Back in the Reagan era, these moments played for laughs. But today, the collision of faith and public life is no joke—especially in Alabama, where Republican lawmakers deep in the Bible Belt are attempting to turn religious devotion into state policy.

Bill 34, also called the Historical Educational Displays Act, would require school boards to list one historical educational document in each school building classroom.

As a pastor, it seems many Christians have watered down God’s purpose of love in the Ten Commandments to just be a set of guidelines for life.