Sunday, October 29, 2000
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Sunday, October 29, 2000 |
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Your religious freedoms at stake By
DR. KNOX HERNDON
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roan County High School, Kingston, Tenn., by school Principal Jod McLoud: "It has always been the custom at Roan County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of federal case law. "As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate life-style, and if someone is offended, that's OK. "I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK. "I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, no problem. "I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, mother earth, and call it ecology. I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple-minded and ignorant and call it enlightenment. "However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, federal case law is violated. "This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His commandments. "Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression. "For this reason, I shall "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law yet. "AND... one by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another, and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand. And they prayed in the announcer's box. The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America - the seat of "justice" in the one nation under God. "Somehow, Kingston, Tenn. remembered what so many have forgotten... we are given the freedom OF religion, not the freedom FROM religion. Praise God that His remnant remains!" I wanted you to see this as I received it so I printed it in its original form. I now wish to add that in our upcoming election in a couple of weeks, we will elect a new president. This president will have the task of appointing possibly three new justices to the Supreme Court for life. These judges will be making decisions that will be affecting your religious freedoms. Ask yourself which candidate do you believe will vote for what is "politically correct" and which candidate will vote in favor of your religious freedoms? The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville, and will be moving to a new location near Senoia in September. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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