American schools prior to the twentieth century were predominantly Christian . The common practice of teacher-led Bible reading and prayer and textbooks containing much Scripture attests to this fact .
Perhaps the most noteworthy evidence of Christian thought being mixed with learning in America before the twentieth century is Noah Webster ’ s American Dictionary of the English Language ( 1828 ). It is full of Scriptural references . Webster clearly understood the connections between language and the Bible .
However , in today ’ s state schools , it is no longer permitted to teach children that God ’ s Word has anything whatsoever to do with math , science , history , sports , or language . In today ’ s state schools , the Bible is irrelevant to education .
To teach students that the Bible is irrelevant to biology , physics , and language can be done effectively without telling them this directly . A teacher does not have to stand in front of a class and say , “ the Bible has nothing to do with our discussion ” to communicate the message that God ’ s Word is irrelevant . All they have to do is remain silent on this point . Sometimes it ’ s not what is said that ’ s the problem but what is not said .
Many Christian parents and their pastors feel things are okay if teachers don ’ t proclaim to a class , “ The Bible is a fairy tale .” Yet when teachers don ’ t place a single academic subject into a biblical frame-of-reference context , you have created a secularized mind in action and the development of a mental problem known as the Sacred-Secular Divide .
My biggest concern about young people being indoctrinated into secularism through education is not that they will become atheists . My biggest concern is they will become dualists .
A dualist is one who reads the Bible , prays , goes to church on Sunday , and yet doesn ’ t make any significant connections between God ’ s Word and what goes on Monday through Saturday . A dualist thinks that the church and the home are “ sacred ” spaces , while the public realm is “ secular .”
Dualists see the Bible as relevant to their personal lives and the church ’ s affairs but not relevant to what goes on in the workplace or the public square . Dualists don ’ t mix biblical worldview with driving a truck , painting a house , managing a bank , or running a city because they didn ’ t combine biblical worldview with geography , literature , math , or soccer in school .
Dualism is a learned mental condition . Today ’ s Americans have been well trained in dualism since kindergarten . Many consider building houses , selling vegetables , and practicing law as “ secular ” endeavors , while pastoring a church or doing mission work is a “ sacred ” task .
Yet , early Americans , such as the Puritan Pastor George Swinnock , would have challenged this unbiblical notion . As Swinnock declared , “ The pious tradesman will know that his shop , as well as his chapel , is holy ground .”
The SSD Infection
Many Christians today view life as having two bifurcated compartments , like this :
“ Sacred ”
Things pertaining to the spiritual and eternal realm of “ God ’ s affairs ” or things “ related to religion ”
“ Secular ”
Things pertaining to the physical and temporal realm of “ man ’ s affairs ” or “ not related to religion ”
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