Should the Bible Be a State Book?

 A bill to make the Bible Tennessee’s official state book is proceeding to the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives after a committee on Tuesday recommended the legislation for passage.

In the bill, Republican state Rep. Jerry Sexton argues that the Bible should be the state’s official book to, among other reasons, reflect family heritage and underscore the multimillion-dollar industry that is Bible printing in Tennessee.

This is solid proof that Constantinianism still lives to this day. Constantinian is a term to describe the political and theological aspects of the 4th-century process of Constantine's integration of the imperial government with the church. In plain English is simply means that with the Edict of Milan in AD 313, Constantine joined together the church and the state. This was the most disastrous endeavor of the enemy to destroy the church of Jesus Christ on earth.

Constantine’s edict not only gave legal favor to the church, it brought the church into a position of servanthood to the state. The harm that this declaration wreaked upon the church is almost unmeasurable. It plunged the world into what we termed “The Dark Ages” and gave birth to an unholy, unregenerate, and Christ-less church.

Apparently, unfortunately, and tragically it is true that the one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. No nation has at any time has been a Christian nation. No nation has ever enjoyed the covenant relationship with God as the nation of Israel enjoyed. No society has been and never will be a Christian nation. This includes America. Righteousness cannot be legislated. Passing a law that makes the Bible a state book has absolutely no meaning at all. This bill will not change the attitude of the unregenerate toward the bible or toward God.

If this bill is passed and becomes law, the fallout will be monumental:

First of all, such a law would be a violation of the separation of church and state by certifying a single or particular “text” over other religious texts.

Second, in my humble opinion it seems to fly in the face of Jesus’ warning to “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. [Matthew 7:6, NLT]

Third, it also, in my humble opinion would seem to trivialize the uniqueness and holiness of God’s word by treating as a mere literary publication undergirding “multi-million-dollar industry. The word of God is sacred and should be treated as such.

Fourth, even though God can and has used the most unusual people, events, and circumstances to work out his good pleasure, making the bible a state book will not affect the hearts of the unregenerate.

Let’s deplore any for or action of Constantinianism. Forget about making the bible a state book, and let’s take the Word of God to the unregenerate citizens of our states, and preach the gospel. Remember, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17]