National Council On Bible Curriculum In Public Schools

How, exactly would the Bible be presented? Teaching that it is just a bunch of stories, or, that it's teachings mean nothing to us today could do great harm.

 

Many complain because "the Bible was taken out of the classroom."
Now the same people would complain if the Bible were put back into the classroom because it would be taught by an unsaved and ungodly individual who would not be able to "rightly divide the Word of truth." What kind of spin would they put on God's Word? Would they just make a mockery of it?
Do we really want unsaved individuals teaching our children the Bible?

On the other hand we live in a society of Biblically illiterate individuals. Many Muslims, other world religions, and most cults, know more about the Bible than those who fall under the umbrella of professing Christendom. Under evangelical Christianity, a good working knowledge of the Bible is hard to find.

from an illustration file dated 1986.
DHK

 

That is my fear about this kind of thing. I think that improper Bible teaching can be more dangerous that no Bible teaching.

 

The Bible would be taught by a bunch of sodomites, evolutionists, and humanists who have taken over the public school system. The damage that has already been done by taking Bible reading and prayer out of school is irreversible at this point and after all these years. It would be like putting a Band-Aid on an inoperable cancer.

 

"I think that improper Bible teaching can be more dangerous that no Bible teaching. "
""
One of the arguments used by the RCC to ban Bible translations prior to the Reformation.

In this case, if the knowledge of the content of the Bible improves sharply because of those lessons, it is worth it, even the audiance comes away with the notion that the Bible is essentially just a work of literature.

 

"Do we really want unsaved individuals teaching our children the Bible?"

In Phil. 1:18 Paul rejoiced because the gospel was preached.

Phil. 1:15-18, "Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice."

 

My, my, my, am I ever surprised at the reaction of some of you.

I'm with gb93433 an monique. No matter WHO is teaching it, it is still the Word of God. It is unchanging. They can put whatever slant on It they wish but It has always and will always prevail.

 

I don't want the government preaching the Gospel to my kids. That's not their job. That's my job, and the job of my church. As soon as the school does it, my parental authority, as well as my child(ren)'s religious liberty, is usurped.

Come to think of it, I don't want the government preaching the Gospel to me, either.

 

I see both good and bad sides to doing this. I don't think teaching the Bible as literature will be proclaiming the gospel or proclaiming Christ. I am sure that non-Christian teachers will try to avoid teaching Christianity.

The good side is that children who might not otherwise be exposed to the Bible at all will get exposed to it, and God can use his word to convict and/or draw people to Christ.

The bad side is that the Bible will just be seen as another religious book, one of many. Also, the bad side is how it will be taught. Will the OT laws and judgments be emphasized to try to show a "cruel" God? If done out of context, children could get the wrong idea of what God was doing with Israel and not even know the OT is the prelude to the NT and prophesies the Messiah.

Will the Bible be compared in a bad way to the Koran? The Upanishads? The Buddhist texts? I know the Bible outshines all these, but to unbelievers, that is not apparent unless God opens their eyes to that.

 

I have a child in high school. They're allowed to use religious-themed materials as literary works. That includes the Bible, or other religious themed writings. My daughter has cited biblical books or passages several times.

 

Right, but that was your daughter, not the teacher. I probably should have said that teaching the Bible as literature and history does not necessarily mean it will be used to proclaim the gospel.

 

To reiterate, I don't want the job of proclaiming the Gospel to be upon a teacher (at least not in the role of teacher).

 

Right, I don't either. I agree with you.

But I don't think it would happen since teachers are not allowed to proselytize, at least officially, at least around here.

I know a lot of non-Christian beliefs and views get in through the back door, through the textbooks, in special programs, in sex ed (that happens here where I live), etc. but if a teacher tried to teach the gospel here, she/he would be out the door.