For too long, America has banished God from our public schools with dire consequences.
We have seen a rapid decline in safety and moral direction in public schools over the past few years, as the anti-God left demands an education system devoid of Biblical principles.
But Christians in this country are not sitting on the side lines, watching liberals take over the public school curriculum.
New bills introduced in several states could put studying the Bible back on the agenda.
Lawmakers in several states have formulated bills that would bring the Bible back to the daily public school curriculum for those students who would want to learn more.
USA Today reports:
“Some of the lawmakers – and leaders of Christian groups supporting the bills – say they want to restore traditional values in schools and give students a chance to study the religious text deeply.”
Many state representatives are merely looking to have state schools required to offer Bible studies on the Old and New Testament, but whether the student takes the offered course is up to them.
Republican state Rep. Aaron McWilliams of North Dakota co-sponsored a bill that is trying to get schools to offer Bible class electives.
His motivation behind the effort is because he believes, “The Bible is an integral part of our society and deserves a place in the classroom,” reports USA Today.
Other states that have also offered a Bible bill are Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, and West Virginia, as reported by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Last year, Alabama, Iowa, and West Virginia attempted to get a Bible elective bill passed, but failed. This year seems to offer more promise with an increasing number of proponents pushing to see a change in the schools, and at large, concerning traditional values.
In 2017, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed House Bill 128, which created public school electives on Bible literature and the Hebrew Scriptures. This successful precedent has paved the way for additional states to bring the missing piece back into the schools.
There are, of course, liberal naysayers who are opposing these bills by using a straw man fallacy concerning the separation of church and state. Representatives promoting the Bible bills are not seeking a forced education, but simply pointing out a citizen’s right to be educated on principles upon which this country was founded.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, is a strong opponent of the Bible bills, and says, “State legislators should not be fooled that these bills are anything more than part of a scheme to impose Christian beliefs on public schoolchildren,” according to USA Today.
No one is being fooled. The legislators who support these bills know exactly what they are, and what they promote, which is a window to encourage (not impose) children to seek out the Word of God for themselves.
Christian activist, David Barton, says, as reported by USA Today:
“Bible literacy is a good thing to have. For me, the issue is that many schools don’t (offer Bible studies courses) because they think they can’t legally. We are saying, ‘Well, yes, you can.’”
In the public schools now, there is little to no opposition to the liberal manifesto that kids are being presented with every day by students, teachers, and the media. Having a class offered that explores the other side of the coin gives students a chance to not succumb to the status quo.
Laser complains that having Bible classes as an option in the schools violates the First Amendment by having the government show preference to one religion over another. However, this is not the intention of the First Amendment.
The government is not oppressing the citizens by mandating a religion. Not only is the class optional, it looks at the academic side of the Scriptures in comparison to the theological aspects of it.
Conservative groups, including the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation and the National Legal Foundation, have rallied together under the name Project Blitz to do what they can to help the Bible bills become law.
“Critics say the groups are trying to reshape America by cementing pro-Christian messages in public schools,” reports USA Today.
The fact of the matter is that America needs some “reshaping”. It has not faired this good country well to stray from the Bible and the life that it promotes. Bringing back the message of hope and redemption found in Jesus Christ is the only way to move forward.
Seeing bills passed in states that would allow wandering children to come back into the fold and solidify their faith in God would be an answer to prayer for many Americans.
A dream that seemed impossible for many years may now become a reality.
Please let us know in the comments section what you think of these Bible bills and how that will affect public schools.
Please also pray that they will pass and that souls will be saved as a result!
