Just Tell Stories

He's an Ivy League trained professor, yet in his book Religious Literacy --What Every American Needs to Know and Doesn't Stephen Prothero of Boston University argues that in a world warring over religion every high school curriculum must include a course on Basic Bible and World Religions 101. Our national security depends on it.

In the 20th century secularists argued that as society matured and became more scientific and technological religion would die a slow death. A secularist who believes that proposition in 2007 has committed the classic ostrich head in the sand error. Diplomats and army officers today must know the difference between a Sunni, a Shiite, and that a Sikh is not a Muslim or a Hindu. The frightening reality is that many do not.

Prothero traces our public education's history from The New England Primer that taught our children that they were sinners who needed Jesus to save them, to the McGuffey Readers that taught them to be good, sober, modest, and thrifty, to our present curriculum where a teacher is afraid to even mention that the Pilgrims actually celebrated Thanksgiving to thank the God of the Bible.

Prothero makes a strong argument for the Constitutional right to teach about the Bible and about Religion in the public schools. Whether or not his distinction between teaching--acceptable, and preaching--not acceptable will hold in the real world of high school curriculums is up for National debate.

What struck me as ironic about Prothero's discussion is that at the time when he is calling for the strong, objective teaching about the Bible and religion in the Public Schools, many leading evangelical pastors are calling for less Bible and more stories in our churches.

Now I'm not against stories. After all, our Savior told some powerful ones about the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and the Good Samaritan. What I am against is forgetting that He also included Romans in His inspired text that had some strong warnings against turning the message of Jesus' cross and resurrection into just another chapter in William Bennet's Book of Virtues.

Mary and I will be flying to Mitchell, Nebraska in the morning for the Berean National Convention. I have to deliver four messages from the Book of Jeremiah. The theme of the Conference is The Clay. Pray that we will be pliable in the Potter's hands the next several days so that he can encourage many pastors, leaders, and their families.