Freedom of Religion

First and foremost, let me be clear about one thing: I am an evangelical Christian. I believe that God Himself has reconciled me back to him through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

This is what I believe.

Not everyone believes as I do, and I respect that. I don't agree with their way of thinking, but I respect that they have their own opinions. These people more than likely don't agree with my opinions.

With that said, there is an uproar in my little hamlet because someone complained about the student-led-prayer before football games at the high school. It would seem that freedom of religion is also freedom from religion. So now, they are going to have a moment of silence. In protest, everyone is going to recite The Lord's Prayer at that time. Just to let our civil-rights complaining brothers and sisters that we are still Christians.

Now, I will also be reciting The Lord's Prayer, but I must make one thing very clear: freedom of religion is just that: FREEDOM. Freedom to believe, or not believe, in anything you like. I think Christians confuse this fairly often with "Freedom of religion as long as you believe as I do." For example, Judge Roy Moore wanted to display the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. That's fine, but as a public servant, he also needs to display the documents of other religions. He cannot show favoratism. That's where we get our feathers ruffled. We want the freedom to participate in our religion, but we don't want anyone else to have that right if they are not in agreement with our display.

Does this make sense?

On the other hand, Christians are being made to put their faith aside because our display of faith makes others uncomfortable at the very least and combative at their worst. That is just like telling the Jew that he can't publicly proclaim Hanukkah. Like telling the Muslim that he can't stop to pray. It is beginning to seem that everyone else can worship as they wish, with the exception of Christians. No one seems to take pause before telling Christians that they can't do something because it offends.

But is that really true? Mosques in America are being burned. Christian churches in America are being burned. Who is persectuted in this instance? A towel wrapped around a dark-skinned man's head brings instant scorn, disdainful looks and outright hostility simply because of the way he is dressed. The woman with a cross necklace, wearing no make-up, uncut hair and the refusal to wear pants is ridiculed. Who is persecuted in this instance? Jokes about Jews being good businessmen, Pentacostals being snake-handlers and Hindus worshipping cows. Who is being targeted here?

My point is, we all believe in something different. I am sure my beliefs are a little different than the person I may sit beside in Sunday services. We are all people, in different places in our walk of life, and (hopefully) we are still growing, learning and developing ideas and outlooks.  The bottom line is that we need to live the belief we choose. If we choose to be a Christian, live an all-out Christian life. Say The Lord's Prayer at the high school football games. If you choose to believe nothing, then walk though life believing nothing. Don't say The Lord's Prayer at the high school football games. If you believe that you should pray three times a day facing a certain direction, bring your prayer mat to the high school football games, stop what you are doing at the correct time, and pray. Live your conviction.

If you like, even tell me about your way of thinking. But I get the same time with you to profess my faith. I am not going to hit you over the head with my Jesus-stick and you can't try to take my Jesus-stick away from me. It's not up to me to "save you", that's God's job. My job is to make the introduction. God is so much bigger and more powerful than my ability to change your heart and mind.

Now, bring this back to the student-lead prayer at the high school football games. I am sad that this is coming to an end. It's a nice tradition that has been around for a very, very long time. Time was, if you didn't agree with the prayer, you didn't bow your head or close your eyes, standing there for the 30 seconds that it took. You did this out of respect for those who wanted it.

No more. Now, we are all entitled to our rights by law. And the law of this great land is that there is a definite separation of church and state. It is law for a reason, because it's a good idea. I'm sorry to see it go, but only because the prayer agrees with my beliefs. If our founding fathers were Islamists, I would be glad to see it finally going away. It just so happens that most of our founding fathers were Christians of one denomination or another. The country was built on their common belief that Americans have the right to worship as they please. As they please.

I would say that it's lawful for the prayer to be removed. It is also right for us to recite The Lord's Prayer each week at all games. Like it or not, that is truly "as they please."