My Turn: Prayer issue is a symptom of our times
By Alvin Drye
Considering the ludicrous arguments against prayer at commission meetings — including some pastors, no less — why should any sane person question why America and her citizens have lost their moral and ethical grounding, and live contrary to the teaching of the Holy Bible?
Is it any wonder we have such despicable conditions in our once great nation, among its leaders and citizens? With such secular, progressive, liberal attitudes towards life, death, the Holy Bible, prayer, right/wrong, etc., what should one expect? Should we expect that people will just be good and do right on their own? The Holy Bible states that human beings are basically very flawed and not capable of doing good or right without strong guidelines. When church leaders and Christians are silent and don’t stand up nor speak up for the Bible’s teachings, why should anyone be surprised when one atheist (Madeline O’Hare) convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict prayer in public Schools (1962), followed by restrictions on reading/teaching the Bible in public schools (1963), displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools (1980) and hundreds of other anti-Christian rulings over the last 50 years? Psalms 9:17 warns “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
The social epidemics of crime, drugs, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, teen child births, dropouts, thievery and violent crimes should not surprise any logical, moral person because Galatians 5:19-21 tells us: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these …” and Galatians 6:7-8 states: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap… shall of the flesh reap corruption.” These societal ills are a direct result of Christians being silent and letting horrible laws and court rulings become legal precedent. We all pay dearly for the ills caused by the silence of Christian leaders over the last 50 years!
For any pastor to support the actions of a far left, anti-Christian, secular organization like the ACLU is beyond belief. To argue that the feelings of a few should be allowed to destroy what has made America great during its first 185 years is insane. Psalms 33:12 tells us: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” To tell our county commissioners to roll over and act as dead men because of a threat made by the anti-Christian ACLU is crazy. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 directs that we “first of all” pray “for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority.”
It is fact, not opinion, that our nation was founded by mostly Christians, who used Jesus’ name and the Bible often during formation of the founding documents. They were not atheists, agnostics nor progressives, as many have tried to rewrite history. If in the mid-1700s, all men and pastors had been silent on the lack of religious freedoms and punitive taxes, then we would never have become a free country. History shows our founding fathers pledged their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” to overcome tyranny and fight to gain religious freedom, as expressed in our Constitution and the First Amendment.
All pastors, Christians and citizens should read our founding documents closely and highlight every reference to God-given rights, religious freedoms and biblical references. Everyone should also read all they can about the “Black Robe Regiments,” as they were most feared by the mighty British. Why? Because they were true Christians, great leaders, and yes, they were true pastors (who wore black robes), and the ones who rallied the masses to fight for religious freedoms that we, over the last 50 years, have been so willing to allow the secular, progressive, anti-Christian movements to destroy. Colossians 3:23 directs us: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.” The Black Robe Regiments epitomized this biblical concept. Where are our Black Robe Leaders today?
If history teaches us anything, it is that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. No radical, progressive, liberal, anti-Christian person (like Madeline O’Hare), group (like the ACLU) or government (like the Obama Administration) would ever attempt to destroy all Christian principles at once. They bank on the masses to accept a little change here, a little change there, without seeing a need to object, and without causing any major uproar of disapproval. It’s time to take a stand. If not now, when? All Christians must stand up and speak up, while we still can.
Alvin Drye lives in Gold Hill.
