I always find the
story funny of the early 1900’s preacher who was so convinced the world would
soon end and that Jesus’ return was just around the corner that he spent months
ordering his congregation to get their personal affairs in order. Fear and panic
swept through the members of the church as they became convinced that the
wickedness of the world had peaked and God was calling his children home! The
fear paralyzed their lives and for months, placed them in a constant state of
waiting. (And you thought having to wait an hour in your Doctor’s office is
distressing!)
Nevertheless, when some of the members of
the congregation noticed the preacher planting his garden the next spring,
their fears were quickly eased and they realized that the end may not be as
close as they once believed…
Throughout
history, there have always been groups and individuals like these – a segment
of the population that uses current topics and social issues to convince
themselves and others that they’re probably the last generation on earth. (I
guess eventually a generation has to be right and will have the privilege of
doling out the most ultimate “I told you so!” in history.)
These groups and
individuals relentlessly look for evidence that strengthens their “sign of the
times” theories – any news story that provides any indication that mankind has
hit an all-time low – that the present time is the worst it has ever been and
getting worse by the day – that the wickedness of the world has hit catastrophic
levels!
For example, a
modern argument some are using to support our current “fall from grace” is
often brought up to me – a topic discussed in Christian circles and
organizations – a few decades old platform that many political leaders and
members of the Christian faith alike speak passionately on when confronted with
and believe it’s one of the larger issues faced in current American
culture. And this debate is usually
started with a phrase along the lines of,
“Many of today’s problems began when they kicked God out of our public
schools!”
I know he isn’t about to address that?
Yes. Yes I am…
But to begin, let
me step on this slippery slope feet first by sharing that, in 1821, the first
American high school was opened in Boston.
In 1856, the first kindergarten was opened in Wisconsin. I share those facts to remind you that the
current public education system really isn’t that old based on world history
and Jesus didn’t actually attend some school called Valley High and letter in
track and field. (They wanted him to try
out for the swim team but he kept “walking” all over the competition! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. It’s just how my mind thinks…)
Continuing on
with what I just shared about the history of the education system, the “When we
took God out of our schools our country began falling apart!” argument probably
wasn’t much of a topic on telegraph lines (the original Facebook), church
meetings, and mailings before 1821 as, prior to that date (and long after that
period for most of the country) much of a child’s education came from home as
did their knowledge of God and the Bible.
It was a period in history when educating your own child was a way of
life and soccer moms placed “My child is an honor student at Home School High”
bumper stickers on their buggies and wagons and every kid usually finished top
of the class. (The parent/teacher conference had to be pretty boring
though.)
Nevertheless, I
feel any pre-1821 parent you meet would look at you as though you were a
three-eyed toad and not understand what in the world 2012 parents are so angry
about when we’re raging how God has been removed from public school! I imagine the conversation to go something
along these lines:
Pre-1821 Parent: “Oh, so you can’t teach about God or the
Bible in your home in the year 2012?”
“That’s not a
problem,” you respond. “I can teach about God and the Bible at home
all I want!
“I can teach it in
the park!
I can teach it in
the dark!
I can teach it
while I plan!
I can teach it
while standing in sand!
I can teach it
while washing clothes!
I can teach it
while using a watering hose!
I can teach it
while running around town!
I can even teach it
dressed like a clown!
I can teach it
while the weather is sunny!
I can teach it even
if I have no money!
But I do not like
the “Keeping God out of school” sham!
I do not like it, a
mad parent I am!”
(Okay, so most parents don’t speak as though they’re
reciting a Dr. Seuss story. But wouldn’t
it make your next parent/teacher conference more interesting?)
“I guess I’m
confused,” the pre-1821 parent responds.
“What are you confused
about?” you respond.
“I guess I’m confused as to what time in history did teaching about God
and the Bible become the school’s responsibility and no longer the parent’s
responsibility? You have the freedom to
teach it any time you choose and yet you’re upset that the school isn’t doing
the job you, as a parent, were given responsibility for?”
That response just makes you mad and you fire back,
“You don’t get
it! They took Him out of the school
system and they’re even trying to say that He doesn’t exist! What’s going to become of our children if the
public schools don’t teach about God?”
The pre-1921 parent responds,
“How does your public
school system’s acknowledgment or lack of acknowledgment change God’s
existence? Besides, if God is being
shared at home with your children, how can they really keep Him out of
school? An institution like the public
school system you speak of can’t prevent children from taking God to school no
more than they can prevent a child from breathing while at school. I’m not sure why you’re so fearful of this
public school system you speak of but I do envy you...”
“ENVY ME??? WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU ENVY ME?????”
“I see an opportunity
you have with your children that I don’t have.
I’ve never had a place like the public school system to send my children
to – a place that was willing to educate them in matters of math, science,
reading and writing. But if I had a
public school system like you speak of to help with those lessons, I could then
focus more on Biblical teachings about character, integrity and love at home –
lessons to plant in their heart and help guide them while they pursue their
worldly education from the public school system. Wow, what a privilege you’ve been given!”
WOW!
Is that a
different way to look at this debate and a side you may have never seen?
But why do you
never see that argument from many current religious and political leaders?
You know, when
you remove fear and anger, you begin seeing opportunity and blessings. But ultimately, you see God’s love and a
chance to share more of it with your children.
Suddenly, life and the world around you begin to look different.
However, if
you’re following leaders and special-interest groups that spend half their time
and money making you afraid and the other half of their time and money telling
you who you should blame for those fears, you’re going to always live in a
constant state of either fear or anger.
And, from my experience, the state you live in (either fear or anger) is
probably going to be the state that best serves another’s agenda at that
particular time or for that particular issue.
As a Christian, I
may personally believe that it is important to teach Biblical principles in
public school. But becoming angry about
it and blaming current leaders and cultural shifts in society doesn’t excuse me
from my responsibility of teaching those same Biblical principles at
home. And I believe that any home that
nurtures a child using God’s love and teachings creates a child who will take God
with them wherever they go (including public school) as well as form a child
who will understand how to accept and love others without criticizing and
degrading those at school who may not be exactly like them. (Think about the current issue of bullying.)
Besides, Jesus
didn’t hang out with church deacons and preachers all the time. He hung out
with regular folks who had more problems than you could shake a stick at! Folks like you and me. Folks who can play Usher and Def Leppard on
the way to church and also hit every note of Amazing Grace while in the choir. Folks who find reason to swear on occasion
and then find forgiveness as they laugh at the situation and realize swearing
didn’t actually improve the situation.
Folks who don’t act like they’re perfect by no means but know that they’re
loved unconditionally regardless of their imperfections.
And that’s what
it’s about. When you look at things from
a perspective of personal responsibility, love, and acceptance, you begin
seeing opportunities and blessings instead of obstacles and challenges. You stop seeing the world as “going to hell
in a hand basket” and “coming to an end” and start seeing the world (and your
life) as a gift.
As Wayne Dyer
shared, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at
change.”
The only thing I
can promise is, the world didn’t end today, Jesus didn’t come back and the
Mayan calendar still has a few months left.
And as for
tomorrow, I don’t have a clue.
But that makes my
prediction as good as anyone else’s…
