Evil rears its ugly head in many ways and many places. It has reared up in Conway, Arkansas School system in the name of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The group has caused religious leaders to stop visiting and speaking with members of their church during lunch hour. Someone overheard the conversations and was offended; they contacted the foundation and the foundation began its threat to the school. The claim is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Apparently the people in that foundation cannot read and understand the First Amendment. It plainly says Congress shall not … Is that so difficult to understand? The First Amendment also protects free speech but it doesn’t say not in a school house.

Those who complain that religion, much less the expression of faith in God be allowed in the school house, should consider what they believe. In the early years of the nation’s formation, the Bible was a required textbook in the life of the students.  Here is a quote from a highly placed judge: The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts. JOHN JAY, ORIGINAL CHIEF-JUSTICE OF THE U S. SUPREME COURT.

A lot of discussion has been in the news concerning the terrible event in Newtown, New York. All manner of suggestions have been put forth for the cause. Noah Webster years ago nailed the issue succinctly: The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good and the best corrector of all that is evil in human society; the best book for regulating the temporal [secular] concerns of men. Where else can the moral codes and guides for a society be found? If the Bible cannot be used for the guide in society in general and in the schools specifically, then from what source will they be derived? If we are to depend on the wisdom of men, then the resulting carnage that is fast becoming the norm will not stop.  

A popular radio show in the 40s and 50s was the Shadow. His line was, “What evil lies in the heart of men? The shadow knows.” While we are not the Shadow, we know the evil that lies in the hearts of the unregenerate because we see the behavior reported in the news each day. Groups such as the Freedom From religion, the ACLU, and Barry Linn’s Americans United for Separation of Church and State are promoting evil with each effort they make. They despise religion and yet they are the worst practitioners of it. They do not mention God’s moral way of life and resist any effort to reintroduce his morals into society.

Education in the various disciplines is necessary for a well rounded education, which at one time was called a liberal arts education defined as “the academic course of instruction at a college intended to provide general knowledge and comprising the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, as opposed to professional or technical subjects.” (Source: Dictionary Reference.com) To that, the early schools added instruction in the scriptures. John Quincy Adams said, To a man of liberal education, the study of history is not only useful, and important, but altogether indispensable, and with regard to the history contained in the Bible . . . "it is not so much praiseworthy to be acquainted with as it is shameful to be ignorant of it."  (Source: Bibleintheschools.com) The founders and early educators knew the importance of learning the great truths contained in the Bible. Proverbs (9:10 is very appropriate to sum up the minds of the founders. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  

Now the Freedom From Religion group is making an effort to not only deny the discussion in the scriptures by those who want to hear and learn, but they are attempting to stifle freedom of speech because someone was offended. Jesus and the apostles offended many people with the truth, but that offensive truth prevails to this day. It is too bad that the various groups refuse to admit that God will prevail and that their efforts will go for naught when all is said and done. The truth which fits them is a simple one. They do what they do because they will not submit to God’s will and in the process are helping evil march across the land.

Our prayer should be that the Conway School System stand firm and send that ungodly group into the light of God muttering to itself. As the writer of Hebrews informs us It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) It is far better to conform to God’s will now than wait until it is too late. But the obstinate have to learn the hard way, don’t they.

© 01-20-2013 DEC