TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS!

In Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the local school authorities have decided to remove all vestiges of Christmas celebration, even Santa Claus and candy canes, from the school.  The authorities there stated that it was their job to educate the children, not brainwash them with religion.  Needless to say, the vast majority of the parents of the students have protested this action, even to the point of threatening a lawsuit.

In one segment of the story, they showed tape from a community meeting at the school.  One mother suggested that any student would be able to put up any symbols of other religions so that the school would not just be celebrating the Christian holiday of Christmas.  Another woman countered that this would not work as it would be impractical to try to represent every possible religious view.  But that is not what was suggested.  The first mother suggested letting any student represent alternative religious celebration if they chose to do so.  Unless this class is the most religiously diverse class in history, I seriously doubt that there would be a need to represent every viable religion in the world.  And this diversity of religion could be a learning experience for the children, thereby meeting the goal of educating, not brainwashing, the students.

The question is, whether you are talking about a school or a courthouse or any other public property, WHEN DID THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, WHO BELIEVE IN GOD AND JESUS, LOSE THEIR RIGHTS TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION FREELY AND WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE?!?!

The first article of the Bill of Rights states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."  What does this mean??  It seems pretty straightforward and clear to me, but it has been a source of real conflict and confusion in our country for about the last half century.  Somehow, somewhere, our courts have taken a stand to completely separate government and religion, but that is not what was written in our Constitution.  Our founding fathers, most of whom were practicing Christians, never intended that religion would be removed from government.  Their intent, clearly, was to see to it that the government could not, and would not, establish a National religion, or favor one religion over another.  To interpret the Bill of Rights and the intent of the founders of this country in any other way is just stupid.

OK, so we are not all going to agree on this subject.  Whatever happens to majority rules.  I believe in Jesus Christ as being the Son of God and my Savior and Redeemer.  I believe in One God Almighty, the Creator of all we are and all we have.  Under our Constitution, I am allowed to believe as I wish, just as others, who disagree with me, are allowed to believe what they choose and worship, or not worship, as they see fit.  I have no problem with this view.  Live and let live.  This is what our Constitution is all about...the individual having free thought and free expression without fear of government interference or persecution.  This belief was one of the underlying principles that prompted the Pilgrims to brave the mighty Atlantic Ocean to come to Plymouth Rock in order to escape religious persecution in Europe.

But when did we confer on the minority the right to tell the majority when and where they could or could not practice their religion freely.  I think that this situation has basically been the product of the old adage that tells us the squeaky wheel will get the grease.  One atheist threatens to sue over Christmas decorations in a school or courthouse and the powers that be fold like a house of cards to avoid legal problems.  We have all seen it happen at one time or another.

Well, fellow Christians and other people of religious faith, I say it is time that we reverse this trend and start taking back our rights to practice our religion freely at any time, in any place!  FROM NOW ON, WHEN ONE PERSON OR SMALL GROUP TRIES TO INFRINGE ON OUR RIGHTS BY THREATENING LAWSUITS, LET'S GATHER OUR MAJORITY AND BRING REAL PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE COWERING DECISION MAKERS WHO HAVE COWTOWED FOR TOO LONG TO THIS LOUD MINORITY WHO WISH TO BRING THEIR WILL TO BEAR ON ALL OF US! 

Think about it for a minute.  If a school principal is afraid of a lawsuit brought by one person, how would that principal react to a lawsuit coming from the other side where 200 or 500 or 1000 people were suing to PROTECT their rights of free exercise of religious beliefs and free expression of those beliefs.  Which way do you think your school boards and administrators and mayors and town managers going to go, once they are faced with that type of choice.  IT IS TIME FOR ALL PRACTITIONERS OF FAITH TO STAND UP AND SHOUT, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"

And how about stores and shopping malls who are so concerned with offending non-Christians by using the word CHRISTmas instead of the more generic Happy Holidays.  Currently, approximately 77% of Americans consider themselves to be Christian.  So, perhaps we Christians should show the stores and malls of America that, instead of worrying about the other 23%, maybe they should concern themselves more with NOT offending the 77% of us who view the upcoming holiday as the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Maybe we should show those stores and malls that, unless they want to give real recognition to this holiday, they need not worry about us doing our CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN STORES THAT GIVE NO RECOGNITION TO CHRISTMAS!!   If we did this, how long would it take the stores to change their advertising and their policies where Christmas is concerned??  NOT LONG, I GUARANTEE IT!!

Therefore, in closing, I want to encourage all Christians and practitioners of other religious beliefs to stand up for their rights and bring America back to the founding principles that have made this the greatest and most free country the world has ever known.

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!