Resurrection 101: The Bible in Education

The first week of April greatly influenced my topic for this article. Time magazine ran a cover story entitled, “Why We Should Teach the Bible in Public Schools” on April 2, 2007, and I was privileged to celebrate Easter Sunday on April 8, 2007 with more than 9,000 people at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA, one of the greatest universities in the world. What do the two events have to do with each other? The contents of the article and my sermon at Pauley Pavilion address and relate to the hot topic of the Bible in education that has been buzzing through the nation as evidenced in the cover story of the widely recognized publication, Time magazine.

As a pastor and as a father of three children, all of whom attend private Christian schools, there is no question why I believe the Bible should be taught in public school classrooms. For those who are more skeptical of the curriculum, David Van Biema’s article addresses concerns regarding the separation of church and state in school, citing 1963's Abington Township School District v. Schempp that removed prayer and devotion from the classroom. However, he insists “teaching the Bible in schools—as an object of study, not God's received word—is eminently constitutional.”

As a pastor who believes the Bible is “God’s received word,” I echo the sentiments of Chuck Pundit whom Van Biema quotes: “Would I prefer a more explicitly biblical Christian teaching?” he asks. “Of course. But you can’t do that in public education. What you can do is introduce the Bible so that people are aware of its impact on people and in history and then let God speak through it as he will.”

Furthermore, Van Biema speaks to persons of all walks of life and faith, outlining how the Bible is relevant to all of us, and is therefore essential in the education of our children. Van Biema states, “Simply put, the Bible is the most influential book ever written. Not only is the Bible the best-selling book of all time, it is the best-selling book of the year every year.” Its contents are alluded to in countless works of literature, and are present in the ideas and rhetoric that have helped shape U.S. history.

In addition, Scripture so pervades Western culture that it is necessary for participants and even critics of this culture to at least give thought to the Bible’s key passages. Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, also notes practical purposes for studying Scripture in society today, “Take creationism…unless you are literate in the first two chapters of Genesis, you have no idea what people are fighting about.”

In addition, Stephen Prothero, chair of the Boston University religion department, presents a compelling argument for Bible-literacy courses in his book, Religious Literacy: “In the late ‘70s, [students] knew nothing about religion, and it didn’t matter. But then religion rushed into the public square. What purpose could it possibly serve for citizens to be ignorant of all that?”

Polls within the book also indicate “nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the Bible holds the answers to ‘all or most of life’s basic questions.” However, Van Biema notes “pollster George Gallup has dubbed us ‘a nation of biblical illiterates.’ Only half of U.S. adults know the title of even one Gospel. Most can't name the Bible’s first book. The trend extends even to Evangelicals, only 44% of whose teens could identify a particular quote as coming from the Sermon on the Mount.”

Faced with such overwhelming evidence of the Bible’s impact on literature, history, and society and, for many, our personal lives, the significance of understanding the Bible extends beyond the classroom. After all, we cannot neglect to focus on the core account on which the Christian faith is based and on which the Bible is centered, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As mentioned, some 9,000 men, women, and children gathered at Pauley Pavilion on Easter Sunday, together with close to 1,600 people who watched the service via satellite at our church campus in Porter Ranch, to hear about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, not all of the attendants were Christian, as nearly two hundred people (who were invited by loved ones or received news about the Easter celebration) answered the invitation at the end of the service to commit their lives to Christ. And this was just at one church amidst the hundreds of thousands of churches in the United States alone.

So what did they all come to hear? They came to hear a message of hope from the Bible, and I want to share with you a couple of points from that special Sunday. First, the resurrection of Jesus Christ happened. No one denies that Jesus was born, that he healed the sick and taught multitudes, and was crucified and died a criminal’s death. What people do contest, however, is that Jesus was raised from the dead, as stated in the Bible, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

His resurrection is supported by the historical evidence of Jewish and Roman historians, and the multitude of witnesses to whom he appeared. The vast majority of these witnesses were still alive when the New Testament was recorded, and could therefore have contested the account if it had not in fact happened. More compelling are the countless number of lives that were changed and are being changed by his resurrection, including the 166 people who accepted Him into their hearts as Lord and Savior at our Resurrection Day celebration alone.

Finally, the most evident proof is the empty tomb that Jesus left behind, and what we find in the empty tomb is the second point: Jesus is our only hope. In the face of trials, such as job loss, broken relationships, illness, and even death, Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope in an eternal life with Him. It is this hope that can bring comfort to persons like the parents of Kisa Renee Hughes, a beloved daughter, UCLA basketball player, and active member of Shepherd of the Hills church, who at the early age of 33 was called home to heaven. Despite her physical death, Jesus’ resurrection enables Kisa’s loved ones to one day be reunited with her.

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:26-28

The Bible becomes our source of hope, a promise of life beyond the grave through Jesus Christ. To quote the prophet Isaiah, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
We live in a world filled with wars, uncertainty, sickness, violence, tragedy, and hurt, people are yearning to learn about a hope that is sure. I believe this hope comes from the Bible, a love letter from God to each of us. Oh, how it would impact this country if our children were able to study this Book, this beautiful and historical piece of literature that our country’s forefathers so loved. My prayer echoes that of Chuck Pundit—that we would indeed introduce the Bible in our public schools, so our children are aware of its impact on people and history, as well as the hope it brings. And then let us allow God to speak through it as He wills.

- By Dudley C. Rutherford

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