Daniel 6:10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human-except to you, Your Majesty-will be thrown into the den of lions?”“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Just this week our local school system received a letter from an anti-religious group stating that they received a complaint from an anonymous parent and we are breaking the law because we have a student led prayer before our high school football games. They threatened us with a law suit if we did not stop this outlawed prayer immediately.
So the question is what do we do and the answer like always is found in the Bible. We are not the first group of people that has experienced outlawed prayer, Daniel in our scripture today faced death if he continued to pray. I love what the scripture says, "But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God." when he heard about the law of man that violated the law of God, he didn't flinch, backdown or try to hide. Scripture says he went on doing just what he had always done, he prayed.
So what are we going to do, citizens of Arab, Alabama? Are we going to back down and allow a minority to control what the majority of the people in Arab believe in. Are we going to sit idly by and watch another Christian liberty be taken from us or are we going to stand up and speak out against this injustice that is trying to be imposed upon us. I for one refuse to be quiet and let the enemy bully us around. This is not a natural battle, we are not fighting an anti-religious organization from Wisconsin, we are fighting a spiritual battle for the principles of truth that make us strong and preserve the values of our Christian faith.
I challenge everyone to call the school board (256-586-6011) and let them know that you support prayer and that you are not willing to allow one anonymous parent who is offended by prayer to govern an entire school district. Let them know that you are offended by the fact the they would remove prayer. We can not sit by and do nothing, raise your voice and as Daniel lets stand for what is right and God will stand with us. He is still capable of shutting the mouths of lions and delivering his people.
What happens in Arab, Alabama will become the standard for what will happen in all the school districts that surround us. We are not just fighting for our school we are fighting for a standard of righteousness that will govern our community, state and nation.
Unfortunately judicial activism and legislating from the bench have twisted the First Amendment into something that I'm afraid our founding fathers would barely recognize.I actually agree with Mr. Mullins, in that our financial resources are better spent educating, than fighting a protracted legal battle that is sure to cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.
ReplyDeleteThe courts have held that use of a school's PA system, even by a student's request to pray, violates the Establishment clause. The courts have also upheld that student or citizen ititiated prayer on public property is legal,and the Free Exercise Clause forbids state interference in individual religious exercise.
We as Christians do not have to accept this as defeat. The courts may be able to tie the hands of a school administration, but they can not tie the hands of, nor silence the people. We can, should, and will look at contacting Christian based legal organizations that may be able to help in the fight.
We will give the offended anonymous parent their demanded "moment of silence." After that brief moment, thousands of voices will be raised to God with The Lord's Prayer.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV
ReplyDeleteWatch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
The battle has just begun.
I always thought that the majority rules..If enough parents bombard the board of education with protests for prayer at football games I think that one parent won't stand a chance. If the worse case takes place, then walk around the ruling...A normal citizen can stand up at the football games, announce that all who would like to pray before the game bow their heads and pray. It takes it out of the public school and places it in the hands of the american citizen.
ReplyDeleteI have always said that prayer was removed from school by one Atheist because every Christian has become so complacent that they do nothing. I was told that I can't witness at work. If I am in the parking lot in my own car I am in my private property. I will never sit back and allow a fallen world dictate to me when and where I am allowed to talk to my Father. Never! I have already begun praying for this situation. I volunteer at the school and this morning when they called for a moment of silence I prayed, that's right, I PRAYED. I have come through to much garbage to sit down now and be quiet. I believe that God is going to turn this around, that He is already on it. God Bless Liberty and Pastor Keith and Kelly for standing up when everyone else is sitting down.
ReplyDelete