Op-ed by David Crum | Photo: Adobe Stock
“Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday,” reported Sara Cline of the Associated Press.
Landry, who took office in January, campaigned on “faith, family, and hard work.”
Louisiana has a strong connection to Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity. It’s home to a voting bloc of both Republicans and Democrats who identify as devout Christians.
The move to not only respect but promote the Ten Commandments might catch some Americans off guard and even anger radical opponents of Christianity.
Nevertheless, the United States has always had a distinct connection to Christianity, as most of the Founding Fathers respected the faith and promoted the ideals found in Scripture as a foundation for creating a free society. Those familiar with the Bible understand that Jesus Christ is the central figure when discussing freedom, particularly freedom from sin.
The Ten Commandments remain a prime example of morality in a society longing for hope and direction. Young children navigating a complex world need to understand the importance of this. Despite society’s opposition to Christian teachings, children in Louisiana will now have access to the source of moral standards: the Word of God.
While the Ten Commandments certainly can’t be kept by any person, including Christians, they point to God as not only the Creator but the ultimate lawgiver.
Humanity stained by the fall of mankind (Genesis 3) is far from perfect and in need of the saving power and redemption of Jesus Christ.
The famous English pastor Charles Spurgeon often taught that people should go to Mount Sinai with Moses to be convicted of their sins and run to Mount Calvary with Jesus to be saved from their trespasses.
The Ten Commandments can rightfully serve as a moral standard for Christians and society.
After all, who doesn’t agree with some of the most crucial commandments, such as not lying, stealing, committing adultery, or honoring parents?
In a nation that previously embraced mottos such as In God We Trust, or An Appeal to Heaven, the decision of Louisiana politicians to honor God and restore biblical principles in education is not only commendable but a step in the right direction for all leaders to emulate as the country is struggling to find its own identity.
Can the United States become a Christian nation? Or perhaps restore biblical principles?
The answers may differ, but giving God top priority in all of life’s circumstances is the first step in finding a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40”
May the Lord bless the United States. Christian patriots can find reassurance in the Lord’s providence, as His paths never fail to deliver.
