I have been noticing a trend in the Government handling of religion. Clearly there is an enboldening of the left to stamp out Christian values. Hollywood has had their say with Carrie Prejean for her values.
Here in Milwaukee the Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit against Brookfield East High School and Brookfield Central High school for hosting their high school graduations at Elmbrook Church. This mega church holds several thousand people and is nicely air conditioned and suited for the large crowd. Both high schools have small gyms and are not as amenable for the situation. Both high schools will be building new gyms that will be able to take over graduations starting next year. Both high schools have been using Elmbrook Church for 9 years by student vote as to where they would like to host it. New Berlin Eisenhower also was to use the church but they found a new location after the ASCS threatened them.
Here is a link to the story. http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/43532357.html
Apparently even being in an environment with Christian symbols is not good.
"These students and family members are being forced to graduate in the sanctuary of a church underneath a huge cross that dominates the sanctuary. They're sitting in pews with bibles and hymnal books right in front of them."
"They are being forced to graduate in a religious environment, and that is an egregious Constitutional violation."
And clearly this is what it means to those public high school graduation attendees.
"This is a church that teaches that people who do not subscribe to the belief of this church are going to suffer torment in hell for all eternity. This church teaches that women should be subservient to men. It teaches that people who engage in sexual conduct that is not approved by the church will also suffer in hell."
"A very large proportion of the students and family members who would be attending this graduation, in the views of this church, are second-class people, second-class citizens."
Interesting enough Obama can speak in religious institutions who SHOULD be booting him out for his stands on items of religion. However you better cover up the religious symbols. This story about Obama speaking at Georgetown and his requirements are interesting and revealing about Obama and how he will treat religion
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516906,00.html
Now add on the abortion stance, the stem cell research, and on and on. I may not have been pleased with Bush at times as he was a little liberal, but the proliferation of attacks on religion seem to be expanding as fast as the deficit. Obama has out deficited all 8 years of Bush's deficits in just 4 months with no signs of stopping. Imagine what could happen if the same trend continues in the war against Christians.
Ughhh!
2 comments:
I've always felt that separation of church and state was a misnomer. Every church I know has to have a non-profit designation and gets set up as a pseudo business. And then there is the issue of taxes, social security etc. for church workers. This just scratches the surface. So in my mind there is no separation. I don't know where people get this from. It doesn't say it in the Constitution either. We have the freedom to worship as we please without government interference. That's freedom of religion, not separation of church and state.
As far as the article about the graduation venue for the high schools, well in the words of my teenagers, that's just gay. If there is a problem it should be between the families who might be offended and the high school administration. Such a nanny state we've become.
To put it all in perspective; we are living in end times.
JK
... it's kinda interesting that what was first intended to protect religious freedom is now being held against it and it appears Christians are losing our freedom of speech for the sake of others' freedom FROM religion ....
I believe its first intent was so government could not legislate and enforce specific religious beliefs or make us choose to do anything against our own beliefs. Even Luther spoke on the separation of the civil and the sacred:
"We are to be subject to governmental power and do what it bids, as long as it does not bind our conscience but legislates only concerning outward matters.... But if it invades the spiritual domain and constrains the conscience, over which God only must preside and rule, we should not obey it at all but rather lose our necks. Temporal authority and government extend no further than to matters which are external and corporeal."
Unfortunately, many peoples consciences now are not presided over and ruled by God, and so Christianity "invades" their "spiritual domain"... and so of course they will yell. On the other hand, the government won't try to force us to follow the Muslim religion or Buddhism. (On the THIRD hand, our consciences are being constrained when we have to fund a government that is killing unborn babies....)
I think something more serious than the winy butts who feel offended to see a cross (yet there are so many other religions' symbols used in everything!) is our freedom of speech is being tampered. I wrote a post on my blog a while back voicing my frustration at being "shut up" as a Christian by so many now-a-days and the hatred I am feeling toward me because I am one. In it I kinda blamed us as Christians of trying to create God in our own image, but of course my sarcasm was showing. http://sunnypea.blogspot.com/2009/02/thought-of-day.html
On another note, here is an interesting article about an old "vacation destination" of families in the 60s and 70s. Its both sad and funny/ ironic at the same time. Sad because families don't care about these things any more, funny cuz man made shrines to hold God in, die when the builder dies. HOLY LAND USA: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/holy/
Two more thoughts...
God is in control:
Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
God wants us to pray for our leaders:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 "1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
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