If you’ve been reading local Idaho newspapers lately, you might be under the impression that everyone thinks reintroducing Bible reading in public schools is outrageous.
The truth, though, is that the relative few who openly oppose Bible reading in public schools are those who are hostile toward its teachings—like woke journalists, liberal pundits, and mainline Episcopal rectors.
As a longtime pastor who believes and respects the Bible, I think it is evident, at least to most of us, that the Bible is not a threat to society but a blessing.
Through the ages, biblical truth has served as a redemptive force, shaping cultural values and guiding the development of civic institutions. Not only has the Bible laid the bedrock for our civil society, but it has also shaped the moral conscience of its people.
This is why our forefathers cared so deeply about school-sponsored Bible reading. They knew that exposure to the Bible would aid children in developing good character and growing up to be ethical and accountable citizens.
In fact, Fisher Ames, the founder who wrote most of the final language for the oft-cited religion clauses of the First Amendment, fully expected that Bibles would be read in public schools when he penned its famous words.
Ames asked, “Should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a schoolbook?” His answer was unequivocal: “[The Bible’s] morals are pure, its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the sacred book that is thus early impressed, lasts long.”
Even the father of our public school system, Benjamin Rush, was himself a passionate advocate. He warned us that if we ever removed biblical teaching from our schools, we will “waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them.”
According to Rush, “The Bible should be read in our schools in preference to all other books, from its containing the greatest portion of that kind of knowledge which is calculated to produce private and public happiness.”
Don’t be fooled by the nonsensical propaganda about sectarian indoctrination or forced conversion. School-sponsored Bible reading is not about imposing religion on anyone—it is about instilling in our children the moral and ethical foundation that has guided our nation for centuries.
Despite what you might be hearing from a few vocal skeptics, the truth is that bringing the Bible back to our schools will be a blessing to our students and a benefit to our communities.
