God Needs To Go To Back To School!

Why is that you asked? When did God ever go to school? I mean He must have went as Jesus Christ into the temples to learn about the scriptures or that he was endowed with that knowledge since He was God in the flesh right?

What I am talking about is what most people now call, the separation between church and state. I am talking about when God and the Bible was taught in schools. When it was OK in some schools that in addition to the Pledge of Allegiance which always included, "one nation under God", but also recited the Lord's Prayer as well. When you could pray in school and weren't automatically taken to the principles office because you may have "offended" someone in your class or even the teacher.

I had a very enlightening church service last night and in case you want to hear it, simply google, Calvary Chapel of the High Desert, click on Sermons and click on Dennis Davenports sermon from last night. Even though we were doing a study in Micah, we got on the topic of disciplinary problems in schools in the 1940's and 1990's. Here is the list:

1940:

1) Talking out of turn
2) Chewing gum
3) Making noise
4) Running in the hall
5) Cutting in line
6) Dress code violations
7) Littering

1990

1) Drug abuse
2) Alcohol abuse
3) Pregnancy
4) Suicide
5) Rape
6) Robbery
7) Assault

*Taken from “School Violence Prevention: Strategies to Keep Schools Safe,” by Alexander Volokh with Lisa Schnell in January 1998

The interesting statistics would be what are the current disciplinary problems in our schools now, 19 years later? We could only hope for those problems of the 1940's again much to today's problems. I don't see much changing except for the frequency that these things would happen in addition to school shootings, murder, eating disorders, cutting and more. You fill in the blank.

Have you noticed how much of our actual United States History is being removed from our schools simply because it offends someone's religious preference? We learn about Patrick Henry's famous quotes, "Give me liberty or give me death." but what about this part from the same famous speech, "No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. " (Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech from Libertyonline, dated March 23, 1775.

Heaven forbid that if that same speech would be uttered by our current government leaders, whether president or congressman, senators or anyone in government, the lawyers would be all over that person. The ACLU would come out of the woodwork for that offensive speech. Yet why don't we tell the whole story when it comes to history for American's and remove all religious references?

Another interesting thing that I heard last night was Thomas McKean, was nominated for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and upon finding John Roberts guilty for treason and condemned to death issued this statement to Roberts from the bench, " "You will probably have but a short time to live. Before you launch into eternity, it behooves you to improve the time that may be allowed you in this world. It behooves you most seriously to reflect upon your conduct, to repent of your evil deeds, to be incessant in prayers to the great and merciful God to forgive your manifold transgressions and sins, to teach you to rely upon the merit and passion of a dear Redeemer and thereby to avoid those regions of sorrow, those doleful shades where peace and rest can never dwell, where even hope cannot enter. It behooves you to seek the fellowship, advice and prayers of pious and good men, to be persistent at the throne of grace and to learn the way that leadeth to happiness. May you reflecting upon these things and pursuing the will of the great Father of Light and Life, be received into the company and society of angels and archangels and the spirits of just men made perfect and may you be qualified to enter into the joys of heaven, joys unspeakable and full of glory." (faith of our fathers.net/mckean.html)

Did you catch that? Hmm, now tell me again about separation of church and state? Is that a literal wall or just put there to keep from offending someone? Sure it offends us now, the minority, Christians, because for too long we sat back and stood by while the people we have nominated have eliminated things from the way we run government now to appease the "people". Don't they just mean the people that will cause problems, the people who will call their lawyers and ask for their civil rights to be upheld? I mean can we really tolerate the needs of every single person living here? I wish for a ethical God fearing man to stand up for what he believes in and confess it in the middle of our governments. Stop being chicken! Be a David in the midst of the Goliath government. God will be with you.

Here's more: Did you know that of the 56 original signers of the Declaration of Independence, that 54 of them were born again Christians? 27 of them held diplomas in seminary schools?

Did you know that on September 17, 1774, The Continental Congress began their session by opening with a word of prayer that last for 3 hours? John Adams wrote to his wife Abigal and tell her that they believed that God was speaking to them by quoting Psalms 35? Here is what he wrote to her, "From Paul Ankerberg’s website, David Barton of WallBuilders discusses the Founding Fathers and a 3-hour prayer session and bible study of Psalm 35…in CONGRESS!!


John [Adams] told [his wife] Abigail, he said, “But our Psalm for this morning was Psalm 35. He said, “I beg you, read that Psalm.” He said, “God used Psalm 35 to put our hearts at rest. We know it’s going to be all right. We prayed Psalm 35 as a Congress this morning.” And Psalm 35 is an excellent prayer for these people, particularly feeling that they had an unprovoked attack coming at them.

Now, Congress read and prayed Psalm 35 over a three-hour period. Well, John continued a very faithful correspondence with Abigail and in another letter that he sent to Abigail he told her, “Today, Congress did one of the wisest things it could possibly have done. Today, we called for a national day of prayer and fasting.” And he told her, “We’ve appointed a continental fast.” He said, “Millions will be upon their knees at once before their great Creator imploring His forgiveness and His blessings, His smiles on American council and arms.” And he told Abigail, “Abigail, can you imagine the impact of having millions of people upon their knees at once praying to God?” I would love to witnessed that happening, can you?


Did you know that when the Congress of the United States in 1782 printed the first Bible, that on it's opening page were printed the words, "For Use in Schools"?

Or how about the Mayflower Compact which is removed from our history books after being in them for 150 years following the landing of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Do you know what it said? " In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620." (allabouthistory.org/mayflower)

So I personally believe that it's time that we as people of our United States begin to allow God back into our government, back into our schools and back into our lives. Forget tolerance of every other religion, and what offends people. If it offends you then don't be a part of the government, enroll your children someplace else, and believe what you want. Do expect the remainder of us to remain silent any longer!

What’s more, the very same Congress that sent the First Amendment to the states for ratification voted to hire chaplains at taxpayer expense for both houses of Congress. And George Washington, who supported the First Amendment, is the one who started the tradition of prayer at presidential inaugurations – as well as adding the words “so help me God” to the presidential oath and taking said oath on the Bible.

Certainly Benjamin Franklin would not have agreed with Newdow (the atheist who has asked for God to be removed from the pledge of allegiance). Even before the First Amendment was conceived, Franklin publicly called for prayer at the Constitutional Convention. He reminded the delegates that “God governs in the affairs of men,” and warned that, without “His aid,” they were likely to suffer the same fate as the “Builders of Babel.” Franklin’s motion for beginning each day with a formal prayer was set aside, but the convention recessed for the purpose of worship and prayer. Moreover, Franklin’s suggestion for prayer was the catalyst for the First Congress hiring paid chaplains. (http://americanfounding.blogspot.com/2006/09/first-prayer-of-continental-congress.html)

I think it's time for us to revisit the successes of our history in order to gain a much needed insight for our countries current crisis. If we start with God, how can we lose?