My goal as a preacher is to be able to teach the
Bible every day (Sunday through Saturday). The past few years
I have gotten pretty close to that. Every school day, I leave
the church building between one and one thirty p.m. I drive the
same ten-mile stretch of road that has become all too familiar
to me for the past two and a half years. I arrive early to North
Marion High School and review what will be covered or done in
class that day as I wait for the 7th period bell to ring.
Is it Monday, the day students trace Bible Maps
to help them learn the Bible Lands? Is it Monday when students
might also work on finding facts on the Bible Person or Bible
Place assigned to them? Is it Tuesday through Thursday when students
read passages of scriptures as we review the Bible Books of the
week? We start with Genesis in September and finish with Revelation
by June. I also lecture on "separation of church and state,"
"atheism vs. Christianity," Biblical art, and other
related Bible material.
Is it my favorite day, a Free Friday? I answer
(from my unique perspective Church of Christ) Bible questions
turned in by students. Some of these questions follow. Do you
believe in miraculous healing today? What does the Bible say about
homosexuality? What is purgatory, and can one pay and pray someone
into Heaven? Is drinking alcohol a sin? Can we speak in tongues
today? If you are a true Christian, why does God let people suffer?
Do you believe in spirits coming back to Earth? Is baptism really
necessary? Are there dinosaurs in the Bible? As long as the students
are not required to agree and are not tested on this material
such "discussions" do not violate the rules for the
class. This is the one "stipulation" I specifically
asked for before accepting the job.
Admittedly, this job just sort of came to me.
A preacher friend of mine told me to apply for the Bible Instructor
position that was available through the local school board. The
class had already been approved, and he, like many others, felt
that at least a sound preacher should fill such a position. In
all, three church of Christ preachers applied (thankfully the
only applicants). My experiences in preaching, teaching, working
for years with high school students helped me get the position
to teach this Bible Enrichment course (The Bible in History
& Literature).
Some believe there must be a separation of church
and state and that it is not the "job" of the public
school system to teach religion. The students sign up and take
the class as an elective, not a requirement, and most (about 75%)
actually want to take the class. I teach a review of the Bible
in a public school a class that only exists at North Marion because
a man, Joe "Pat" Elliot, wanted to see if it could be
done. A principal was willing to accept the class in his school,
and various religious groups and people donated their money to
fund the class. Southern West Virginia has many such classes and
created the curriculum that I use and supplement.
Unfortunately, the funding is running out (the
class costs about $6,000 a year for the teacher's salary as determined
by the state). If you wish to support the class (& me as the
teacher), send checks payable to: Marion County School Board,
200 Gaston Ave, Fairmont, WV 26554. In the MEMO section, please
write North Marion Bible Class. You are welcome to send
your checks to Oakwood Road Church of Christ, and the elders will
make sure your checks get to the proper place.
Any question or concerns, please contact me. Melvin
Salal Rogers, Oakwood Road Church of Christ at 304-363-1239, or
salal24@yahoo.com or orcofc@hotmail.com