The Most Positive Role Model

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 4:20-24

But that is not the way you learned Christ!—²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self,^[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

(ESV)

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says the following, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  (1)  Basically, this amendment prohibits government from limiting communication regarding religion, general speech, communication by the press, the right of people to assemble, and the right of the people to address their grievances with the government. 

While people are quick to cry foul when someone calls for government to limit speech, freedom of the press, freedom of people to freely assemble, or any other portion of this amendment, when someone calls for government to prohibit Christians to freely communicate their faith, many believe it is justified.  Such is the case regarding a mom suing to stop bible study classes in West Virginia schools.  (2)  However instead of being accusatory and confrontational with the mom bringing the law suit, I want to look at this from the angle of this mom as someone representing many who have a misconception of what the Gospel means. 

Those that have not made Jesus their savior have minds that are not illuminated by the light of the Word of God.  This alienates them from the life of God, filling them with ignorance or lack of knowledge.  This continual darkness in their lives hardens their hearts making it difficult to have compassion for anyone desiring to have their hearts enlightened by the Word of God (Ephesians 4:17-19).  Therefore, instead of vilifying people like this mother, we should pray that somehow the light of the Gospel will begin to shine in their lives. 

This will not be an easy task for darkness resists light because the light of God’s Word exposes sin in our lives.  However, the first step to redemption for our sins is to acknowledge that we have sinned (Romans 3:23) and then believing that the shed blood of God’s Son Jesus Christ forgives and wipes out the sin in our lives.  We therefore must pray and believe for a miracle that will bring light to the darkened hearts of people like this mother. 

In His discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus mentioned the need for one to be born again (John 3:3).  At first Nicodemus misunderstood the meaning of Jesus’ words and asked if it were possible for one to reenter his mother’s womb and be born again (John 3:4).  However, this is not what Jesus meant for he was speaking of a spiritual rebirth (John 3:5-6).  It is this spiritual rebirth that occurs when we choose to believe in God’s Son Jesus that brings us eternal life full of the light of Jesus Christ in our lives (John 8:12).

If the mother attempting to take Bible’s away from students or anyone supporting her efforts is reading this know that I do not condemn you because Jesus Himself does not condemn you (John 3:17).  Instead I encourage you to open the Bible and read the Gospel of John.  There is no need to fear reading these words on a page but as you do my hope and prayer is that you will begin to realize God loves you and only wants what is best for your life. 

As you read these pages you will get to know Jesus a man who in three and one half years of ministry impacted the world in such a way that almost 2000 years later writers like myself are writing about it.  You will meet someone who went about healing the sick, casting demons out of people, and opening blind eyes (Matthew11:5).  You will also read about a man who made the greatest sacrifice anyone can make, the offering up of His life to save his friends (John 15:13).  Why wouldn’t we want young students to learn about this great role model for their lives.

The blessing and curse of our media and social media dominated culture is that there is an overabundance of potential role models for children to follow.  Some of these role models have a negative influence and some a positive one.  Jesus, and the good he did while on earth is a positive role model for students and one we should encourage students to learn more about.  Therefore, I stand against any effort to remove the Bible and Bible studies from schools for it removes the influence of the most positive role model anyone can have in their lives. 

1. constitutionus.com. The Constitution of the United States. constitutionus.com. [Online] [Cited: January 21, 2017.] http://www.constitutionus.com/.

2. Fox News. Mom sues to stop Bible study classes in West Virginia schools. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, January 21, 2017. [Cited: January 21, 2017.] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/21/mom-sues-to-stop-bible-study-classes-in-west-virginia-schools.html.