Commentary

Week: June 16th - June 20th, 2025

6/16/25- Students Can Witness to Classmates

This may shock you, but public school students can share the Gospel with other students even in a pray in classroom presentation.

The U.S. Department of Education released new guidance on religious freedom in public schools. Here’s what it says about witnessing: students may speak to, and attempt to persuade, their peers about religious topics just as they do with regarding to political topics. It also clarifies that they can include their faith in an oral presentation in class.

So, for instance, if a student is to give a speech about what is important to her in life, and she wants to talk about her relationship with Christ, and her desire to see everyone come to have that relationship, her speech is protected. For details on the new guidance, visit GoGateways.org/freetospeak.

6/17/25 - Consent of the Governed

I encourage you and your family to reflect on America’s heritage of independence rooted in biblical thinking. It began with the Pilgrims came on the Mayflower.

They wanted independence from the religious persecution they faced in Europe. When they landed in America, they brought something else with them – the idea of “consent of the governed.”

They believed in a covenant relationship with each other based on the New Testament teaching about the Church. They wrote in the Mayflower Compact that in the presence of God, and one another they agreed to “covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.” I wonder if students in your public schools will learn about the biblical heritage of our country. You can be a gateway to better education. For a FREE download of our devotional Faith of the Fathers click HERE. 

6/18/25 - Star Spangled Banner

Independence Day, July 4th, is coming. It’s a great time to teach your family about America’s biblical roots.

I’m sure your kids have heard the Star Spangled Banner’s first verse being sung at sporting events. But after the “rockets’ red glare” they probably haven’t heard how the song ends. Here it is:

“Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave. O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

The roots of our national motto are right there. “In God is our trust.” May it ever be.

Just in time for July 4th, you can download our free family devotional, Faith of Our Fathers: Family Devotions from the Words of America’s Founders.

6/19/25 - In God We Trust

It’s a great time to teach your family about America’s biblical roots. Here’s something you can do with your kids. Put several coins on a table and ask them to look for three words or sentences the coins all have in common. They will find the word “Liberty” and two sentences: “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” which means “Out of Many, One”.

This describes the American culture. It is what we mean by American exceptionalism. We cherish liberty. We are a country of immigrants unified as one nation. And, we must trust in God for His guidance and blessing. May we never forget it. Public schools can appropriately teach about the Bible and Christianity. It doesn’t violate anything. For help in how to do it right, visit Integrating Faith and Public Schools.

6/20/25 - Students Can Distribute Religious Literature

Public school students can give out evangelistic tracts at school. They can pass out invitations to a church event, and they can give their classmates greeting cards with religious messages.

The U.S. Department of Education has released new guidance on religious freedom in public schools. Here’s what it says, “Students have the right to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates on the same terms they are permitted to distribute other literature that is unrelated to the school curriculum or activities. So for instance, if a school allows students to share treats with one another, it is perfectly acceptable for a student to give Christmas candy to classmates and attach a Bible verse. If students can give things to one another, they could give Bibles away if they wanted to.

For details on the new guidance, visit GoGateways.org/freetospeak.