On September 28, 2011, Fox News had a report about a teacher who banned students from saying, “Bless you.” The teacher took 25 points off one student’s grade. He claimed it wasn’t about religion. He said it was about being disruptive.
When you hear a report like this, what do you think it was about? What impact do you think it has on our students? Do you think that they are more likely to shy away from making religious comments in school? Do you think they are given the message that there is something wrong with their faith?
I want to encourage you to talk to your children, grandchildren, and the other young folks in your life to find out what is going on in their schools. You may need to take a stand against injustices, but you may not find out about them unless you ask the right questions. My mom used to ask me what I did each day. She wanted the full story.
If you look back over the years, you will see that America’s children have been under attack. Little by little the government has sought to get our children into schools at younger and younger ages. Between kindergarten programs and before and after school programs, the government has America’s kids all day.
For all practical purposes our public schools have been undergoing a movement to sterilize them from having anything to do with Christianity. Now that God is pretty much out of the way – from a certain point of view anyway, not much stands between those that oppose God and our children in the classroom.
Are all teachers godless? No, of course not. There are some good Christian teachers in many of our schools. However, to some degree they are forced to play by the rules as set by others. They may not give our children a hard time, but their hands are tied when it comes to doing many of the things that they would like to do to help their students.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:12-17
It says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” I don’t know how much worse the battle will become for the hearts and minds of our children. Teach them scripture, and do pray for them.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to teach your children well. Teach them that persecutions will come to them too. As long as God rules in their hearts, they can expect it. However, they need to realize that the solution is not to abandon their faith. The solution is to pray for strength. The solution is to stand up for Jesus. The solution is to be an advancing Christian army bearing witness to the lost. Continue to pray for revival!