The Federal Bureau of Prisons regulations state that all reading materials may be rejected by a state prison if they are found to be "detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or if it might facilitate criminal activity." Many state prisons have banned any periodicals or magazines with nude content such as underwear or swimsuits, and consider all books aside from the Bible to be contraband. In fact, the state of Illinois penal code requires the state to provide a Bible for every inmate. Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched its attack against the decisions of any state department of corrections that chooses to enact such policies claiming it to be “unconstitutional.” How interesting that man has removed the Bible from learning institutions, but demands its presence in correctional institutions. Truly, the Bible is the remedy for every plague brought upon man by sin, but God’s Word is also suited to prevent certain issues that would otherwise harm us.

Every young person must be engaged in the daily reading of the Word of God. Just as the human body will shrivel and die without the proper intake of food and water, so the spirit of man will starve without dining on Scripture. There is not a nobler quest for a young person than that of routinely studying the Bible, and yet there is no other desire that is met with greater opposition. The trap of the Devil is to distract our youth from the Word of God. Sadly, the youth of our generation do not lack information, but it is an inclination found in short supply. Who is responsible for encouraging our children to read God’s Word? If we leave this duty to the state, our kids will never own a Bible. If we leave this responsibility to the child, our kids may only own a copy of the Bible so that they have something to carry into the church house on Sundays. But, if each parent were to fulfill their God-given obligation, our children will be trained by our example and taught from our mouths the eternal riches of God as expressed to man in His Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).