By Van Yandell
1 Timothy 3: 16a “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,”
The passing of a law in Oklahoma to teach the Bible in every classroom is not to advocate a state religion. It is not to begin a state of Christian Nationalism and it certainly is not an attempt to ram a belief into the minds of children as has been done with other ideologies.
The Bible, unknown to many (including Christians), teaches civility and common sense. One can teach the Bible for a semester or even a full school year without addressing the subject of religion.
This is not to say that will be done; simply that it could be. The administering of ideologies would be within the circumference of the individual teacher.
A great part of American law/governance is based on Biblical teachings. A Biblical presence in the lives of the framers of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is evident.
The basic premise of “All men are created equal” is based on the concept of Genesis 1: 27 “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
The science in the Bible begins in the first chapter in the first book. Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” While this statement is fully debatable to the atheist, if anyone can provide me with a better explanation for our existence, I’d like to hear it.
Genesis 2: 1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” The scripture confirms the first law of thermodynamics in that matter and energy are constant. Creation was finished; no more, no less! Matter and energy are not created or destroyed; they simply change state.
Ecclesiastes 1: 7 is an example of that law of physics. “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” This writing by Solomon three-thousand years ago again verifies the first law of thermodynamics.
The rain falls, the animals and plants use it; evaporation returns it into the sky to fall again. Excess rainfall runs to the sea to be condensed into vapor to return over land and sea to fall again as rain. That glass of water you drank this morning may the same water used by Abraham, Isaac or Jacob nearly 4000 years ago.
The second law of thermodynamics confirms that order cannot result from chaos. Believing we evolved from a lower form of life contradicts science to the fullest.
Genesis chapter one states a scientific process called photosynthesis. The first three verses confirm the presence of matter, water and light. These ingredients are necessary for a process called photosynthesis and the production of chlorophyll of which a by-product is oxygen.
We humans and other animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide which plant life necessitates for the production of chlorophyll. Can this be taken as coincidental by the non-believer? You decide!
Proverbs 22: 6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Does this verse teach religion or simply a state of civility and decency? Who can argue with teaching children the difference in right and wrong?
Leviticus chapter eleven and Deuteronomy fourteen teach dietary lessons. In our current state of poisoning ourselves with chemical additives, processed foods, excessive amounts of salt and sugar and the omitting of healthy foods, should this not be considered a teaching of benefit?
Daniel 1: 8 teaches the health benefits of the consumption of vegetables and water. Genesis 1: 29 tells us to include nuts and fruits into our diets.
Proverbs 22: 7 “The borrower is servant to the lender.” If anyone cannot see the damaging effects of easy credit, the words “can’t see the forest for the trees” come to mind. Our government is rapidly destroying the U.S. dollar with excessive debt. Current inflation rates are an example, as debt becomes greater, consumer prices rise.
Thousands of homes and other possessions have been lost by individuals because of easy credit. Yet advertisers promote services that help individuals to raise their credit score to go even deeper into debt. Many products prices are advertised as monthly payments. Debt is encouraged, but the Bible teaches the opposite.
The Bible teaching concerning credit and debt was written nearly 3000 years before interest rates, credit scores and monthly payments were even thought of. Perhaps a few lessons on the Bible teachings of economic practices could benefit many.
1 Timothy 6: 10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” The crime resulting from the ignoring of this verse requires no explanation. Again, let’s address civility.
Politics and the holders of political office is addressed in the Bible. Romans 13: 1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
While we may not agree with the beliefs and opinions of those in office, the Bible clearly states, God has them in those positions for a reason. Civics and government can also be taught using the Bible as a basis.
Astronomy can be taught from the Bible. Job 26: 7 “The earth hangs on nothing.” Mankind believed until about 500 years ago, the earth was flat and sat on the back of a giant animal. That the sun and stars revolved around a stationary earth was the conventional belief.
Isaiah 40: 22, written about 2300 years before Columbus discovered America, tells us the earth is round. “It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth.”
Jeremiah 33: 22a “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured.” Until the Hubble space telescope was placed in orbit, some astronomers believed that the stars could be mapped, named and/or numbered.
Hubble launched April 24, 1990 and soon thereafter becoming operational, the students of the night sky admitted there are far too many stars and galaxies to ever be counted. Jeremiah and God knew this 2600 years ago.
The Bible is of course the book for faith based believers to consult for religious/Christian teachings. Being the most sold and read book to ever exist, the reality and functional reliability of this great text goes unmatched and unchallenged.
To oppose the Oklahoma law to require the teaching of Biblical concepts is comparative to opposing the teaching of common sense and logic.
For those that choose to believe, the knowledge and wisdom of God is unmatched by human knowledge and wisdom, the Bible also teaches eternity for those that believe. Should one accept this Biblical reality as a faith and way of life, so be it.
No one is trying to force a belief on children. Using the Bible as a teaching tool only enlightens them to a way of thinking. A common phrase often heard is “Think outside the box.” Let’s just make sure our minds are not sealed and locked into that box.
If one is to adhere to the Christian faith and belief, the basic fundamental is a faith based belief that Christ Jesus was crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected.
To require the teaching of Bible knowledge does not try to brainwash anyone. Each individual has the right to believe or disbelieve. The choice is yours!