Defending Religious Liberties in America’s Schools

A High Schooler’s Story

A high school sophomore was about to eat lunch in the cafeteria like any other day when an education official interrupted her meal. The high schooler bowed her head to pray when the superintendent told her that her prayer wasn’t allowed at school. The superintendent prevented her from practicing her faith through silent prayer before her meal.

Persecution in Schools

Infringements of religious freedoms are common, but the court continues to uphold students’ right to free speech at school. This is a mercy from the Lord. Students are still able to obey civil authorities as God commands (Rom 13:1) and exercise their faith freely.

First Liberty reports, “Legal protections today are more favorable toward religious expression in America’s schools than they’ve been for decades. These wins gave students, parents, teachers, administrators and coaches more religious freedom than they’ve had in 50 years.”

Unfortunately, these legal protections are not well-known, which explains the significant number of parents and legal groups reporting illegal action against students who express their beliefs. We must protect students’ freedoms, but for that to happen, people must first be aware of these freedoms. This is where Bring Your Bible Day comes in.

Bring Your Bible Day

Bring Your Bible Day is a nationwide movement to read and treasure Scripture as God’s Holy Word, to encourage others with the hope we have in Christ Jesus, and to celebrate our religious freedoms in the United States. On October 3, students everywhere are encouraged to bring their Bible to school and be a light to those around them.

Bring Your Bible Day is a door for students to share the Gospel with their friends and other students. It can be intimidating for students to exercise their faith publicly, but Bring Your Bible Day offers support by creating a community of students who want to be a light in their school.

According to the law, everyone has the right to express their personal and religious beliefs verbally or in writing. Students are legally allowed to read their Bible, pray during free time at school, and invite others to join them. It’s critical for students to understand that they are free to live out their faith at school and that they don’t have to fear legal punishment for their beliefs. This gives students confidence in their faith and the courage to walk closely with Christ before others.

The students who take part in Bring Your Bible Day have the support of Alliance Defending Freedom, an advocacy group providing pro bono legal aid to students who encounter roadblocks to speaking freely about their faith.

We Need Pastors’ Help to Defend Religious Liberty

Students cannot take on this challenge by themselves. They need their church to stand with them, prepare them to share their faith and respond to any challenges they might face on Bring Your Bible Day.

Here are three ways pastors and church communities can support students this October:

1. Teach them how to share their faith. Whether during Sunday school, youth group, or the main service, pastors can use this time before October 3 to instruct students about the foundation of their faith. Grow their confidence in sharing the Gospel by giving them the right tools.
2. Lead by example. Don’t expect students to do something you aren’t willing to do. Encourage your congregation to bring their Bible to work or wherever they go on October 3 and commit to doing this. Hand out verse cards or Bibles and pray for people you meet. Don’t let your students step out in faith alone. Be a light alongside them.
3. Pray for them. The most crucial way the church can prepare for Bring Your Bible Day is through prayer. Encourage your congregation to pray for students on October 3. Only God can work through these students so that His Gospel is spread.
4. Instill Biblical courage. In Daniel 6, King Darius passed a law making praying to the one true God illegal. While Daniel sought to honor the laws of the land, his civil obedience had limits. He was unwilling to obey civil authority over Divine authority. Daniel displayed courage by remaining faithful to God over King Darius. No matter what the laws of the land state, let’s encourage our youth to build biblical convictions and uphold them in times of persecution.

Bring Your Bible Day allows students to share their faith, encourage those around them, and demonstrate their right to free speech. In a time when some are attempting to take away their religious freedom, our students need you, their pastor, to support them. Encourage the youth in your church to stand unashamed of the Gospel by bringing their Bibles to school on October 3.

©2024 Focus on the Family. Used with permission.