Texas lawmakers want a month-long celebration of God's promises in the Bible

With "Promise Month," politicians are pushing a Christian agenda in a secular democracy

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This legislative season, we’ve already seen Montana try (and fail) to pass a resolution declaring “Christ is King” and North Dakota try (and fail) to pass a resolution acknowledging the “Kingship of Jesus Christ.” The Oklahoma House has passed it’s “Christ is King” resolution, but the Senate has not yet dealt with it.

Naturally, Texas Republicans are jealous.

That’s why they’ve just scheduled a hearing for a resolution so blatantly pro-Christian, it has no place in a secular democracy.

House Concurrent Resolution 59 would designate every April for the next 10 years as “Promise Month,” symbolizing the promises God supposedly made in the Bible.

There’s no effort to secularize any of this, even for optics. The resolution just treats the Bible as fact and pretends God has kept every promise.

WHEREAS, God keeps His promises, and the Lord your God is God and is faithful to keep His promises for all time to come; and

WHEREAS, The promises of God are stated thusly in the Gospel of John: "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand"; and

WHEREAS, God has given to us His great and precious promises of love, hope, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, and strength to sustain us through the life He has given us; and

WHEREAS, God gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength; and

WHEREAS, Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you; and

WHEREAS, The promise of God is His word, which is revelation from Him, showing the way of Salvation, through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Truth and Life, and encouraging the lives of many; and

WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence clearly reveals the fact that America was founded upon Biblical principles and Christian values; the Bible had great influence on the founding of our great nation; and

WHEREAS, God promises to heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate April as Promise Month; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally passed by the legislature.

It’s ironic that Texas Republicans say God gave us “eternal life” in a state that embraces the death penalty. Or that God gave us love and peace and wisdom in a state known for needless cruelty and rampant guns and awful public education. Or that God gives “power to the weak” in a state where health care access and economic security are notorious difficult to come by. Or that God will “heal our land” in a state that regularly sees natural disasters and water shortages and where politicians routinely deny climate change.

And don’t forget the pathetic attempt to shove revisionist history in there, falsely claiming the “fact” that the nation is founded upon “Biblical principles” or that the Bible influenced the founding of the country in any meaningful way.

The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Carrie Isaac and co-sponsored by 47 other representatives (including 11 Democrats!), had a hearing in the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism on May 1. It’s currently pending in the committee.

Carrie Isaac doing an impression of Jesus (screenshot via YouTube)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation says the resolution is “effectively endorsing Christianity as the state-sanctioned religion” and obviously opposes it. They offer some context to this bill as well and suggest the real reason Republicans are trying to get it passed: They’re laying the groundwork for actual legislation that will advance the Christian Nationalist cause.

Texas legislators are determined to implement their Christian nationalist agenda, even if a little bit at a time. During the 2023 legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed House Concurrent Resolution 29, which declared the last week of April to be “Christian Heritage Week” in Texas until 2033. Not satisfied with merely a week recognizing their privilege, they now want to expand their theocratic reach by claiming the entire month of April as one of Christian celebration. This is not only out of touch with the secular founding principles of the United States, but also at odds with the pluralistic views of their fellow Texans.

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“These government endorsements of Christianity serve a broader purpose,” explains Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. “They normalize the false narrative perpetuated by extremists that Texas is a Christian state. This is then used to justify passing actual laws rooted in Christian nationalism that take away rights, violate religious freedoms, and cause real harm to those who don’t conform to certain religious beliefs.”

All of this brings to mind the attempt, two years ago, to require all public schools to place the Ten Commandments—King James’ Version only—on the walls of every classroom. When it was being debated, State Rep. James Talarico dismantled the notion that Republicans gave a damn about the Commandments by noting all the hypocrisy. (Keep the Sabbath Day holy? The legislature meets on the Sabbath. Thou shalt not kill? The legislature won’t outlaw the death penalty.)

The same could be said here. Texas Republicans don’t care about what God promised in the Bible because nothing they do follows the Jesus who delivered the Sermon on the Mount. They might as well just pass a resolution that celebrates the Old Testament since that’s the only part they care about. (Or at least say they care about. It’s not like these people read the damn book.)

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