Tag: history

Requiring ANY Religious Instruction in Public Schools is Wrong

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Recently, Louisiana passed legislation requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public schools. Shortly after, Oklahoma decided to require the Bible and the Ten Commandments be taught in public schools. And Christians across the country celebrated. I have no doubt that the governors of Louisiana and Oklahoma mean well. However, I must strongly disagree, even as a Christian.

Let me be clear, this nation WAS founded as a Christian nation. Even a casual reading of US history supports this conclusion. However, neither the state nor the federal government has the right nor the duty to favor one religion over another.

As Christians, we can not complain when any other religion is forced to be taught in public schools, then turn around and demand that Christianity or the Bible be taught in public schools. That’s hypocrisy.  We are the first to be outraged if any other religion is even offered as an elective in public schools. What are we going to say if a state with a large Muslim population forces the Koran to be taught in public schools?

I’m all for everyone having access to the Bible. I will even advocate it being freely available in the school library. But I have some questions: Who will be teaching the Bible curriculum? What qualifications will they have? What denominational or religious affiliation will these teachers have? Will they be teaching the Bible as literature? If so, will they also be teaching the Koran or the Torah as literature? Will the teachers be pushing one religious view over the other? These are just a few of my questions, and the answers may lead to even more questions.

One problem I see with forcing the Bible to be taught in public schools is, in my opinion, it shows how lazy we as Christians have become. We have become comfortable with leaving it to others to share God’s Word, even to our own children and grandchildren. Too many of us don’t even actually read and study the Bible ourselves. We’re content to go to church, send our children to Sunday school and children’s church, while we sit and listen to a sermon, allowing ourselves to be spoon-fed, without even reading what the Bible says for ourselves.

I am all for introducing children, and everyone else, to the Bible. But the more I have studied, and the more I have observed, even many pastors struggle to really understand the Bible in context. Again, this is partly because we have become complacent and are content to just read words on a page. We don’t have to learn Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. But we do need to learn to use the available language tools. In addition, we need to learn to dig in and research the culture and people of the day when each book was written, as well as who each book was written to.

The Bible has too often been twisted to justify, and excuse, some of the worst offenses in society by too many so-called Christians, and pastors. Based on that reason alone, I simply cannot believe that we have the right to force the Bible, or our faith on anyone. And the government definitely does not have that right. All these actions will do its lead to a waste of resources by the government attempting to defend what I believe to be a losing position.

It’s not up to any government to force the Bible on anyone or any group. We don’t have to hide our faith. It’s up to each of us who professes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to be a witness to the power and love of God. We start by living a life that is consistent with a loving God who has made a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him, through Jesus. Then, when the opportunity arises, we might need to use words to help.

My response to President Obama

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

So, our President pointed out this week that Christians have committed atrocities in the name of Christ, just like ISIS and other radical Islamic groups are doing today in the name of Islam. As I read the words that he spoke, and have thought about them I can’t help but feel like he is actually trying to justify the atrocities currently being committed by these terrorists.

Sadly, Mr. President, you were partially correct in saying that Christians committed atrocities during the crusades. Yes, sadly, there were some serious crimes against humanity committed by the crusaders. However, the purpose of the crusades was not to forcibly spread Christianity and murder all who opposed it. The primary purpose of the crusades was to liberate the Holy Land, and others, which had been brutally attacked, and taken over by, guess who… radical Muslims, who declared it to be their God given duty to destroy any who do not believe exactly as they do.

And yes, as I studied the history of Christianity in seminary, I was appalled by the atrocities that Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike, have committed in the name of Christ, even against each other. I have been disgusted at the way our leaders have often behaved. But the sins of the past in no way provide a defense, or excuse for the atrocities currently being committed. And to reference those past actions and failures of others is nothing more than a poor attempt to overlook, excuse, or even worse, to justify the current crimes against humanity being committed by isis and other terrorist groups.

Mr. President, if that is the best you can do, tell us that we shouldn’t get on our high horse because of past behaviors of others who claimed to be Christians, while our nation and the world are under attack from a violent and dangerous enemy, then you are unfit to lead this nation. You should resign, as you have shown that you are unwilling and unable to take any real action to protect or defend the United States, and our Constitution against any enemy. In fact, you are beginning to sound like an apologist for them.

Finally, may we who confess to be followers Christ, fall on our knees and pray for our nation, and for forgiveness, as a nation. We must also pray for our leaders, that they may have the wisdom and the courage to lead us back to honoring God, as well as to stand up against evil.