Some readers might be nervous about efforts to return prayer and scripture reading to our schools. They accept the idea that a prayer to start the day is somehow an injury to the preferences (and thus a removal of the freedom) of a non-praying scholar. They opine against the US becoming a religious state like the world's Moslem nations. With respect, I do see the importance of a separation of church and state.
I don't want any or all the flavors of Christianity triumphing over every other religious belief in this nation to the extent that we place pressure on those people to join us. Coerced conversions is the worst thing that can happen to the church. We learned that in the 4th century when pagan Rome took on a "Christian" mantle for political survival. Only a heart change is genuine conversion. That's what being "born again" implies.
Notwithstanding our calling to be a prophetic voice to the nation, the church has to start with severe house cleaning of its own. Revelations of internal sinfulness can be a very healthy thing. The Bible has a concept that holds judgement by God should begin "at the house of the Lord". Only a clean church can speak a powerful word to the nation.
There is however an unavoidable "narrow mindedness" about Christianity. It insists that there are not "many truths". For us there are no shades of honesty or gray areas of integrity. Recently the newest preacher in Clinton entitled his sermon "They lied and they died." Rev. Harrison touched on the convenient lies by the boards of directors in the companies busy folding right now. Only by living uprightly can we call for righteousness.
No, I don't want to force anyone to donate money or to knuckle under to ecclesiastical pressures. Since the separation of church and state precludes tax dollars being spent - even in the most obscure way ÿ for the prospering of my church may I ask the government show the reverse respect? Would it be wrong of them to spend my tax dollars on a cause that deeply offends me? Strange how this separation only goes one way. We have taken the separation idea to unnatural conclusions.
On Friday, June 21st, the Senate voted to allow military abortions at military hospitals abroad. Senator Patty Murray's ammendment removes the ban on abortion in military hospitals in the United States. This turns military hospitals into abortion Clinics. It also allows for federal funding to provide for abortions by subsidizing the cost of the building, properties and materials. That means my tax dollars could be responsible for abortions in military facilities.
It's in the nature of governments to rule to the lowest common denominator of national principles. We are called to debate, plead, pray towards, write and lobby for the raising of that level. The church is commissioned to be a witness. This includes the duty to speak up when life, even the life of the innocent, unborn child is devalued upon the altar of personal preference. Deplorable as all this is, I accept that part of my tax will be spent on what sticks in my throat. It's the real world. It's a world that should however afford the church as much freedom to influence kids at school as is allowed to Secular Humanism, the philosophy behind so many school textbooks.
Americans have been Bible readers from the beginning of our country. Would it be wrong to teach the Bible as literature at our high schools? Voorhees High School for example has such a class. Our kids need to know the source from which so much that is best about America has sprung. Surely every kid should be given access at school to earth's most widely sold book.