The teenage years are tougher now than ever.
Academic integrity, bullying, self-harm and sexual temptation are just a few of the issues our Christian students and their friends deal with every day.
Many students feel the pressure to be number one in everything they do. In addition, the chaos and confusion of world events can be overwhelming.
The timeless truths of God’s Word are needed more than ever. Most teenagers spend the bulk of their time at school. School is where they discuss world issues, grapple with history, defend their beliefs and encounter unsaved friends.
Scripture is vital to their success in this place. A common belief among Christians is that things in our world went bad when “they took the Bible out of schools.” Many people do not really know when this happened or what it means.
The Bible in Public School: Abington v. Schempp
In 1963, the Supreme Court outlawed mandatory Bible readings in public schools for creating an “establishment of religion” that violated the Constitution’s First Amendment (Abington v. Schempp).
Though the justices did bar ceremonial and devotional use of the Bible, they included this very important clarification:
“It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.”
The last half-century has been spent trying to decide exactly what this clarification looks like in the daily lives of students.
In public schools today, any teaching about the Bible must be academic, not devotional. The instruction should neither undermine nor reinforce the particular beliefs of students in the class. For instance, students can study biblical passages that relate to the writings or sayings of America’s founding fathers.
In the 1980 case Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court specifically stated, “The Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion or the like.”
Making Biblical Connections with Classic Literature
In my seventh grade language arts class, I teach Mark Twain’s classic novel The Prince and the Pauper each year. I always spend time pointing out the great wisdom displayed by the young king Tom Canty. We discuss how he asks just the right questions and delves deeply into human nature in order to make his very wise decisions.
From there, the connections with the wisdom displayed by Solomon in 1 Kings 3:16-28 seem quite natural. We read this passage about the two women disputing over a baby and compare it with what we have read in Twain’s work.
It is beneficial for Christian teachers, parents and students to be aware of Supreme Court decisions and the laws of our land. We need to know how the Bible can and cannot be legally used in the classroom. But perhaps even more important is this fundamental question:
How can our Christian teenagers use Scripture to make a difference in their schools?
Meet These Students: Justin and Stephen
Justin and Stephen are 17-year-old high school seniors and varsity football players.
Each Friday morning of the season, they go in to school early and cover the football lockers of their teammates with notecards of Scripture. They search for verses that will encourage and inspire, but also ones that will point their friends toward a life-changing relationship with Christ.
Justin and Stephen say that sharing Scripture has opened the door for many meaningful conversations with teammates about their faith and their future.
Meet: Madison, Age 16
While other teenagers scramble each morning to locate their cellphone, Madison, 16, a junior, makes sure to carry her Bible with her to school each day. She knows that many teachers allow silent reading time when assignments have been completed, and she has a true hunger and thirst for God’s Word.
Madison says that placing her Bible on her desk in each class makes a real statement about who she is and what she believes. She does not do this just so that others will notice, but she has seen God give her the opportunity to share her faith with others as a result of her Bible reading.
Meet: Jackson, Age 14
Jackson is a 14-year-old freshman who is currently taking a science class in which evolution is taught. He is searching for ways to defend his faith intelligently to a teacher who likes to debate and is also an atheist.
Many other students have tried to win arguments with this instructor but have only been shut down. Jackson is reading God’s Word and also studying other books that reconcile science and creationism. He is prepared to share his beliefs in a way that is respectful and non-confrontational. He desires to build a relationship with the teacher and not alienate him.
Jackson is even searching the minds of great thinkers like C.S. Lewis to help him solidify what he believes and then take these beliefs into his school each day.
Displaying a True Passion for God’s Word
These students are doing more than just showing up once a year at See You at the Pole. They are doing more than just posting a Bible verse on Instagram (along with a picture of a sunset or a latte, of course). These students have a true passion for Scripture and a desire to share its truths with others. They have claimed Psalm 119:11:
“I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.”
School is the place where they spend the most time and they consider it to be their mission field. God’s Word is their one offensive weapon in the battle against evil and they stand ready to use it.
To learn more on this topic, read: "Are Your Kids Safe in School?"
Article courtesy of Parenting Teens magazine.