Friction and strife are always amazing. People expect other people to follow their line of reasoning and path in life. In the New Testament, Paul said, “Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Both schools of philosophy demanded that others follow their line of reasoning. Today, segments of our society are continually fighting for the survival of their philosophy, and willing to force others to follow it. The recent vote of a Texas school board to add an elective Bible class to its high school curriculum has created quite the stir with the ACLU, “saying its materials promote religion” (Associated Press). On the other hand, the ACLU is representing a Wiccan because she was “excluded from a list of religious leaders allowed to pray at Board of Supervisors meetings,” saying, “A bedrock principle of American religious freedom is that government will in no way, shape or form show preference for one religion over another” (AP, Simpson vs. Chesterfield County). Is that not exactly what is being done when opposition is raised concerning a study of the Bible in school? School curriculum includes Greek Mythology. Was not, and is not, Greek Mythology a religious study? Science classes teach the theory of evolution, as if it is a proven fact. They start with a theory and end up with a religion, i.e., “A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.” Religion is taught in school, and supported openly. In one report, a school in Byron, CA, required students “to attend an intensive, three-week course on Islam; a course in which students are mandated to learn the tenets of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their own Jihad” (Allan Dobras, article “Islam in California public schools). “When Mrs. Lemings [7^th grade teacher] reportedly asked the principal of Intermediate-Excelsior School of Byron, Nancy Castro, if she could teach Christianity in the manner that Islam is taught and for the same length of time, Lemings was advised it would have to be after hours as a Christian club — and voluntary. Castro informed her that to do otherwise would be a violation of the separation of church and state.” Restricting “religious studies” is selective: the Judaeo-Christian culture cannot be taught, or even mentioned, but other faith based religions are not only taught, but required.

            Personally, I don’t believe the public schools are equipped to teach religion of any kind, except historically. Universities teach from the Bible under classes labeled “Western Civilizations” and it is a required course. But even under such a label, it is difficult for a teacher to refrain from injecting their faith into the curriculum. No matter what the society or the government may attempt to do, there will always be bickering about religion. Don’t get me wrong: In reference to man’s reconciliation to God, I believe that “in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), and that name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Yet, recorded history (secular as well as divine) tells us that the forcing of religious beliefs, either for or against, will not stand. Religious devotion comes from the heart, not from the legislation of man. The Law of Moses hinged on two points: “The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). God gave man freewill, and that is something that God will not, and man cannot, force. Joshua told the children of Israel, “if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah” (Joshua 24:15). I appreciate the fact that parents do not want their children indoctrinated with idolatry and have a responsibility to protect them from it. However, Christianity has nothing to fear from idolatry or perversions from the truth. The truth will always be the truth, and those that have a love for the truth will not be separated from it. No man, group, organization or government can stop the spread of religion, good or bad. Jesus said, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). He didn’t say force them to enter in. When the apostles of Jesus Christ taught the gospel, they didn’t call for government intervention to prohibit idolatrous practices. It was the idolaters that did so. The reason the ACLU and like organizations oppose Christianity is because it exposes the immoral, and godless lifestyles they have chosen. Anti-religious organizations have duped the American public into believing the constitution actually calls for the “separation of church and state.” The problem our society has is not constitutional, it’s moral. When Noah built the ark at God’s direction, “he condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7). When Jesus of Nazareth exposed the error of the religious leaders of His day, he didn’t appeal to the government for relief. Those in error did because their beliefs were not strong enough to stand on their own. When Jesus of Nazareth exposed the error of the religious leaders of His day, he didn’t appeal to the government for their death. Those in error cried for the death of Jesus, because they couldn’t silence the truth of his message. Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord…If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household” (Matthew 10:24-25). You cannot force people to follow your path in life, nor can they force you to follow them. They may try to find fault in your life, undermine your faith, or cry to the government for your death, but they will not be able to stop the truth.