We are now in the season where commencement speakers and their addresses are viewed through critical filters. Some speakers are even "uninvited" because there is a fear of what that person might say. Of course, we do not want to upset the "politically correct" band-wagon these days. Every speaker, every commencement address must tow the line of what is acceptable. Gone are those days when a commencement speaker was empowered to share truth about life and to give a measure of hope to those students he or she was addressing. I remember having the privilege twice of delivering a baccalaureate message (most schools don't even have those any more) to graduating seniors and their families in the small community where I served as pastor. My desire, on both occasions, was to share truth with those students about the purpose of their lives and to help them discover a hope through Christ. Was I "politically correct?" Probably not, at least not by standards of today.
Fox News reported last week on a commencement address held at Lebanon High School in Missouri. You can find the article at: www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/04/missouri-principal-wow-crowd-angers-atheists-with-guarded-god-references." "A Missouri High school principal who garnered thunderous applause and a starring role in a viral video for a commencement speech in which he repeatedly invoked God in ways to dodge First Amendment objections has atheists seeing red. Lebanon High School Principal Kevin Lowery can be seen on a 3-minute YouTube clip reminding graduates that the nation's motto of 'In God We Trust' can be found on U.S. currency and in Francis Scott Key's original version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Lowery also wryly noted during the May 23 commencement that even though 'God is reflected in the very fabric' of the nation, it would be inappropriate to mention The Almighty at a secular ceremony. 'So while it would not be politically correct for us to have an official prayer this evening, I would like for us to have a moment of silence in honor of tonight's graduates. Thank you. And just in case you're interested, during my moment of silence, I gave thanks to God for these great students, their parents, their teachers and for this community.'"
Immediately, a spokesman for the American Atheists, David Muscato, blasted the address. He said, "I find this extremely objectionable. I think it's clear that Kevin Lowery violated the spirit of the First Amendment separations of religion and government. This was an underhanded and dishonorable way for him to forcibly inject his personal religious views onto his students and the others present and into his role as a government official." In other words, according to Mr. Muscato, there is no place for the expression of one's faith, or lack of faith in Mr. Muscato's case, within the public arena. And yet, friends, such an expression and dialogue of faith within the public arena was foundational in our nation's history. It was the expression of faith that guided those men who wrote first our Declaration of Independence and then our Constitution. It was the expression of faith that guided President Lincoln as he addressed that sober audience in Gettysburg.
According to Brian William's on last night's "NBC's Nightly News", there have been a documented 74 deadly attacks on schools within the past 18 months resulting in the deaths of dozens of students, faculty, and administrators. The moral foundations of our young people are noticeably absent. Compromise and conformity are their watchwords. Could these facts be attributed to a Supreme Court's decision decades ago that removed the Bible from the classroom? Or of more recent decisions that have stipulated that prayers could not be made in school settings? (Of course, we applaud those teachers who pray while their students are under the attack of a madman with a gun, but would condemn them if they prayed during the routine of a normal day). And, for the most part, the Church has been silent. Somehow the Church rolled over as if what happened in our schools did not make that big a difference. And, now we are finding out that it does...and it is too late to do anything.
I am grateful to men like a Kevin Lowery who will take a stand for foundational principles. They remind me of one of my favorite heroes in the Bible - Daniel. A man who had "purposed in his heart" that he would serve God faithfully, no matter the costs. And that purpose carried him through decades of public service and through a lions' den in his later years. How we need more "Daniels" today. Will you commit yourself to being one? You are needed!
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2 comments:
Why is it that athiests are so afraid of an expression of faith? I think they are afraid because I have something they don't!!
When we yearn for a time when God was found in schools, it's inevitably our God through our religion. Because the constitution prohibits the government, and its schools, from establishing religion, it would be logistically impossible to insert religion into public schools without alienating many students.
While it's easy for us, as Christians, to oppose the atheist position we must step back and consider how we would feel if another religion was being promoted to our children in schools. Christians are minorities in many countries. In those nations, certainly having secular public schools would be, for Christian families, preferable to having muslim, hindu, or other non-christian education systems. Though it's difficult to see Christianity pushed from our schools, surely it's preferable to having another religion taught to our children.
I don't intend to be confrontational, simply to offer the point of view that has given me peace with secular public schools. Our homes, churches, and private schools are certainly appropriate places to educate our children in matters of faith. But, for the sake of all children, it's understandable that public schools should remain free of religion to offer children of all faiths, or none, an excellent education with which they can strengthen our nation.
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