Are The Ten Commandments Making a Comeback?

There was some surprising news recently when a Louisiana bill was signed into law that would require schools to post The Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in the state.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill last June 19 (incidentally, the same day as the “Juneteenth” holiday). The new law mandates a poster-sized version of The Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” from kindergarten to state-funded universities be posted in each classroom starting next year.

What’s not surprising is that The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) along with other civil liberties groups oppose the bill. Their concerns are based on religious coercion and unconstitutionality. They say requiring the display of The Ten Commandments in classrooms violates the First Amendment by promoting specific religious beliefs to students, who are legally required to attend school and thus become a captive audience for these messages (ACLU).

Needless to say, groups like the ACLU are planning lawsuits, arguing that the new law unconstitutionally breaches protections against government-imposed religion. They contend that the bill goes against the Establishment Clause in the U.S. Constitution that ensures Congress cannot make any law respecting the establishment of religion.

Those who support the Louisiana law which takes effect January 1, 2025, argue that the new law has historical significance and not solely religious. It’s reported that Representative Dodie Horton, a member of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus, promoted the bill as a way to provide moral guidance to students through a historical document. (ABC News)

Besides Louisiana, several other states have considered or proposed bills related to displaying The Ten Commandments in schools. Here are a few examples that are cited:

1. Texas: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed support for posting the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools, suggesting that Texas should have been the first state to do so. (MSN)
2. Oklahoma: Similar to Texas, Oklahoma has proposed bills related to displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
3. Utah: Utah has also considered measures regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools.
4. Alabama has considered measures related to displaying The Ten Commandments in schools. A proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution allows schools and public buildings to display the Commandments, as long as it is done in a way that “complies with constitutional requirements,” such as being intermingled with historical documents. (AP)

These examples indicate there is growing concern over the wrong direction our country—most notably, the education of our children—has been heading for the last many years. At one time, in the earlier days of our history, it was believed that religion and history go hand in hand in the education of children.

One good example is the use of the McGuffy Readers also known as the Eclectic Readers. These books were a series of graded primers widely used in American schools from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. These readers covered grade levels 1–6 and played a significant role in education during that time. (Wikipedia)  In fact, religious content was included in both prose and verse within these readers. For instance, The Ten Commandments appeared in verse form in several editions. (JSTOR)

There’s even a delightful YouTube video titled, “The Ten Commandments, McGuffey’s Reader Version,” where they’re presented in rhyme, accompanied by relaxing music. It’s cited to be a nostalgic glimpse into early American homes and schools, where these principles were taught for decades. (Wikipedia)

Interestingly, no one seemed to have any Constitutional problems with these readers in those times. And the country continued growing and developing to become the great nation that it is today. Do you think the religious content of these readers including The Ten Commandments had some kind of moral bearing that contributed to this greatness?

The move toward requiring The Ten Commandments be displayed in school class-rooms is a bold effort to restore morality and sanity in our culture. This includes several other measures stated in the Louisiana bill:

1. Hiring of Chaplains: The bill authorizes the hiring of chaplains in schools. These chaplains would likely provide spiritual guidance and support to students and staff.
2. Restrictions on Mentioning Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: The bill restricts teachers from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity in a way that could be perceived as promoting or endorsing any particular viewpoint. This provision aims to maintain neutrality on these topics within the classroom.
3. Transgender Student Name and Pronouns: Schools are prevented from using a transgender student’s preferred name or pronouns unless granted permission by the student’s parents. This provision reflects the ongoing debate around transgender rights and parental consent.

We can say this effort is good news on the part of those who want our schools, our families, our nation—that is, all of society—to stand strong and firm in the principles upon which our country was founded.

It’s reassuring to know that we still have leaders who believe in God and his standards for living that ought to be taught and practiced for doing what is right and good for us all (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). It goes right along with the Scriptures that says,

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:7, New American Standard Bible 1995)

Pray that The Ten Commandments will continue to have a comeback for the sake of our future.

Good News to YOU!
And Happy Independence Day, this Thursday, July 4th!
Plus, to all our Canadian friends, Happy Canada Day, this Monday, July 1st!
Pastor Michael
P.S. Here’s a real cool tune titled, “The Ten Commandments Song,” you’ll enjoy by Brook Hills Worship, https://youtu.be/r3gKeReUeWo