on April 20, 2006 by pat in christianity, Comments (3)
Bible taught in schools
Atlanta, GA is reported to be the first state to offer government-sanctioned elective classes on the Bible. The conditions are:
The state Education Department has until February to craft curriculums. The law requires that the courses be taught “in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students.”
In response to this stipulation, the proponents of the law were said to:
Backers of the law made clear they were trying to craft a statute that would survive any constitutional challenges.
Let’s see how this story develops..
Slapp-V
April 26, 2006 @ 9:49 am
Hmmm, Let me ramble my thoughts out again as I’ve been thinking about this subject lately. This is just my opinion for what it’s worth.
I really don’t see any point in having a Bible elective class. My reason… Who will teach it?
If the EDU Depart. requires that it can’t be taught in an ‘objective and nondevotional manner’ only, then who will teach it? If it’s taught by a Christian, then could he just teach the Bible as if God’s Word was subjective and just ‘possibly’ true? Could he give an unbiased opinion? Does not God’s word tell us to ‘Proclaim Him’(Coll.1:28.1 Pet.2:9)& ‘Preach Him’ (Gal.1:16, 1 Cor.1:23)? I can’t picture a true believer, concerned with God’s glory, just teaching Holy writ academically. On the other hand, if the class is taught by a non-Christian, then you have a non-regenerate spiritually dead person trying to teach spiritual things. The end result is scripture twisting and perverted teachings (1 Cor.2:14). Besides, I’ve never seen a sceptic able to be unbiased toward God and His Christ! His opinion will come out!
The only Bible teaching I could see as being beneficial is in a Christian school as they meet for morning Chapel and the speaker proclaims ‘Thus sayeth the Lord’!
I wanna say more but work calls! Blessing’s to you bro!
patrick
April 26, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Yo Slap,
That was my concern too. At first glance this seems like good news for the Christian cause.. But that cause is the cause of Christ’s substituionary death, burial, and resurrection for sinners. That is historical fact. The rub is this – that fact has implications which cannot be glossed over as you said, “teaching Holy writ academically.” It immediately brings to the reader to a fork in the road. Either to follow Christ or reject Him.
I feel that this may do more harm than good since it has the possibility of perverting the Gospel due to the stipulations given.
BUT …
If you stop and think about what objective really means it means exposition. Bringing out what the original author meant, objectively, drawing it out. If there is a true Christian bible-teacher given this task, what an oppurtunity! The non-deveotional aspect of it can still be maintained since true exposition will bring devotion, theology produces doxology, etc.. However, you’re right in that, “who will teach these courses?”