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The Bible and Michelangelo

Should The Bible Be Taught In School?

There was recently an article in USA Today (August 2009 issue), written by William R. Mattox Jr., about whether or not the Bible should be taught in public schools.

Of course, there are many on each side of the debate; all having their own reasons of why they do or do not support this effort.

A professor from Northwestern University stated that, “Students who want to do serious study of Western civilization need to know the Bible.” Also, the founder of the Bible Literacy Project, Chuck Stetson, stated, "knowledge of the Bible can be a key to unlocking other subjects.. especially literature, art, music, and social studies."

The writer of this article also points out that understanding the Bible not only unlocks these other subjects, but it also helps us understand today’s pop culture.

The Bible Is More Than A Textbook...

Frankly, I think if you told me in high school that we would be using the Bible as one of our text books to help us understand pop culture or literature, I would have been offended. I would have taken offense because to me the Bible is sacred. The Bible is more than a text book.  It is a book that gives guidance. Other students or parents may be offended for other reasons. Some may believe teaching the Bible in a public setting is a direct jab to the understanding of separation of church and state, and takes away people’s religious freedoms.

There is definitely no easy answer to such a proposal. But I can say that being aware of my own perception of the Bible has helped shape my thoughts on this debate. Personally, my view of the Bible has changed since high school. I still see the Bible as sacred but I recognize that the Bible is filled with poetry, wisdom literature, narratives, and songs all telling of the story of a chosen nation.

The Bible And Michaelangelo...

A story I have in fact weaved into my own. I believe their story can shed light on the artwork of Michelangelo. The Bible will give you insight on Martin Luther King’s stance on justice and equality. It will even give you some insight on the movie Bruce Almighty.

So I leave you with this, should the Bible be taught in the public schools? I guess the verdict is still out.

Remember When…

"How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited (vexed or pained) the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy." (Psalm 78:40-42)

Remember When

When asked if they consider themselves to be a good person, most people will respond in the affirmative. To be a good person, not doing things such as smoking, drinking, or cursing meets the minimum criteria. Even for Christians, those who believe that they are an exemplary model for others don't do things like fornicate, lie, cheat, or steal....you know...the BIG sins.

Sins Landscape

In the Bible, sin is not always equal to what we have not done.  Sometimes sin is what we have the power to do but we choose otherwise. It is easy to want to please God and not go contrary to his will when things are good. In our wilderness times, in the dry seasons of our relationship with God, when things are not so good, walking in obedience presents a significant challenge.  A picture of obedience (and its accompanying seasons), and how God responds to our obedience ( or lack thereof) is contained in Psalm 78.

This Psalm paints a landscape of the life of Israel as they exited Egypt; the mighty acts that God did to free them from slavery, his miraculous provision for them in the wilderness, and the giving of the law to govern their lives. This poetic historian surmises that the point of everything that God did was so that his fame and glory could be perpetuated to future generations. Recounting Yahweh's covenant blessings was for the sole purpose of remembering who God was, and in remembering, that obedience would naturally ensue. The power of God and his might are put on literary display, the motives and actions of the people in their disobedience are also shown.

When God Feels

It is not until verse 38, however, that the writing takes a turn from the actions of the Almighty God, to how the Almighty God actually felt during this time. To paraphrase..."he was heated and wanted to kill them but he fell back." (Hood Version 7.0) He had compassion on his people and forgave them for their disobedient ways. Then just in case you didn't get it, in verse 40, the author tells us that God was pained at the Israelites deliberate action of not remembering everything he did for them. Did you get that? The temptation that the Israelites faced was not always breaking commandments, but the simple fact that they didn't remember what God did....and it pained him. The action of not remembering and what it produced in the Almighty's emotions is a temptation that we face everyday.

A Tricky Temptation

Whether it's a bad day or a dry season, often we are tempted to be subject to our feelings in that time period, rather than remember the miraculous, powerful, life-changing, and marvelous things that God has already done for us....when we did not deserve it, and were sometimes disobedient. The deadliest temptation for the people of God is not the temptation that will lead us to death necessarily, but it is the enticement of being forgiven and then forgetting. We not only forget that God has done so much for us, but then we get so fearful in various circumstances that we don't tell future generations of his goodness. More than this, although the price of forgiveness was an act etched in eternity at Calvary, we add tax each time we forget the person behind that act, and fail to take into account the fact that he can be pained. A wily temptation indeed is the one that keeps us in the service of our Savior, but does not acknowledge his feelings. Each day, I pray that we would take time to remember when...