We’re systematically excluding God from our culture.
Excuse me?
You’ve heard the refrain. The country’s in trouble because we exclude God from the public square. Christmas loses its meaning because someone says Happy Holidays. Public schools stink because kids don’t pray.
Apparently, we need to let God back into our culture.
Every time I hear that I wonder when God got so small. I always had the idea God could show up wherever He pleased.
Personally, I think God’s in every public building, every mosque, every business, every public school classroom, every temple, and probably every church. I think He loves everyone in each of those places—equally. And there nothing anyone can do to exclude Him.
As for prayer, I taught in public schools for thirty-five years and I prayed in school frequently. Students raised the issue once in a while and I assured them they were welcome to pray whenever they wished. I never quite figured out how anyone could prevent it, or why they’d care—unless it matters who sees your prayers or if you want to force someone else to pray.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)
Jesus appeared as a Jew in the Roman Empire. God doesn’t need government permission to show up. God’s going to go where He wants, and we can’t keep Him out.
If you think Jesus left that publc school, you’re wrong. He’s there, even though a lot of His privileged followers left for more comfortable surroundings.
If you want approval, or if you want everyone else to agree with or act or look like you, you’ll have to build a wall and isolate yourself with like-minded folks.
Trouble is, that’s not what Jesus did. He hung out with the riff-raff and asked us to follow Him.
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I really needed to hear this today. Thank you!