The Texas Board of Education’s decision to incorporate Bible stories into the school curriculum is stirring up plenty of chatter—and for good reason. As a Christian conservative, I believe that sharing Scripture with children is one of the best ways to pass down moral principles and timeless wisdom. However, this new initiative raises some tough questions that we can’t ignore.

Who’s Teaching It—and How?

One major concern is this: what if the individuals tasked with teaching these Bible lessons aren’t believers themselves? Worse yet, what if they hold a negative view of Scripture? When someone opposed to the Bible shares its stories, they might twist the lessons or emphasize details that paint Scripture in an unflattering light. Imagine a teacher highlighting Old Testament laws out of context to make the Bible seem outdated or harsh, rather than focusing on the overarching message of God’s grace and redemption.

This isn’t just a hypothetical worry. Plenty of people view the Bible not as God’s inspired Word but as a historical artifact full of contradictions and cultural relics. If these lessons are taught from that perspective, students could walk away with a skewed or even dismissive understanding of Scripture. That’s not exactly the outcome Christian parents would hope for.

Which Bible Are We Talking About?

Not all Christians recognize the same biblical canon. Catholics include books in their Bible that Protestants don’t, and even within Protestantism, there are differing traditions and emphases. Throw in denominations with wildly different interpretations—Calvinists, Arminians, Pentecostals, you name it—and you start to wonder: what “version” of the Bible will Texas schools be presenting?

While I suspect the curriculum will be broad enough to avoid denominational squabbles, this raises another question: will the lessons reflect a conservative, Bible-honoring viewpoint, or will they lean toward a more liberal interpretation? For Christians who believe the Bible is God’s holy and infallible Word, it would be deeply troubling if the curriculum instead treated Scripture as little more than an outdated book of moral suggestions.

The Opportunity—and the Risk

There’s no doubt that the Bible has profoundly shaped Western civilization. Its moral teachings have provided the foundation for our legal systems, its stories have inspired countless works of literature and art, and its principles have guided the development of human rights and justice. Teaching children about the Bible is, without question, an opportunity to share not only the beauty and depth of God’s Word but also its immense historical and cultural significance.

However, I remain deeply cautious about whether public schools are the right venue for this teaching. While the intent behind such efforts may be noble, the public school system is not designed to honor the Bible as God’s inspired Word. Its mission is to provide a secular education that serves a diverse population, not to disciple students in the Christian faith. The risk of the Bible being misrepresented—either watered down to a mere cultural artifact or mishandled by teachers who may not believe in its truth—is too great to ignore.

This is why I believe that teaching the Bible is best reserved for the home and the church, where parents and pastors can guide children through Scripture with love, care, and doctrinal clarity. In these settings, the focus isn’t just on the Bible’s cultural relevance but on its life-changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Home and church provide the space to discuss challenging passages, wrestle with deep theological truths, and apply God’s Word to everyday life in a way that a public-school classroom simply cannot.

While it’s tempting to embrace the idea of the Bible gaining a larger role in education, we must remember that spiritual formation is not the responsibility of the state but of the family and the church. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” True understanding of the Bible starts with a reverence for God—a perspective that is unlikely to be fostered in a secular school environment. If we want children to grow in their faith and truly grasp the richness of God’s Word, that teaching must come from those who hold it dear and live it out daily.