National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) President Troy Miller's recent Fox News opinion piece argues that Americans must look beyond immediate comfort and prosperity to consider what kind of country they will leave future generations, particularly in light of the growing national debt.
He encourages Christians to defend religious liberty, uphold biblical values and make sacrifices to preserve freedom and opportunity for their children and grandchildren.
Miller says that if Americans want to pass on a country worth having, now is the time to start teaching children about biblical principles, including those the Founding Fathers had in mind.
"One of the things that we're meant to do is pass on our prosperity and our freedom to the next generation," he notes. "The Bible even talks about that down to our grandkids and then the third and fourth generations."
Proverbs 13:22 and Psalm 112:1-3, for example, highlight the virtue of leaving a financial and stable refuge for children and grandchildren. Additionally, Deuteronomy 6:6-25 commands parents to pass down the history of their liberation and divine laws to ensure their descendants maintain ongoing freedom and prosperity.
In America, Miller says, a long line runs from the Founding Fathers to the patriots mentioned in history books and now to today's parents and their children.
"I think we can talk about what was it like when we were growing up, what did we inherit from our parents and our grandparents," he suggests.
And while the benefits of a strong and free America are many, Miller acknowledges that even more is at stake for the next generation.
"The biggest for us is to pass along our faith and what God has done in our life," the NRB president submits.
As he thinks about future generations, Miller is mindful of the fact that many young people today have been fooled into believing in socialism, an economic and political philosophy that has failed every time and everywhere it has been tried.
Meanwhile, the national chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America has endorsed 131 candidates and taken sides on 33 ballot measures in the midterms, and its members have promised a litany of failed policies and vindictive lawfare if they prevail.
What works, Miller says, is a free market backed by a constitution that protects private property and religious freedom, so the "most important thing to tell them is the why and the opportunities that that created for us."
"What they want to do is restore that system, not replace it for one that's already failed," he urges.
Miller's emphasis on passing down American history and values comes as parents continue to express strong preferences about what their children should learn in school.
There is no single national statistic or all-encompassing percentage tracking how many U.S. parents in general discuss history with their children. However, overwhelming majorities prefer a balanced approach to American history education that includes both the nation's achievements and its flaws.
A 2022 Pew Research Center survey highlights that 49% of parents believe the legacy of slavery still affects black Americans today, whereas 42% prefer it be taught strictly as historical fact without connection to modern society. Ultimately, parents strongly lean toward critical thinking over memorization, with up to 75% expressing a preference for teaching children how to independently analyze historical events.
While up to 92% of parents believe key historical figures should be taught despite modern flaws and nearly 90% agree that slavery must be taught in schools, major political divides emerge regarding its modern impact.
