Here’s a great response to anyone trying to force the ten commandments to be displayed in classrooms. The response is from Texas representative James Talarico to Texas representative Candy Noble over her bill’s unconstitutionality, and how the legislation she’s presenting violates christian teachings.
Representative Talarico:
I say this to you as a fellow Christian. Representative, I know you’re a devout christian and so am I.
This bill to me is not only unconstitutional, it’s not only unAmerican, I think it is also deeply unchristian.
And I say that because I believe this bill is idolatrous. I believe it is exclusionary. And I believe it is arrogant. And those three things in my reading of the gospel are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus.
You probably know Matthew 6 5 when jesus says, “Don’t be like the hypocrites, who love to pray publicly on street corners, when you pray go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your father who is in secret.”
A religion that has to force people to put up a poster, to prove its legitimacy is a dead religion, and it’s not one that I want to be a part of. It’s not one that I think I am a part of.
You know that in scripture it says faith without works is what is dead.
My concern is instead of bringing a bill that will feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, we’re instead demanding that people put up a poster.
We both follow a teacher, a rabbi, who said, “Don’t let the law get in the way of loving your neighbor.” Loving your neighbor is the most important law. It is the summation of all the law and all the prophets.”
I would submit to you that our neighbor also includes the Hindu student who sits in a classroom. The Buddhist student who sits in a classroom. And an atheist student who sits in a classroom.
And my question to you is does this bill truly love those students?
Representative Noble’s first response is: “I’m going to go a different direction than I think you’re trying to lead me.” That’s her first response.
Here’s the YouTube video of the exchange: https://youtu.be/we0b04Qbbvc
Here’s the YouTube video: