Brookings resident Carl Kline is an ordained clergyman, part-time teacher and occasional blogger.

Oklahoma seems to be in the lead when it comes to educating children into Christian Nationalism.

School Superintendent Ryan Walters is working overtime to make sure Oklahoma kids grow up Christian and know their Bible. He’s purchased 500 copies of the Trump Bible to be placed in U.S. Government classes in Oklahoma high schools. That’s the Bible that also has the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Constitution, and the lyrics to God Bless the USA.

One wonders what will happen to those $60 Bibles? Will they be on display? Will teachers be instructed to read from them daily? Will students take turns reading passages to the other students? Will there be a way biblical material is inserted into the curriculum? And who provides the context? Will teachers take a special course, or two or three, in understanding the biblical context?

Walters has also required Oklahoma schools to show students a video of him praying for President Trump. Apparently, some schools have refused. Maybe all public schools in a Christian nation should be required to start their day praying for the President? (Be sure to mention Jesus in the prayer). Maybe prayer should be required along with the Pledge of Allegiance?

Texas probably comes in second in the Christian Nationalism race. In 2023, the legislature adopted legislation requiring the Texas Board of Education to develop a Bible-based curriculum for Texas schools. The state education agency developed the curriculum, to be used in kindergarten through fifth grade. With the approval of the governor, the board of education recently voted to allow this Bible-based curriculum into elementary schools. They decided using the curriculum should be optional, but $60 per student in additional funding comes to any school adopting it.

Most clergy spend at least three years in graduate school, with much of the training revolving around the Bible and an understanding of its context. Some are required to learn the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, to adequately understand the original meaning. Still, there are many translations of the biblical material and multiple understandings of a given text. To think that all public school teachers will be able to share Scripture competently, is like believing every teacher can competently teach astronomy or calculus. For instance, how should one understand the relationship between David and Jonathan? Some understand it as a gay relationship! In fact, some question whether Jesus was gay, and his disciples were part of a special group of bonded males. I can just see a third-grade teacher exploring this with her students!

Then there’s Louisiana, where there’s a movement to make all public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments. I wonder how they would read the text; true to the original Hebrew or with a more modern, nuanced translation? For instance, would it read “thou shalt not kill,” as it reads closer to the original Hebrew, or “thou shalt not murder.” It might make a difference to the Junior ROTC student.

When my wife heard the story of posting the Ten Commandments in every classroom, her response was they need to post them in the Trump White House and in Congress. It’s true, isn’t it? Our third graders aren’t committing adultery. Our first graders aren’t killing anybody. Maybe elementary children are learning how to steal, and how to bear false witness against their neighbor, and how to covet what another has; but they learn it from their elders.

In fact, the Ten Commandments ought to be posted at the front door of the White House, and no one allowed in unless they can prove they have complied. It would leave out Trump (adultery, false witness, taking God’s name in vain, worshipping idols (like golden bathroom appliances), coveting presidential power, etc. It would likely leave out numerous of the new appointees set to run the government.

Essentially, the Christian Nationalists make our country into a false idol. That’s the failure of all its proponents in and out of the White House or Congress. If we were No. 1 in Jesus’ terms, we’d be leading by serving, serving by sacrificing.

So let’s post the Ten Commandments in the White House and halls of Congress. Let’s put Bibles in every government office. Let our leaders teach the children by example. Make the biblical stories of feeding the hungry, healing the sick, aiding the injured, and giving one’s life for others, real! Those in positions of power and privilege can teach us all by their example.