I saw a note on the Internet from a Christian, who I will call Terry, stating their concern over allowing prayer back into our schools. Following is Terry's note and my thoughts on the subject. Where do you stand on the issue?
Terry wrote ------------- >
I want to ask one question. When you say prayer... do you mean letting students pray or mandating prayer for all??? i live in NYC and if we allow or mandate prayer in the schools what kind of prayer?? Will it be chanting with Buddha......bowing to Allah or talking to Jesus?? i live an a very diverse community. i feel prayer is a private thing. if a person WANTS to pray they should be allowed to pray. But if a prayer is lead by some unbeliever or if they are praying to a "god of your choice" what is the benefit? i send my daughter to, and work in, a Lutheran school but in public schools there are rarely any Christian teachers here. Of course there are some, but I still don't see the benefits of prayer in school. a corporate prayer...unbelieving people repeating something that they don't understand?? Please specify what you mean by "prayer in the schools" we as Christians ought always to pray in our hearts. Forcing Christianity on others opens the door to other religions being taught as well. this letter is jumbled and I'm sorry, I'm just trying to get my thoughts across. Feel free to email me
Terry
joe wrote ---------------------- >
Dear Terry,
I received a copy of your above note on school prayer, and found it very interesting, but puzzling at the same time. Perhaps my puzzlement comes from my own limited view of the world our heavenly Father has made for us. As I read your words they all ring true in a democratic society, one ruled by man's laws where all men are created equal, but that is also saying that all gods are created equal, or there is no god at all. But if I am a Christian, if I do truly believe (1) there is a heavenly Father who created me and all the earth, (2) Jesus is truly the only begotten Son of the Father, and (3) all men will soon stand before the Father in judgment, then whose laws should I follow? Will I be held accountable to the Father for my middle of the road stance in a democratic world that is moving further away from the Father every day? Should I compromise the faith which is my life's blood for the well being of our democratic society which states all men and gods are created equal? Should I stand by and say it is better to have public schools which are ruled by the atheist faith, which teach our children there is no God, because I fear letting the students decide for themselves in an open debate?
I was raised in a time when the Lord's Prayer was said every morning in our public schools. If you read the following words of the prayer Jesus told us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, and then I would ask what religion could reject these words, other than the atheistic faith which now rules our schools and children?
Matthew 6:9-13 (9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
What faith do these words offend, other than the atheistic religion? If I truly believe in the atheistic faith, I still have the right to ignore the prayer, as many so called Christians have done in the past. But having said all that, the great debate over prayer in our schools is still a personal thing, and we must each be responsible for our own actions in this life when we come before our heavenly Father. I think back to the Christian's in the lion's den as they went singing to their deaths, rather than compromising their faith in Jesus. I wonder how they would see our debate over school prayer today. We too now stand in the lion's den, but Satan, the great deceiver, has blinded us and we don't even see the arena, while we dance to the atheist music.
As I look down the road at a world without God, my heart cries out for the lost children who are consumed in the fires of Satan's lies. Where should I stand in all of this? Our schools have taught us that our democratic government ruled by the people is to be worshiped above all else, and they have hidden the Father's warnings that all that is ruled by man will soon parish. I personally prefer a government ruled by a loving Father, and not by humans.
As I said earlier, this is a personal problem within me as my soul cries out for the lost and I cannot stand by and watch my brothers and sisters in Christ being slathered in the world's arena without joining them. The atheist faith is choking the life's blood from our children each day while we call it equality. But where is the equality, when only the atheist faith is taught? How could I look upon the faces of those lost in hell forever, and say it was justice? I wish to force no one to follow me, but I can never follow man's desires when they try to turn me, and my children away from my Father. The only question is, is our faith in Christ more real to us than man's laws of equality? Do we prefer to keep man's laws, more than losing our own souls? What are we willing to give up for our Savior, or did He save us only in words and there is no power in His sacrifice? Is our faith in Christ real, or do we subject it to man's approval? The Christians in the lion's den willingly gave their lives for their faith, are we willing to live for ours? It is for certain that if we follow only the words of Christ, our democratic atheist society world will soon cast us into the lion's den once again. In that hour which choice will we make, to conform with the democratic atheist principles or to never compromise our faith in the one true God?
Our nation was built upon a faith in God, but we now reject such beliefs. Are we better off now, is our future brighter, are our children more understanding, or is the darkness beginning to cover our democratic world? Lord, for me, I humbly bow before You, and I gladly accept You as my only Lord and King.
God bless you Terry, as we search together for our Father's will in our lives. We each must make a stand, as the Lord leads us, but I pray that we are not being deceived. May He fill your soul with His love, mercy and grace. Such can only come from a truly loving Master. I would rather be a servant in my Father's house, than a king of a democratic world.
Your brother in Christ,
joe sizemore.
June 5, 2000