Commentary

Week: June 23rd - June 27th, 2025

6/23/25- Texas and the Bible

Texas school officials want students to study the Ten Commandments.

One of the academic expectations for Texas high school students in their World History courses says this: “The student is expected to explain the development of democratic-republican government from its beginnings in the Judeo-Christian legal tradition…” It also states that students are to “identify the impact of political and legal ideas contained in” a number of historic documents including the Ten Commandments. You may be amazed at what your state’s academic standards expect students to learn about the Bible and Christianity.

We’ve analyzed every state. You can be a gateway to better education for students in your local schools by getting a free copy of our review of your state’s standards. To request, click HERE.

6/24/25 - God Created the Mind Free

It’s a great time to teach your family about America’s heritage rooted in biblical thinking. For instance, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom three years before the First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom. They began the legislation with a theological statement. They wrote:

“Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments… are a departure from the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either...” Wow! Can you imagine legislation today making such a statement?

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.

6/25/25 - Created Equal

It’s a great time to teach your family about America’s heritage rooted in biblical thinking.

America’s founders were strongly influenced by John Locke, an English political philosopher who lived 100 years before. In his famous Two Treatises of Government, Locke wrote about all men being created equal. of religion.

He wrote, “…that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. For men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business; they are his property...”

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.

6/26/25 - The Liberty Bell

It’s good to be reminded of our nation’s Christian heritage. The Liberty Bell is a famous American symbol. The National Park Service says this about the Liberty Bell on display in Pennsylvania.

“In 1751, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered a new bell for the State House. He asked that a Bible verse be placed on the bell: ‘Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land Unto all the inhabitants thereof—Leviticus 25:10.’ …It rang many times for the public announcements, but we remember times like July 8, 1776 when it may have announced the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.”

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 by visiting our HOME PAGE. 

6/27/25 - Religious Freedom Fosters Peace

Throughout history, there has been great conflict – even wars -- because governments have attempted to control religious practice. For example, in the 1600’s, Quakers were not allowed, by law, to preach in public. When they would not comply, they were flogged and hanged.  

In Luke Goodrich’s book, Free to Believe, he explains that when a government “pressures someone to go against their conscience” it is treating that person as “less than fully human.” That is an injustice. As human beings we are wired to seek ultimate truth. It is an unalienable right to have religious beliefs and live by those beliefs.

When governments decided to protect religious freedom, rather than control it, things became more peaceful. To download a free copy of our devotional, Faith of Our Fathers: Family devotions from the words of America’s Founding Fathers, visit GoGateways.org/download.