Is it unconstitutional for Texas public schools to require Bible reading?
Atheists and atheist groups are angry about a recent decision in Texas to introduce select Bible passages as required reading for students in public school classrooms. They claim this is bringing religion into the classroom and that’s unconstitutional. But is religion already in the classroom?
Yes! Secular is not neutral! One is either for Christ or against him. Atheism, grounded in naturalism (materialism—no supernatural), is the prevailing religion of our day, and it’s taught as fact in school classrooms across the United States.
Every teacher, every curriculum, every textbook, every educational philosophy is built on a worldview. The question is never whether a worldview will be taught. The only question is whose worldview? One founded in God’s Word or one founded in man’s word?
It’s a battle between two religions.
Yes, religion is already in the classroom, and the only reason atheists don’t want the Bible in the classroom is that they want their religion of atheism to be taught exclusively! And why? Because ultimately, they hate God and the Bible and want to define truth for themselves—they want to be their own god (Genesis 3:5).
The Bible is offensive because it tells us we are not God, we don’t get to determine truth for ourselves, and we are sinners who cannot save ourselves (only Jesus can save us). Our sin nature hates that message, but it’s the message every single person needs to hear!
While we certainly want children to understand the Bible’s immense influence on history and civilization, our greatest prayer is much more than that. Our greatest prayer is that they will come to know the Author of the Bible. The Bible is not merely the world’s most influential book; it is God’s living Word. It is God-breathed, revealing the Savior who came to rescue sinners, including every one of us, from the judgment we deserve and offering the free gift of eternal life to all who repent and believe in Him.
