Times change, not always for the good...

"The ACLU is not God" Seriously, they're not. I'm reminded of an incident that happened at a high school graduation in Calvert County, Maryland, May 1999. Seventeen-year-old Julie Schenk, who wanted to deliver the invocation, comprised and announced that she would instead call for a 'time for reflection' that did not mention the name of God. This seemed fine to everyone, even the ACLU. But when Schenk asked for 30 seconds of silence and the crowd of 4,000 rose, a single loud male voice began reciting the Lord's Prayer, which begins, "Our Father, which art in heaven..." The prayer was quickly picked up by others in the audience until it rolled like thunder across the room. The student who had protested the offering of an audible prayer, eighteen-year-old Nick Becker, walked out. When he tried to reenter to receive his diploma, he was barred by authorities under a school policy that forbids students from returning to an assembly once they have left. He was put in a patrol car until commencement ended. Becker was also barred from a post-graduation boat cruise that was limited to those who had participated in the ceremony. Later, an ACLU spokesperson appeared frustrated when she noted the corporate prayer. She stated that technically the prayer was in compliance because it did not specifically mention "God," only "Our Father." Cal Thomas reported this incident several years ago in one of his commentaries. Recently I dug up the story and thought you might get a kick out of it. I certainly concur with his remarks, especially when he mentioned how ridiculous and extreme we've become in redefining the First Amendment--all in the name of "tolerance." In crying "tolerance," the First Amendment has become the sacred right for filth and pornography, radicalism and extremists, the hateful and atheists to expound their views, but for Christianity "tolerance" means "no tolerance." In other words everyone has the right to speak in public, except those who call upon the Lord God. To many the "God honoring people" should remain silent, so the god-oppressed people may cry foul. >From time-to-time I think about my high school graduation--my, how things have changed. I think about the involvement of clergy in the graduation ceremonies and how welcomed they were to speak to us, and pray with us. I think about all the young men who went to Viet Nam and never returned home to Oklahoma. I wonder if the last words on their lips were lines from the Lord's Prayer--a prayer that my generation had learned by repeating it daily alongside the Pledge to the Flag? I think about growing up in a small American town and having my desire to serve God, country, community and family nurtured by God-fearing, America-loving, public school teachers who also taught me English, math, and history. Times have certainly changed and not all for good. If the Lord allows me, I want to be around for my grandchildren's graduations. I pray that the First Amendment will not have been stretched too far, abolishing the very freedoms it now protects--freedom to worship God publically. Keep the faith, and keep praying for America! Pastor T.