Teach the Ten Commandments to Our Children

The State of Louisiana recently passed a bill that will require the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom by January 1, 2025. I believe this is an excellent idea, for the following reasons.

God’s moral standards are revealed in the 10 Commandments. As recently as in the 1940’s and 1950’s these standards were well known and respected by almost everyone. But this is no longer true. In our society today people want to be free to do whatever they please. They avoid or reject absolute moral standards. Many do not know the difference between right and wrong because they have no authoritative and superior standard to reference as a guide. What is right for them is not what is said by parents, schools, churches, or even God. It is what they think is right, what seems right to them. People often feel no guilt or shame when they should. Conscience has been gradually eroded by our educational system and through the entertainment media.

As a result, people make poor moral choices and experience disastrous outcomes in their lives without really understanding the relationship between moral behavior and the peace and happiness which comes when one follows God’s moral path. The Bible says: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 16:25, NKJV) When people do not even know what God says about morality, they will never enjoy the benefits of God’s wisdom, counsel, loving instruction and the benefits of obeying him.

God has a solution for all of this. He offers his wisdom and guidance to make our lives better. He
does this through the 10 Commandments which summarize his moral standards and give us a profound and beneficial guide to live by.

The 10 Commandments: “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol or bow down to them nor serve them.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house nor anything that is your neighbor’s.'” (Exodus 20:1-17, NKJV)

The first four commandments are about our relationship with God. They tell us to love God with all our soul, mind, heart, and strength. The last six commandments are about our relationships with people. They teach us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Thus the 10 Commandments are summarized by the two greatest commandments, to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Also they tell us that it is good to develop a conscience, be morally aware, and be morally responsible

Exposing children to moral principles is beneficial to them. Why should our children be deprived of the opportunity to learn these principles of morality, especially those that teach them how to get along with others? And why should they not be exposed to the idea that there is a moral God? After all, most Americans believe in God. And no one is forcing them to believe in him.

The Ten Commandments posted in schools offer students an opportunity to think about moral guidelines, to adopt a moral frame of reference, and to engage in moral behavior which will enhance their lives immeasurably. If God and morality are absent in our schools, students will think they are not important, or worse, choose to live immoral and anti-social lives which hurts everybody. Our society needs an infusion of moral thinking, speech and behavior in every segment of society. In my view, posting the Ten commandments in our schools will be a step in the right direction.

Moral ignorance destroys virtue; moral knowledge encourages moral behavior. The Ten Commandments are arguably the best statement of morality we have. We should show it to our children.