In the late 1700's, Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and a founder of the first abolition society in America, wrote a Defense of the Use of the Bible in Schools. In stating his case, he assumed the following propositions:

1. That Christianity is the only true and perfect religion; and that in proportion as mankind adopt its principles and obey its precepts they will be wise and happy.

2. That a better knowledge of this religion is to be acquired by reading the Bible than in any other way.

3. That the Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world.

4. That knowledge is most durable, and religious instruction most useful, when imparted in early life.

5. That the Bible, when not read in schools, is seldom read in any subsequent period of life.

Unfortunately, most educators do not feel this way today. So many children are growing up without the fundamental, moral instructions of the word of God. Many are growing up to despise the Lord and the things He teaches. But, as Christians, we should take to heart the exhortations of those propositions:

* Do we believe that the Bible gives us the only true and living way to God, and that following such will make us happy? Jn. 14:6; Phil. 4:4
* Do we read and study the Bible, knowing it is the only way to a true knowledge of the Lord? Ac. 17:11
* Do we accept the Bible as the source of greater knowledge for living in our world than any other source? Col. 1:9
* Are we diligently teaching our children while we have the opportunity to affect them the most? Eph. 6:4

Doy Moyer