Discussing the Government's "Bible Bill"

2010 – The Year of the Bible? 

If Rep. Paul Broun (R – GA) has his way this could be a reality. According to news reports he is currently trying to push a resolution through congress to honor the “Good Book.” According to Broun: “This doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity. Rather, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs.”

And, as could be expected, this resolution has caused quite a stir among other faiths, politicians, and even Christian politicians. Rep. Barney Frank (D – MA), who is Jewish, asked mockingly “does this mean that 2009 is not the year of the Bible? What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?” Even many Christians in congress are brushing off the resolution, choosing not to sign it.

Should Christians rally? Should we, figuratively, fight and raise arms to push a resolution that honors the Bible through? While I am all in favor of this resolution (especially considering Mr. Broun’s explanation of it) I do not think going to Holy War over it is the answer. I’d love to see the government honor the heritage of our country by declaring a year of the Bible; however, here are some problems I foresee:

• Why not name it “the year of the Quran?” Again, I like the Bible resolution and what he’s trying to honor, but would it not be equally as symbolic a gesture (to honor the Quran or another religious text) as the one Bourn is trying to make with his resolution? That is, a country started by people seeking religious persecution now demonstrates the religious freedom and structure of the U.S. by honoring a faith that had nothing to do with the country’s formation. What I’m saying is that such a resolution could be turned around.
  

• The U.S.A. is not a Christian nation. No matter how much we’d like to call it that, I truly believe Christ’s name being associated with the moral failures of this nation is actually more of a hindrance to the Gospel than it is a help. Nations all over the world call us a Christian nation and then in the same breath talk about the loose morality of the country. To pass a resolution that honors the Bible and tries to imply that we are a Christian nation could prove to be problematic.
  

• If passed as a resolution, Christians would look at that resolution as a major victory when, in truth, it could be one of the biggest setbacks the country has had in terms of the Gospel of Christ. Our goal as believers is not to get the government to have a “year of the Bible.” Our purpose is to love God above all and to share His amazing love with others.
  

• The question that lingers in the back of my mind: is this simply a political tactic to coerce the American public? Congress is controlled by the democrats. By nature they tend to be more “liberal” or private with their faith (“it’s my faith, not yours – you shouldn’t feel compelled to believe like I do”). Sending a resolution like this through congress with this sort of makeup would almost certainly spark outrage if voted down (of course, it would most likely go the other way, too, if it were Republican controlled)? My curiosity is not with whether or not it would pass, but I am curious of Bourn’s motives (the ones he isn’t referencing in interviews) – is his heart for this resolution truly in the right place or does he have ulterior motives?
  

Why I love the idea of the resolution:

• It’s pretty simple: I believe this country lacks a moral compass – period. Laws and more government obviously are not the solution. A bad economy is the topic on every front page, but in truth is the least of our worries as a nation. The biggest issue we face is the moral degradation (failure or collapsing) and loss of our true focus of hope. Money comes and goes, economies rise and fall… there is little security in this world. God is the only certainty of hope we have, so a resolution that calls on “the people” to remember Him and His Word are ok by me.
  

• As of late it seems less and less acceptable to be a Christian. Celebrities, politicians, the arts, etc. are all loving their new flag of “tolerance” – except when it comes to Christianity. If a Christian opens their mouth about their faith they are automatically classified as a bigot, intolerant, hateful, narrow-minded, weak, etc. I’d love to see a resolution passed that does remind people of the power, love, mercy and Grace of God (of course, how Christians handle themselves during this conversation/debate will be a major factor to demonstrating those things to this Lost nation).
  

PARENTS: Regardless whether or not this resolution is passed we must teach our children the two most important foundations of our faith: (1) Love God more than anything else, (2) be examples of His love in the way we love others unconditionally. A resolution should have no bearing on us as believers as to whether or not this happens in our lives. Just because the school does not allow us to pray does not mean we cannot pray. Just because the Bible is not the official book of the nation does not mean it is not God’s Word or the book that is the foundation of our families. Matter of fact, history has shown that time and time again the cause of Christ has grown stronger and reached further in times when governments and societies tried to suppress it. Let this time be no different! As a family pray for this bill… pray that regardless of which way it goes that God will use us and the conversation to show this nation who the One True God really is.

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Image borrowed from P O O J A Y

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