By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

“They” hint it. “They” even quote from the Bible. But it seems no really important person is willing to say it: America needs to get back to God.

If a Constitutional Amendment would restore prayer and Bible reading to public schools, would not one single, solitary life be worth it?

The Littleton massacre has rocked me down to my theological underpinnings. It's challenged me for everything I believe sacred and valuable. Will I be bold for what I believe or will I just grow old full of regret?

Are you and I willing to ignore this rather loud and violent wake-up call for parents and teens? Or, are we willing to let the Columbine High School murders slip into our memory and let the violence continue?

Do we think for one moment that Fayette or Clayton or Coweta or Fulton County schools are immune from such a tragic travesty of adolescence? Will we wake up only when and if it's our child's funeral we are attending?

For every right and holy reason, this massacre matter demands our response. We could respond that most of the students at Columbine High didn't get hurt. That most didn't get murdered. That response, however, only intensifies the inequity of life. No comfort and no solution.

We could respond that suffering and sorrow purify life. Tell that to some mamas and daddies and they will tell you what you are full of. We could respond that tragic loss makes us appreciate more life and the act of loving and being loved. True, but little comfort and very little redemptive response.

What about if we respond by drawing a line in the sand of life and say “no longer?”

We will no longer tolerate the devil's music, the devil's movies, and the devil's television shows in our houses. That we no longer will consider our child's room off-limits to parental inspection and parental redecoration. That we will no longer permit some jerk shouting obscenities in our very living room (via a rented video).

What about if we responded by spending 10 minutes a night as a family reading a Bible passage and having a prayer? The high court at one of its lowest moments took prayer out of schools. But they haven't removed prayer from our homes. We must exercise this right before it too is taken away.

What if teenagers across Fayette County were to stage holy bonfires to burn all the trash that we permit them to buy as music CDs, video games, magazines, and books? Wouldn't it be absolutely wonderful if teenagers across our area would begin reaching out to one another in love regardless of their jock or geek or grade status?

I have no doubt that we are going to get through this another nightmare. But, by all that is holy and meaningful, I pray that we will experience more than getting through it.

I pray that we will get through it and experience a breakthrough to revival, to a return to God, to holiness in high places, and to students and parents who get their high from Jesus!

Back to the Top of the PageBack to the Religion Home Page