First of all I would like to mention:
I am proudly South African
What I am hearing now is not funny and bothers me… So I am going to say what I feel should be said…
Firstly:
The power of kids and teens praying in schools would, or rather should, scare anyone who does not know God…
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:3-5 NIV)
Now if God says be like a child, what does this actually mean?
Does it mean the children have favor before God?
No, it means that they have not had much chance of being corrupted by those around them, meaning they have a more “pure” faith.. If God would says something to them, they believe it…. THAT SETTLES IT…
Now if God told to them to pray, they will move mountains… If God told to them to love, you know they will not be afraid…. If God tells them to start teaching, no one can stop them… So why not be afraid of those who can change the world?
Secondly:
This is an extract from South African “RELIGION AND EDUCATION” policy on September 2003
“Firstly, Religion Education is educational. Knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the full extent of our rich and textured religious diversity should be reflected in the learning programmes of our schools. Religion in our education system could serve to promote particular interests, based on the still common conviction that the problems of our society stem from a loss of religious belief, which can only be corrected through one particular interpretation of spirituality. By contrast, we could reject any place for religion in education, by arguing that the mutual acceptance of our common humanity is the only solution for societal harmony. We believe we will do much better as a country if our pupils are exposed to a variety of religious and secular belief systems, in a well-informed manner, which gives rise to a genuine respect for the adherents and practices of all of these, without diminishing in any way the preferred choice of the pupil. “
Now I am no government guru… Not a politician… And not even a pastor…
I am however a follower of Christ… Have a relationship with my Creator… See Him at work everyday… And this started while I was in school…
According to ogod.org.za… “A school is not considered to have a conscience, thought or opinion…“
Now this is true, yet I am going to point out… Every school has a governing body… This is what drives the schools…
How about this?
Isn’t jails government institutions? Why encourage it there?
Everyone has as problem with rape, murder, theft, lying, … (as the bible says it, sin)
But no one believes that God should be a part of this movement to learn to love… WAIT GOD IS LOVE, meaning you will never be able to teach love without God… For love is not about what you get, but about what you give…
I am irritated with this nonsense about taking God out of schools, but I have some encouragement to all of those who are in school at this point…
THE SOLUTION FOR NO GOD IN SCHOOLS
No one can take God out of you… You have a choice in the whole matter… God gave it to you…
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. Let’s stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.(Galatians 5:22-26 NIV)
Now I am not saying rebel… Yet I am saying let God live in and through you…
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34-35 NIV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26 ESV)
This IS the cost of following God…
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10 NIV)
Now why am I keep hammering on this?
How about the following picture to describe this:
Nothing and no one can stop you from loving people… No one has a right to say you are favoring a religion… Because, by law, we all have the right to practice our religion… Also note that Christianity is the only religion in the world that gives and open connection to the God of the everything, a personal relationship with Him…
We may encourage a person, that is a believe…
Just a warning though…
IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE THIS, DO NOT GO AROUND DOING ONLY THE THING YOU LIKE AND LEAVING THE THING YOU DO NOT LIKE… YOU HAVE TO GO ALL IN, OR NOT AT ALL… GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND WORK THROUGH YOU… AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE… AND THROUGH YOU GOD WILL START TO SPEAK TO THOSE AROUND YOU… YET, IF YOU DO THIS WITH ANY KIND OF REWARD IN MIND, ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR THE RIGHT REASON…
Fathers… You also have some responsibility… Teach you children to love and obey God (Deuteronomy 11)
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.(Ephesians 6:4 ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV)
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV)
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.(1 John 2:29 NIV)
Before attempting this… remember
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,(Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV)
God bless…
If you are going to attempt this, I want to congratulate you… This will be one of the few decisions that will make life harder, yet, make life worth it…. Just keep faith… Most times we have to remember that Jesus said….
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.(John 15:20 ESV)
Praying for you for favor on this journey…
THIS IS A RADICAL LIFESTYLE BASED ON A RADICAL CHOICE IN RADICAL COMMITMENT…