#5: Public Schools Used to Be Christian

#9: Is God Calling Us to Reclaim Our Schools? with Bob Crockett

We explore how public education in America has transformed from its explicitly Christian foundations to today's secular system, examining this significant cultural shift through the perspective of someone who experienced education in the 1960s. • American public schools were explicitly Christian for 316 years (1647-1963) before becoming secular • The 1963 Supreme Court ruling removed Bible readings from schools, claiming it could be "psychologically harmful" • Community connectedness characterized education in the 1960s, with school days beginning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance • Technology has replaced personal interaction, diminishing trust and community that once defined school environments • Problems in education are fundamentally spiritual and require spiritual solutions • Biblical "conquest" involves reclaiming territory for God's kingdom through faithful action • Teaching biblical models of family and relationships could help break generational cycles • Walking by faith rather than sight means pursuing God's vision for education despite seeming improbability Take time to consider where God might be calling you to participate in the spiritual renewal of education in America, whether through prayer, advocacy, or direct involvement in schools.

#8: Separation Misinterpreted: How Courts Reversed the Founders' Vision

We examine David Barton's book "Separation of Church and State: What the Founders Meant," uncovering how Jefferson's famous phrase was intended to protect religious expression rather than restrict it. • "Separation of church and state" appears in no founding document, but originated in Jefferson's 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists • Jefferson's "wall of separation" was meant to prevent government interference with religious expression • For 150 years, courts interpreted the phrase consistently with Jefferson's intent • The 1947 Everson v. Board of Education ruling reinterpreted the phrase to remove religion from public life • By 1962, the Court redefined "church" to mean any public religious activity, not just a federal denomination • Modern rulings have led to decisions like prohibiting the Ten Commandments in schools because students might obey "don't steal" • The Founders specifically warned against removing religious influences from public life

#7: Eden's Classroom: Can We Get There From Here? with Clint Edmonds and Taylor Markham

We explore the controversial idea of restoring public schools to their explicitly Christian origins and the spiritual battles happening in education today. • Public schools were originally created to teach the Bible through the 1647 "Old Deluder Satan Act" in Massachusetts • Many Christians are unaware of this history and have accepted the secularization of education as normal • The distinction between "fans" of Jesus (who acknowledge Him) versus "followers" (who make Him Lord of everything) • Ministry to students must include ministry to families, as the home should be the primary place of spiritual formation • Three Christian perspectives exist: accepting secular education, believing reform is impossible, or working for restoration • Education problems are fundamentally spiritual problems requiring spiritual solutions • Individual teachers can represent Christ in classrooms by modeling what Jesus would look like teaching their subject • The biblical pattern shows God conquering territory from individual to global levels Want to learn more about the Christian history of education in America? Visit our website for recommended resources on the Old Deluder Satan Act and early American educational practices.

#6: Christine

Make Schools Christian Again

#5: Public Schools Used to Be Christian

Make Schools Christian Again