The case against banning books from school libraries

For an alternative view see here.

Which books or topics should and should not be addressed in schools? This is a question I’ve had to think through a lot. I am a parent of four children (now aged between 10-16 years old), a school governor, a Christian school’s worker and married to a teacher in a state primary school. Over the years, I’ve been approached by many Christian parents about this, and I have also been on the receiving end of ‘censorship’ with headteachers uninviting our ministry to lead assemblies because teaching about Christianity doesn’t reflect the makeup of their school community.

ultimately the goal is the same for Christian parents regardless on their conclusions on censorship: to raise disciples of Christ who will be effective witnesses for the gospel

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer but ultimately the goal is the same for Christian parents regardless on their conclusions on censorship: to raise disciples of Christ who will be effective witnesses for the gospel. The challenge throughout time has always been, how do we live in the world, but not be of the world. In wanting to grow in our own holiness we might try to shut out the world, but in doing so we risk becoming less effective in relating to the lost around us.

In John 17, the incarnation provides a pattern for Christian living – just as Jesus was sent into the world, so we as his disciples, have been sent into the world. Jesus prays that his followers be protected and sanctified, that they will not be ‘of the world’. As parents we can find assurance knowing that Jesus intercedes for those who belong to him, and that, through his word and by his Spirit, not our work as a parent but by his grace, he will be saving and sanctifying our children to be more like him.

the greatest harm our children face is not from outside, but from within themselves (Mark 7:20-21)

The instinct to protect children is a good and godly one. As Jesus prayed for his disciples, so we see throughout scripture that Christians should protect their minds from false religion (Exodus 34:14-17), false teaching (Deuteronomy 18:20 or Matthew 7:15) and from evil (Matthew 6:13), and instead fix our minds on what is pure and right (Philippians 4:8). However, even if we could shield our children from every evil influence in the world, the greatest harm our children face is not from outside, but from within themselves (Mark 7:20-21). Like the pious Pharisees (Matthew 23), those who seem outwardly obedient are in danger of being inwardly proud.

The greater the relational distance between us and those with differing viewpoints, the greater the risk of creating a ‘them vs us’ mentality which may lead to disdain for the other. Rather than protecting innocence, we inadvertently produce arrogance. For Christians, our value is higher than our culture’s aspirations of tolerance or acceptance of others, our call is to love our neighbour. This we simply cannot do if we view them with contempt or isolate ourselves away from them.

By exposing our children to other worldviews through books, we create opportunities for conversations that train our children to understand the lives of other people

By exposing our children to other worldviews through books, we create opportunities for conversations that train our children to understand the lives of other people, and to lovingly show how the gospel offers something greater in each and every situation. How do we model to our children our compassion for the lost if what they experience is our distance from unbelievers, and we present to them a world in which human depravity is merely a concept, not something that they have seen is real and can be overcome with the gospel? When Romans 12:2 instructs us to ‘not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,’ the following verses speak about humility and love, even for those who oppose us. We become more like Jesus by loving others, not by proving ourselves to be superior to them.

A central question is, at what age are children prepared enough to stand firm in their faith, in the face of differing viewpoints. Most of us believe in age-appropriate censorship of some kind – not many would think it appropriate to let a child watch an 18 Certificate film. Critical thinking tends to be something that children develop when they are much older, and being able to recognise differing worldviews takes time.

we must be on the front foot and having these conversations before the school are

We don’t simply want to use our children as pawns in a game of evangelism, using them as lambs to the slaughter, but how much better is it to be able to coach them in handling difficult questions and situations in a simple, age-appropriate way when they are young enough to still listen to what we have to say. If you leave it until their teens, or when they leave home, we may have left it too late to be able to have their ear anymore and they think we are ignorant or unable to speak about such matters because we have never raised the issue with them when they were younger.

Perhaps at the heart of censorship is our own fear as parents. We can feel unequipped to have such conversations, but we must be on the front foot and having these conversations before the school are. It is sufficient to say to a young child that ‘some people say that it is ok to… but as Christians we believe that…’ or ‘in this country, people are allowed to… but the Bible says that…’ As they get older, we can show them how God’s plan is better, and our identity is found primarily in being children of God and that knowing Jesus gives the fulfilment that people are searching for.

Censoring through withdrawing our children or banning certain things can have the opposite effect of making it more desirable

Furthermore, Christian parents can fear that, without their knowledge, teachers are seeking to normalise alternative lifestyles or behaviours that differ from a Christian worldview or indoctrinate children so that they are drawn towards them. However, whether as part of the school’s PSHE syllabus, from friends, or merely from observing the culture around them, parents must assume that our children will come across differing world views and our goal should be to help our children understand them and how Jesus is better than these hollow ideologies. Censoring through withdrawing our children or banning certain things can have the opposite effect of making it more desirable.

Moreover, God is so much greater than anything our children might face. He could shut down all opposing voices, but they are no threat to him. He has granted a freedom which means false teachers can be heard, because ultimately, he and his kingdom will not be overcome by them. Free speech works both ways. We cannot push for some books to be withdrawn without risking Christian freedoms also being curtailed.

I have concluded that I must not narrow my circle so much that I am the only one left standing in it

God could silence those alternative voices, but he chooses not to. He isn’t threatened by those who we think might damage the gospel and so I have concluded that I must not narrow my circle so much that I am the only one left standing in it – learning to understand differing views and coming back to scripture to examine our own position seems to be a part of growing in our own faith. Asking myself, when was the last time I allowed my way of thinking to be challenged.

So, if we are confident that the gospel is infinitely better than anything else out there, we need not feel threatened by those other voices, but with love of the lost, seek to engage with the world and show our children, and those we meet, how Jesus is where true life is found.

For an alternative view see here.