I hear a knock on the door last Saturday, and standing before me on my front step are two gentlemen carrying paperback books about the Ten Commandments.The younger of the two men did all the talking while his buddy, an older man who was obviously nervous about this door-to-door thing, stood smiling throughout his partner's narrative. I was treated to a well-rehearsed story that began . . .
"Of course, you know that the ten commandments have been removed from the schools and that the pledge of allegiance is no longer recited in the classroom. There has been a concerted effort to remove prayer and God from the schools . . . "
It was somewhere about here when I interrupted the young man to tell him that I was a public school teacher.
"As far as I can remember, the ten commandments have never been in the schools - none that I've seen as a student or a teacher. Every Monday my home room and I stand as one, as do all the other 600+ students in our school, and recite the pledge of allegiance - though I doubt half of them know what it means.
Every Thursday morning, the school's FCA chapter (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meets for prayer and a message, frequently from outside speakers - and it is very well attended. They have their own bulletin board in the main hallway with religious messages and symbols. Nobody is objecting to this. So where do you get this stuff?"
The two men were a little non-plussed, but the older guy continued nodding his head and smiling.
"Well, that's just great," he said enthusiastically. "Thank you for telling us about that."
The younger one muttered something about when he was in ROTC they didn't say the pledge at the school he attended. I didn't quite follow. I asked him where he went to school, and he told me he was from out of town. Oh.
"The thing is," I had to get the last word, "you guys are going door-to-door peddling your book, but you are telling people things that are just not true."
As they backed their way through our abrupt farewell, the older gentleman, still smiling and nodding, said "Thanks for telling us about your experiences." And they walked across the driveway to my neighbor's front porch.
They actually gave my neighbor a free copy of the book, Ten Commandments Twice Removed, by televangelists Danny Shelton and Shelley Quinn. And they didn't use the same lines on him, which I found a little gratifying - they just hawked the book. Maybe speaking up can make a small difference sometimes. Usually not, but maybe this time.
So, Matt loans me the book, and right there on the first page, line two, the public schools are introduced as evidence of our godless society's so-called war on Christianity.
"Whose agenda are we following? With prayer prohibited in public schools, Nativity scenes banned from public properties, and the Ten Commandments forcibly removed from government institutions, it makes me wonder."
Wonder, indeed. Wonder how many people will buy this load of misinformation and hyperbole.
Here's an interesting piece from the Washington Post that poses the question: "In Today's Culture, Do You See Evidence of a War on Christianity?
16 comments:
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Goodman:
Great post! As a Christian, I have often thought that this so-called war on Christianity was a ridiculous device used to confuse the flock and keep them immersed in the fear-driven doctrine of some denominations. (Not all Christians think this way or buy into the false doctrine spouted by the televangelists and conservative churches.)
Banning prayer in school, bah! Last I heard, a person had every right to pray his or her heart out in school.
I was, but no longer am, a "Christian" in the conventional sense, even though I continue to fervently believe in the redemptive power of Christ's message to mankind. They, and the guys at the door, have lost me. Just as I yearn for a new political party, I yearn for a new religion, both based on the golden rule. Both will come, but not soon I fear.
I'm afraid the mix of religion and politics is going to be a permanent fixture. The GOP figures there are still millions of evangelicals out there that are not registered, and they count them as a firm block vote. They will, of course, feel obliged to demonize in order to mobilize - that could be there motto.
i am currently reading the book those two gentlement tried to give you... some examples seem a bit extreme, but i suppose one would press a little hard to get a point accross. i think some of you who posted forgot the actual meaning and purpose of the book (TEN Commandments twice Removed)! it isn't about how public schools abandoned the 10 commandments- or taking prayer out of school.. in all actuality, it's about the sabbath. the authors are saying that not ONLY is christianity seeping from schools, but also in our churches as well. no where in the bible does it say to observe the holy sabbath on a sunday- that became a tradition created by the roman catholic church many years ago... there are some things that are stated in this book that i question, but instead of bashing what i don't yet understand, i will open the word of God and study what the scripture says. it's so easy to pick on someone else- and it's bad attitudes like yours that makes our world the way it is. i hope the truth is revealed to you, in due time.
The book states that the public schools have abandoned the Ten Commandments and prohibited prayer - it's on the first page. Read the scriptures . . . study away to your heart's content. But don't tell me this book is not about what it clearly states it is about.
And I'm so fucking sick of people talking about bad attitudes - this isn't pep club, Buckie. They are trifling with religion to meet a political end . . . period. I find that offensive and reprehensible.
"Spiritual things are spiritually discerned..." (1 Corinthians 2.14). The book being discussed is an awesome help for those who are really interested in gaining Biblical knowledge. I think it a good suggestion to READ FROM THE BIBLE FIRST before getting into the book. Why? Because the book derives from none other than the Bible. You can't enter a discussion before first knowing exactly WHAT is being discussed. And, whoever said that you can assume what a book is about just by reading the FIRST page? Now, does that really make sense? What the book is really about is helping people understand how the 4th Commandment (Exodus 20.8) still stands, because the 10 Commandments still stand. It goes into a well-done study of what was really nailed to the cross and what it is that we should still be following today...
The book really isn't about how there are no prayers in public schools anymore (which is true when it pertains to a teacher wanting to organize it). That was just an example of how true Christianity is simmering down to nothing. Just like we were all taught in English classes, we can catch the main idea by reading it in whole, not in pieces...
Anyway, I think the book brings a couple of interesting questions to light: Why is it that most of us Christians keep Sunday as our day of worship instead of Saturday? Was it changed by God, or man? And IF it was changed by man would that really mean it's an actual, permanent change? Or is that disobedience?
Anyway, for those of us who get really confused between the Law of Moses and God's Law (Ten Commandments), this is a good resource to scope out.
The Bible's last book(revalation)speaking about the last day events,clearly stated that every single person in this planet will receive a mark either from the beast power 666(vitican roman catholic church + U.S.A protestantism pagan sun-day worship) or the seal of GOD wich is the HOLY SABBATH the seventh day of the week.I'm not here to scare anyone,but to encourage everyone to get this book it will help as to understand how much GOD loves us that he is warning us of a major future soon to came deception ever played by satan
(lucifer)in all human history and this event will be the last Bible prophecy to close the history of the world followed by second coming of JESUS CHRIST,so please if GOD is knocking at your doors presenting you this wonderfull book its because he cares about you,do not shut the doors on his face,by doing that you are preparing yourself to embrace a false sistem of worship and the mark of the beast wich will seal your iternal destiny.
Love you all
LENNY
For more imformation on this subject(the mark of the beast)go to the website amazingfacts.org, they have a lot of resources such as videos,books that you can read watch or buy online.
You Will be amazed about these hidden thruts that a lot of today's modern christian denominations have lost along the way,no wonder why today's society is filled with confusions and unbelive when it cames GOD'S WORD the Bible.
Please check this site out.
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. Luke 16:17
I think the book is a good read and is truthful. You have your head in the sand if you think differently.
What I find repulsive is the fact that during a debate over religion one would feel the need to drop an "F" bomb.
Also that if you are blasting these two gentlemen for doing wha their heart and GOD call them to do, you neglect to KNOW the true facts. Prayer WAS removed from public schools sometime in the late sixties or very early seventies. Look up the case of Madilyn Murray-O'Hare,the noted atheist who paved the way for this final decision. I live in the heart of the bible belt, and my children cannot....CANNOT...utter one word regarding God on school property.
While you are arguing the point...try running on down to your local school and putting a display of the ten commandmnets on the front lawn.Be sure to sign your name to it. Then sit back and wait for the local city or county law enforcement to show up at your doorstep.
God called them to spread lies door to door? How do you know this? Get over this commandment thing. Send your kid to a Christian school if you want to put up religious symbols and scriptures. America welcomes all religions - and people are free to choose how they worship. People like you, and these poor misguided men, think your religious views should be dominant. It's the stuff of wars . . . oh, and I'm sorry the fuck offends you. I'll try to watch that.
I'm sorry, I'm a bit puzzled concerning two points: Who is trying to force their religion on whom?
And where exactly are the lies? ...Well, unless you call the Bible a lie. I guess I can't do anything about that. Only God can. :)
Same thing with the f-bomb. Is this a teenager replying? It's okay to be mad, I guess, but it's another thing to be voluntarily used by Satan. Watch out with that.
God bless
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but ou need to study the new testament and you will find that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and the observance of the sabbath is never again mentioned in the new testament. To continue to be bound to the laws makes grace void. Read your Bible
I am always amazed at how ungodliness and unbelief abounds. You can be sure that the apostles kept the Sabbath all of their days. Look in the book of Acts to see how many Sabbaths Paul and the other apostles worshiped on the Sabbath. Jesus said He was Lord even of the Sabbath Day. He is the "end" of the Law for righteousness. That means "goal" not abolished. The new covenant is God writing His Law in our hearts and minds. If you think His Law is a burden or legalistic, you need to be born again. The carnal mind is at enmity with God and can not keep His Law, for it is Spiritual. Be assured, only those who keep God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus will be in God's Kingdom and have a right to the tree of life. John said, "this is how we can know we have come to know Him, when we keep His commandments and His commandments are not grievous". "if any one says I have come to know Him and keeps not His commandments, he is a liar and the truth is not in him". Those inspired words by the Apostle John are hard and cut to the heart. Please study this for yourselves, your eternal destiny depends on knowing the truth. The Ten Commandments Twice Removed is an excellent book and has led countless Christians to a closer relationship with Jesus. Keeping His Holy Day and calling it a delight!
God Bless
Kaw
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