article by site founder, Connie Rice
Sadly, most Americans are not aware that for most of its history, America’s public schools used the Bible and its teachings were foundational elements in the education for youth of all ages. The first textbook in America’s public schools was “The New England Primer” and it was used until the 20th Century. In teaching the ABCs, it began with “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all.” A reprint of it (I have one) is available for purchase. Studying quotes from our founding fathers can prove enlightening (quotes below are from ”Wallbuilders”, an organization with a large collection of original documents and letters):
“I advise you, my son, in whatever you read, and most of all in reading the Bible, to remember that it is for the purpose of making you wiser and more virtuous. I have myself, for many years, made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year. I have always endeavored to read it with the same spirit and temper of mind, which I now recommend to you: that is, with the intention and desire that it may contribute to my advancement in wisdom and virtue.” John Quincey Adams in a letter to his son
“The general principles in which the fathers achieved independence, were the only principles on which that beautiful assembly of young men could unite, and these principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general principles? I answer, the general principles of Christianity, in which all those sects were united, and the general principles of English and American liberty…15 Quote of John Adams from exchange of letters with Thomas Jefferson
Most Americans also are not aware that the first colleges and universities were founded so that every citizen leader in America would have a solid biblical foundation and understanding of Scripture. The original mottos make that clear – scroll down this website’s page to read some of them. Over time (and in own my lifetime), universities became places of open debate and were considered bastions of free speech where everyone’s ideas and opinions were welcomed to be discussed and analyzed. People could disagree without becoming emotionally charged and could even be friends with those who did not share the same opinions.
Harvard University – 1st U.S. university; its namesake & its 1st president were both reverends: “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae“, Motto Latin for “Truth for Christ and the Church“.
Unfortunately, the open debate that allowed students to critically consider all views also gave opportunity for activists espousing dangerous leftist philosophy to shift the atmosphere of colleges and universities to becoming places of indoctrination with one-sided opinions and based on ideology rather than historical facts. Those professors and students with conservative opinions and/or religious convictions faced increased pressure, mocking, and exclusion. Author, David Horowitz, came out of that ideology when he realized how dangerous it was and spent the rest of his life warning others through his books and founding of the “Freedom Center”.
“Communism has decided against God, against Christ, against the Bible, and against all religion.” Billy Graham
Churches in the last century became timid in teaching a plain reading of the Bible because so many fell for the lie that science had proven millions of years, Darwinian evolution, and even the ape to man story. Christians lost their confidence in the truth of Scripture and also removed themselves from the “dirty business” of politics, leaving America with leaders who had no fear of God. In doing so, our government became even more corrupt with self-gain and power becoming the primary goal for many. In just my lifetime, the Bible and prayer were removed from public education, schools went from teaching Darwinian evolution as a theory to teaching it as a fact even as recent discoveries discredited it and were better supported by the biblical account. A narrative was created and defended in universities and science journals and those who disagreed were censored, mocked, and faced loss of their careers and reputations.
“The Bible is clear: God is the Creator. Any interpretation of science that attempts to remove God from involvement with origins is incompatible with Scripture.” Quote from article by “Got Questions”, “What does the Bible say about creation vs. evolution?”
When Jesus came to earth, He found the religious leaders going through the motions and not accurately teaching/keeping God’s law as it was written, and thus His harshest words were for them. When He comes again, how will He find the church? Since the beginning of Western Civilization, the church has influenced the culture by boldly exclaiming the unified message of God to the world. Now, a minority are biblically literate. Church leaders should tremble at how so many churches have allowed worldly ways to infiltrate and influence large bodies of Christians and the culture at large. Many believers have not recognized the value of reading the Bible, studying it, and surrendering fully to obeying their Savior’s commands to be light and salt while on earth. What is the result of this?
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [g]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”
Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:13-14
Unbelievers no longer hear the unified message of God, but are hearing different messages – all supposedly speaking for God. We’ve seen other institutions that had always been revered and trusted following the same gameplan of creating narratives and censoring, mocking, and discrediting those who voice opposition or different opinions. The culture is falling apart with more confusion, division, broken families, mothers seeing their children as a burden to be rid of rather than the blessing that they are, fathers abandoning their wives and children, the innocence of children being destroyed, people being used for sexual gratification for personal gain, corruption at the highest levels of government, the tragedy of millions of innocent babies killed by abortion, the elderly not being revered, and levels of depression, despair, addiction, and suicide never seen before. Groups develop a tribal mindset that sees others as their enemies instead of their fellow man who was also made in the image of God
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. and loved by Him.“
1 John 4:7-11
Without a fear of God and the realization that they will stand before Him as Judge and give an account for their lives, people are capable of great evil and can rationalize and justify most anything. For those who believe that man is inherently good and also do not know the Bible, this rise in evil can be a great and unexpected shock. That is not so for those who have a personal relationship with their Creator and know His Word, including prophecies of the End Times. Do you have a biblical worldview? Dr. George Barna has an online questionnaire to help you determine whether or not you do. Quote from his website:
“Imagine experiencing…
- calm in the midst cultural chaos
- sure confidence in your faith
- standing strong no matter the pressures
- relationships built on love and trust
- having answers to the tough questions of our time
The biblical worldview helps you navigate the many challenges of life. It’s the only way to be…in the world, but not of it.”
Public education’s rejection of the Lord as the author of life and the Bible as His revealed truth and moral code for everyone has given the prince of this world (Satan) the opportunity to deceive, confuse, discourage, destroy, and torment so many while keeping them away from the One who created them and loved them enough to die for them so they would not have to be in bondage to sin. He made it possible for each person who chooses to surrender their lives to Him to have fellowship with a holy God and live with a clear conscience while serving Him and others. Our physical lives are short compared to eternity where our souls will live on – either with Him in heaven, reuniting with believers who have gone before us or to a place of torment. God gave us the gift of free will and because we are all human – we all have a propensity to rebel and choose our own way, trusting in our limited knowledge instead of trusting the only One who is sovereign over nations and individuals and is the source of all that is good and true.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:16-21
Public education has not just been in decline in teaching the basics to students. Starting with colleges and universities and now even with the youngest of students, public education has gone from preparing students in knowing Scripture and learning to be responsible and productive citizens who can be honest and humble leaders to intentionally indoctrinating, sexualizing, scaring, and confusing students. Can Public Education be redeemed or reformed? I don’t have the answer to that, but know that we can trust the Lord to call people to accomplish that immense goal if time allows in His plan of when Jesus will return. In the meantime, let each of us repent of our own sins as well as the sins of our nation and seek the Lord in the Bible with our whole heart, mind, strength, and soul with prayer and a commitment to spending the rest of our lives being part of His Kingdom work in whatever we do so that more precious souls can be redeemed from the clutches of the Evil One.
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1-5
Our culture’s rejection of the Lord as the author of life and the Bible as His revealed truth and moral code for everyone has given the prince of this world (Satan) the opportunity to deceive, confuse, discourage, and torment so many while keeping them away from the One who created them and loved them enough to die for them so they would not have to be in bondage to sin. He made it possible for each person who chooses to surrender their lives to Him to have fellowship with a holy God and live with a clear conscience while serving Him and others. Our physical lives are short compared to eternity where our souls will live on – either to His presence in heaven, reuniting with believers who have gone before us or to a place of torment. God gave us the gift of free will and because we are all human – we all have a propensity to rebel and choose our own way, trusting in our limited knowledge instead of trusting the only One who knows the future, is the source of all that is good and true, and knows us intimately but loves us anyway (in itself is a great mystery).
”We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
1 John 5:19-21
© Constance Rice 2025
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