Oklahoma orders first shipment of Bibles for use in public school classrooms

[bdavidc]

But why? I mean, if you want to learn about the bible and Christianity, why not just go to church?

People need to read the Bible for themselves. That is the real issue. Too many wait for someone else to think for them, and that is why they end up confused. God never told anyone to give their understanding over to a preacher or a system. He gave His Word to all of us. “The entrance of Your words gives light” ~Psalm 119:130. You cannot see the truth if you never open the bible.

Anyone who wants to know what is real needs to ask the Holy Spirit to open their eyes when they read. “He will guide you into all truth” ~John 16:13. That is how God reveals His Word. Not through hype. Not through tradition. Through Scripture illuminated by the Spirit.

The reason so many people do not believe today is simple. They are being taught lies. Jesus warned that false teachers would arise and deceive many ~Matthew 24:11. The only way to avoid that is to go straight to the Word. Test everything. Measure everything. “To the law and to the testimony” ~Isaiah 8:20.

Quit depending on someone else to tell you what the Bible says. Open it. Read it. Ask God to show you the truth. He will.

If you’re struggling to understand the Bible, there is a reason. God already told us why. The issue is not that the Bible is unclear. The issue is that spiritual truth requires the Spirit of God to open your eyes.

Scripture says, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned” ~1 Corinthians 2:14. In other words, if you have not truly turned to Christ yet, the deeper meaning of Scripture will not click. You can read the words, but they will not land in your heart.

The Bible also says the minds of unbelievers are blinded ~2 Corinthians 4:4. That is why you can read the same verse over and over and still miss what God is saying. It is not lack of intelligence. It is a spiritual barrier.

But here is the good news. When a person humbles themselves, turns to Christ, and asks God to open their eyes, He does. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law” ~Psalm 119:18. God delights in revealing His Word to those who truly seek Him.

So if you want to understand the Bible, start by being honest with God. Ask Him to open your eyes. Ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit. Come to the Word with a willing heart, not resistance. When you do that, the things that were confusing will suddenly make sense.

The problem isn’t the Bible. The problem is the heart. And God knows exactly how to fix that if you come to Him.

 

[Matthias]

Good decision or bad decision by the Superintendent?

 

[Riven]

View attachment 76606

Good decision or bad decision by the Superintendent?

I think it's a good decision. Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools. If you teach one religion, you have to teach them all.

 

[Rockerduck]

I think it's a good decision. Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools. If you teach one religion, you have to teach them all.

The bible was taught in schools in the USA up until 1970. Then liberals had it removed. All churches before public schools began, taught children how to read by the bible. Society was better off completely until it was removed from schools and society has been downhill ever since, like a ball rolling slowly downhill into darkness with society getting worse and worse as it speeds up.

 

[Matthias]

I think it's a good decision.

Thanks. (I think it’s a sad decision.)

Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools.

They wouldn’t have taught my religion.

If you teach one religion, you have to teach them all.

A comparative religion class, imo, is a good thing.

 

[Matthias]

“Even among Christians, the Bible is one of the least read books that they have in their house.” - C.H. Spurgeon

It hasn’t improved since his day.

 

[Riven]

“Even among Christians, the Bible is one of the least read books that they have in their house.” - C.H. Spurgeon

It hasn’t improved since his day.

The fastest way to atheism is by reading the bible. That's why they don't. That and it's rather boring.

 

[Matthias]

The fastest way to atheism is by reading the bible. That's why they don't. That and it's rather boring.

“The best way to get men to believe the Bible is true is to get them to read the Bible.” - C.H. Spurgeon

Atheists should read the Bible.

There has never been a more interesting book written, and never will be, than the Bible.

“The words that I speak to you are spirit and life.” - Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, Son of the living God.

The words of atheism are spirit, but not life.

 

[Riven]

Atheists should read the Bible.

Christians should read it too.

 

[Matthias]

Christians should read it too.

“Well they’re some sad things known to man
But ain’t too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there’s no one around”

(Smokey Robinson and The Miracles)



A dusty Bible. That’s one of the things that is sadder than the tears of a clown when there’s no one around.

 

[Riven]

“Well they’re some sad things known to man
But ain’t too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there’s no one around”

(Smokey Robinson and The Miracles)

View attachment 76610

A dusty Bible. That’s one of the things that is sadder than the tears of a clown when there’s no one around.

In my experience, atheists read it more than the Christians do. They are the ones who were really seeking truth. Christians who are Christians because they were born into it, were never seeking.

 

[Matthias]

In my experience, atheists read it more than the Christians do. They are the ones who were really seeking truth.

Your personal experience doesn’t fit well with your observation, “The fastest way to atheism is by reading the bible. That’s why they don’t. That and it’s rather boring” (post #227).

Christians should be renowned for reading the Bible. An atheist who reads the Bible more than a Christian does puts that Christian to shame.

Christians who are Christians because they were born into it, were never seeking.

Disciples of Jesus aren’t made simply by being born to Christian parents. Everyone must seek.

 

[Matthias]

I’m reminded of the first time I sat down and had a serious conversation with a Muslim. The Quran speaks about “the people of the book.” The Muslim told me that he was looking for such a person to speak with.

The Muslim was extremely intelligent and highly educated. A person who doesn’t read “the book” would be hard pressed to persuade him that he or she is anything but nominally part of that people.

 

[Riven]

Your personal experience doesn’t fit well with your observation, “The fastest way to atheism is by reading the bible. That’s why they don’t. That and it’s rather boring” (post #227).

Christians don't read the bible because they find it boring and because they don't want to live with cognitive dissonance. One cannot read mythological stories, such as those contained in Genesis, and square it with scientific truth. So they choose not to read it and use their faith as more of a social club.

Christians should be renowned for reading the Bible. An atheist who reads the Bible more than a Christian does puts that Christian to shame.

I agree. I've watched atheists quote scripture to Christians. Some of them know it better than the Christians do. Especially those who were previously believers themselves.

Disciples of Jesus aren’t made simply by being born to Christian parents. Everyone must seek.

I agree. But if they don't seem and they still go to church and treat it like a social club, are they Christians? They take up that title.

 

[Matthias]

In my experience, atheists read it more than the Christians do. They are the ones who were really seeking truth.

Good on those atheists who, in your experience, were reading the Bible and really seeking the truth. I pray they will find it.

 

[bdavidc]

I think it's a good decision. Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools. If you teach one religion, you have to teach them all.

There’s no such thing as neutral ground. When schools kick God out, they don’t get rid of belief. They just swap truth for something else. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ~Proverbs 1:7. Remove that, and what you’re left with isn’t education. It’s confusion.

The line “if you teach one religion, you must teach them all” assumes all beliefs are equal. Scripture never says that. God says He alone is God ~Deuteronomy 4:35. Jesus said He is the truth, not one option on a shelf ~John 14:6. Truth doesn’t need balance. It needs obedience.

What’s happening in schools right now isn’t neutrality. It’s replacement. God’s design is pushed out, and another worldview marches in. The Bible already told us this would happen. When people refuse to honor God, their thinking becomes futile and twisted ~Romans 1:21–25.

So no, God wasn’t removed to protect kids. He was removed to silence truth. And Scripture says when truth is silenced, deception fills the room every time.

 

[bdavidc]

The fastest way to atheism is by reading the bible. That's why they don't. That and it's rather boring.

That line doesn’t show wisdom. It shows blindness. The Bible doesn’t drive people to atheism. It drives them to truth. Scripture says faith comes by hearing the Word of God ~Romans 10:17. What turns people off isn’t reading the Bible, it’s loving darkness more than light ~John 3:19.

To call God’s Word “boring” is exactly what the Bible says the natural man will do. He can’t receive the things of the Spirit because they’re spiritually discerned ~1 Corinthians 2:14. God’s Word is living, sharp, and cuts to the bone ~Hebrews 4:12. That’s why people run from it.

Men don’t run from the Bible because it puts them to sleep. They run from it because it wakes them up, convicts of sin, and reminds them they’ll give an account to God ~John 12:48.

 

[Matthias]

Christians don't read the bible because they find it boring and because they don't want to live with cognitive dissonance. One cannot read mythological stories, such as those contained in Genesis, and square it with scientific truth. So they choose not to read it and use their faith as more of a social club.

I’ve spoken about reading habits with a substantial number of Christians over the years and I don’t recall any of those who said they seldom or never read the Bible mentioning cognitive dissonance as a reason for why they don’t read the scriptures regularly. You may have encountered a few such persons but I would view them as outliers.