Ten Commandments Posted In Missouri Schools?

A bill mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments has been introduced in the Missouri Senate's education committee. On Tuesday, senators, school advocates, and faith-based leaders engaged in spirited debate about the bill.

What Senate Bill 594 Says

According to the Missouri Independent, Senate Bill 594 would require classrooms to display a poster at least 11 inches by 14 inches with the Ten Commandments in an easily readable font beginning on January 1, 2026.

Students would see the words, "I AM THE LORD thy God" followed by the commandments in every public and charter school classroom they enter.

What Was Covered In The Spirited Debate

The Independent quotes state Senator Jamie Burger, a Benton Republican, who believes that when prayer and religion were removed from schools, guns and violence replaced them. Democrat state Senator Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City expressed concern about potential litigation and said she believes it goes against the very founding of the United States. Burger disagreed, believing that our nation's founding was based on not having a State religion.

Faith leaders came down on both sides of the issue, discussing everything from the different translations of the bible used by various religions to how members of religions that don't include the Ten Commandments and atheists would be made to feel when they have to see that posted every time they walk into a classroom.

The bill's legality, whether it violates the United States and Missouri Constitutions, and the trouble similar laws have run into in the courts were also discussed.

Let's Talk About The Bill, Religion, and the Ten Commandments

As a Christian, I believe the Ten Commandments are a good guide to leading a moral, happy life. If you're a nonbeliever, I think you can take God out of the equation, and the Ten Commandments still provide a good framework for leading a moral, happy life.

Yet, should our public and charter schools even wade into religion? Yes, our country's founders were Christians, but I also think that, based on their experience, they wanted everyone who sought freedom in America to live a good, happy, moral life as they believed, Christian or not.

It's one thing to acknowledge God on our money or in the Pledge of Allegiance because of the faith of our founders. Yet, it's another to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms and potentially wade into the world of religion in school.

Faith is an intensely personal thing, and while the umbrella of Christianity itself shares many qualities and similar beliefs between specific religions, there are differences. Add in those kids who have different or no beliefs, and it seems that, as many probably feel a poster of the Ten Commandments is benign, it could be problematic in many ways for both students who are inadvertently or purposely made to feel differently—teachers of different faiths who may be asked questions about the Ten Commandments. Not to mention, parents who think the religious education of their kids is their domain, not the school's.

Is there any shortage of religious opportunities for kids to get that education? I can't think of any Christian church I've been to that doesn't offer opportunities for members' kids to learn about their faith and walk with God. There also doesn't seem to be any shortage of schools for parents who wish their kids to get a faith-based education.

Finally, does anyone think a largely ignored poster that will become part of a classroom's wallpaper will cure society's violence and gun problems? I don't. If we want to tackle the issues of guns, violence, and then beyond that, homelessness, addiction, bullying, and many of society's ills, let's put some real money behind mental health services and counseling and help people become the best version of themselves.

Providing services that can comfort people and help them understand their feelings and frustrations and how to deal with those emotions will help people of every faith live better lives. In my mind, it would be just as pleasing to God as posting His Commandments in every classroom—perhaps even more effective.