Defending the Rights of Christian in Public Schools
By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe
1 Corinthians 14:40 (NKJV)
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
That time has come.
School is starting. Christian
students in public schools once again face a struggle to maintain their
Christian identity in a secular world.
The first hurdle in that struggle is for believers to embrace the
realization that Christian students do have a constitutional right to maintain
their Christian identity.
Christian students in public schools have more rights
than many of us appreciate. Fear has
caused some believers to give up rights that are protected under the
Constitution. As the world around us
becomes more and more antichrist, the people of God must learn to assert and defend
our right to be who we are. However,
those assertions and defenses must be “done decently and in order.” We must be
ruled by the Spirit of the Living God and not by our own emotions. Our stance must not devolve into screaming
tirades, angry outbursts and enraged petulance.
In preparing a defense for the constitutional rights of Christian students, it is often helpful to write out our thoughts, give a copy to the person we are addressing and then read from another copy. We must be precise, specific and rational.
In delivering the defense, we must remember that we are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV): “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”
Because we are ambassadors for Jesus, we are to be reconciled to doing things the way Jesus would do them. James 3:13 (NKJV) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
In preparation, we should first share our defense with other
Christians. Rehearsing arguments leads
to excellence in delivery. It is also helpful to receive the Godly input of
others. Remember the admonition of
Solomon: Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV)
“Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
“Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
We must pray for peace, clear thinking and hearts of compassion. It is important to understand that most educators have merciful hearts or they wouldn’t be in the profession. We must appeal to that mercy and demonstrate the compassion of Jesus. It is important for each of us be a vital part of the solution instead of an agent of exacerbation.
One of the reasons that we often feel threatened when confronted with opposing viewpoints is that we haven’t given reasonable thought and authoritative validation to our own viewpoints. As a result, when we feel threatened, we will tend to follow our emotions rather than our spirits. Our purpose is to defend our rights, to seek resolution and to bless rather than to curse.
A generation ago, because the Holy Bible was accepted as authority by the majority, we could validate most of our arguments by quoting scripture. That is no longer the case. Even many who label themselves “Christian” do not accept the Bible as authority. We cannot allow ourselves to be threatened or even frustrated by life as it now is. The truth is that everything that the Lord has spoken can be validated by life itself, by history, by science, by poets and artists, and by our own experiences. With prayer, we must seek out that validation.
When we have carefully thought through and validated our beliefs, we can enter confrontation with more confidence and demonstrate that confidence in our demeanor. We can “take charge” of the dialogue in a polite, orderly, rational approach.
For example: If we are concerned about an assignment, we can more readily establish a dialogue with the instructor if we say something like: “Mr. Peterson, my son John mentioned that he has been assigned a report on the basic elements of the theory of evolution. Please help me to understand how John can complete this assignment by both acknowledging that while many accept the theory of evolution as true, others, including our family, lean more toward intelligent design as defined by creationism.”
In the above example, I have taken responsibility for my concern and offered a reasonable solution. The doorway is opened to resolving the dilemma in a manner that will allow for freedom of expression and for assuring Mr. Peterson that John does understands the basic elements of the theory of evolution.
If John himself discusses his concern with the instructor, he can perhaps say, “Mr. Peterson, I have learned much about the theory of evolution and am willing to write the report you assigned. Please help me make an outline so that I can compare and contrast the theory of evolution with the theory of intelligent design.”
As
school opens, I encourage both parents and students to read the short legal
brief “Overview of Student Constitutional Rights” found on the ACLJ website, http://aclj.org/education/overview-of-student-constitutional-rights.
Following is a summary of that brief:
“In sum, students have the
constitutionally protected freedom to:
- Meet with Other Students for Prayer, Bible Study, and Worship
- Wear Clothing Depicting Religious Messages and Symbols
- Express Religious Beliefs on Campus
- Share Religious Tracts on Campus
- Pray Voluntarily, Including Gathering Around the School Flagpole to Pray
- Carry a Bible or Other Religious Literature
- Prepare School Assignments and Projects Expressing a Religious Perspective
- Observe Religious Holidays on Campus
- Organize Religious Clubs
- Live According to Their Religious Beliefs While on Campus” [1]
Please read the entire brief to understand more fully and, therefore, more effectively implement the Christian student’s constitutional rights.
I encourage all Christians to pray for at least one specific person involved in education. Pray often during the upcoming school year. We can stand on the promise in James 5:16b (NKJV), “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”).
Let’s us pray in agreement that our schools will be safe
havens for all children and staff. Psalm
31:20 (NKJV) declares, “You
shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You
shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”)
In our daily
conversations, we should speak encouragement and blessings over our the good things in our educational
system
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