politics is a much bigger question: Who gets to shape the child? Government? Schools? Teachers unions? The culture? Or the parents God entrusted with that child? Because the real battle isn’t simply over where a child goes to school. It’s over who gets to influence the next generation.

The Apostle Paul gives us a remarkable picture of this in 2 Timothy 1:5. He reminds Timothy of the genuine faith that first dwelt in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Think about that. Timothy would become one of the great leaders of the early church. Paul would mentor him, trust him, and give him tremendous responsibility. But before there was Timothy the leader, there was Timothy the little boy. And before Paul influenced Timothy, Lois and Eunice did.

Paul later tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures.” Somebody taught him. Somebody opened the Scriptures. Somebody planted those truths while Timothy was young. Lois and Eunice understood that raising a child was about more than feeding a body. They were shaping a mind and influencing a soul.Never underestimate the influence of a mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather who faithfully teaches a child the Word of God.

Our culture fights relentlessly over children. We see it in the battle over abortion. We see it in education. We see it in sexuality, gender, marriage, morality, and truth. The battle doesn’t end with the children who die. It continues with the children who live.

Who will tell them what a man is and what a woman is? Who will teach them about marriage? Who will tell them whether God created them intentionally? Who will teach them right from wrong? Who will tell them where truth comes from? Somebody will. The only question is: Who?

God already answered that question. Deuteronomy 6 tells God’s people to teach His words diligently to their children—to speak of them at home, along the way, when they lie down, and when they rise. The responsibility begins with the family.

Teachers can help. Schools can help. Churches can help. But government cannot replace Mom and Dad. A teachers union cannot replace Mom and Dad. Social media cannot replace Mom and Dad. And no educational system—public, private, charter, homeschool, or ESA—can relieve Christian parents of the responsibility God gave them.

That’s why, for Christians, school choice is about something deeper than protecting a government program. It’s about protecting the ability of parents to fulfill their responsibility before God. Lois and Eunice didn’t know everything God would eventually accomplish through Timothy. They simply poured God’s truth into one little boy. Nearly two thousand years later, we’re still talking about their influence.

God gave children to families before governments ever built schools.

Parents and grandparents, don’t surrender yours. Know what your children are being taught. Know who is speaking into their lives. Know what they’re watching and hearing. And above everything else, make certain they hear the truth of God’s Word from you.

There is one important distinction. Teaching Scripture to your children does not give them eternal life. You cannot believe for your children. Eternal life is the free gift of God, received simply by believing in Jesus Christ for it.

Salvation is free. Discipleship is costly.

Lois and Eunice couldn’t believe for Timothy. But they could make certain Timothy knew the Scriptures. And they did.

Political battles come and go. Politicians change. Laws change. School systems change. But God’s assignment to parents hasn’t changed.

The hand that rocks the cradle really can change the world. Protect the cradle. Teach the child. Open the Scriptures. Pass down God’s truth. And never stop asking:

Whose hand are you allowing to rock the cradle?

Run to win. Be God’s friend. Remember—

It pays to serve Jesus.