As our Constitution is set up, any government institution that opens itself to one religion must also open itself to all religions. The first amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It's not that Jesus can't be present, it's that--if he is--then Mohammed and Buddha and everyone else have to be allowed in as well.
For the last 235 years Christians haven't had to worry about other faiths stepping on our toes. We have enjoyed our religious freedom because, frankly, there hasn't been anyone else exercising theirs. But in the 21st century we're faced with a problem: people of other faiths are demanding the same rights as us.
My original point was, if religion is going to be an "all" or "nothing" proposition in school, then I choose "nothing." And now, fourteen months later, the primary reason for my concern is being played out in dramatic fashion in North Carolina.
After The Gideons International delivered several boxes of Bibles to Windy Ridge intermediate school, administrators allowed students who wanted one to come by the office and get a copy. When a concerned parent questioned that decision, the school assured her that they would make available religious texts donated by any group.
What the school didn't know was that the parent in question, Ginger Strivelli, practiced Witchcraft...and she wanted to distribute pagan spell books at the school.
Oops.
It is incredibly narrow-minded and short-sighted to believe that by advocating for "freedom of religion" in the public square Christians are merely opening our kids up to periodically lighting a Menorah or singing an African harvest song once a year. How might you react if your child brought home a book of witch spells that he picked up from the school secretary? Are you okay with a student praying to Allah over the school intercom? How about your daughter sitting next to a guy in class who is allowed to carry a small, religious knife?
(Can't happen? Last year a Michigan school made headlines for allowing members of the Sikh faith to carry small, symbolic knife known as the Kirpan.)
Witches believe they are religious. So do Sikhs. And so do Satan worshipers. And the harder we fight to get Jesus into our schools, the harder we are fighting to get all of the rest in with him.
Given the scope of our Constitution and the inherent risks associated with our current approach, it seems to me that the only good way to get Christ into public schools is to put him inside our kids before they go.
This subject always gets me fired up. I am so fed up with Christians having their rights stripped away by the courts. But I won't get into that here. I'm commenting because I want to thank you for pointing out two things. One: Yes, by allowing Christianity in our schools we have to allow all religions. Two: But if parents are raising their children to be followers of Christ, they won't have to worry about their kids participating in activities that recognize other religions.
ReplyDeleteI knew the last line before I read it! You are right! Being proactive and putting on the full armor of God is the way to do it. Equipping our kids to stand up for what they believe not shoving it in their face. Being Jesus to others. CT
ReplyDeleteCharity...I totally understand. There are plenty of instances when Christians are discriminated against when other religions or faiths are not. In this instance, however, I don't think most Christians know what they're asking for. :-)
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