Please don't FORCE prayer in public schools!

It's a hot button issue, and it really shouldn't be--that is if you believe what Christ says.

Those of you who know me know that I'm a Christian. I pray. I believe in prayer. And I believe in personal prayer in public schools, but I stand firmly against FORCED and/or MANDATED prayer in schools--and you can put any particular faith as an adjective in front of the word "prayer".

My reasoning is simple, and it's called The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Makes sense. Now, if you're one of those who advocates Christian prayer in schools, I want you to apply "The Golden Rule" to this scenario: if this was a predominantly ISLAMIC nation, would you want to be forced to hear and/or pray an ISLAMIC prayer in school? I think not. In fact, I KNOW you wouldn't. And now begs the question: why would you want to do the same thing to someone of another faith? Doesn't forcing a Christian prayer on someone of another faith violate "The Golden Rule"? You bet it does, and that's a big Christian no-no. From what I understand, it's a big Islamic no-no, and a definite Buddhist no-no.

Look, my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ NEVER forced himself or his message on anybody. All were--and are--free to CHOOSE to follow.. of their own free will. All you have to do is look at Christ on the cross--when he was mocked by those on Golgotha, who said something like this, "Jesus said he could save others, but he can't save himself. Come down off the cross, and we'll believe." Now, do you think he couldn't have done just that? Yes, he could have. Imagine; Jesus snickers, pulls his hands and feet off the cross through those nails with noblese oblige, heals up in a flash, flies down, and then tells the crowd, "Okay folks, you wanted me off of there, I'm off. Now, on your knees, and now!!" But, he didn't. He endured the pain of death so that we who believe won't have to when the day of judgment comes--out of LOVE (our choosing Him), not FORCE or MANDATE.

Well, my friends, the same thing applies to prayer in public schools--not matter what one's faith. Out of Christian love with Christ as our example, it must be a CHOICE, not a MANDATE. That's why I advocate a "moment of silence". It allows everybody to pray a prayer of their chosen faith, and those who don't want to pray don't have to. It respects EVERYBODY, and leaves out NOBODY.

Now, I can hear it now from the far right: "But we're right, Vince. Our God is the one True God, and we're called to witness to everybody that Jesus is the only way to heaven!" And, I'm not going to argue with that. But I will counter that shoving your narrow view of a God that is bigger than you could ever imagine down a non-believer's throat isn't going to get you to heaven either. Don't you think extremists of other faiths are saying the same thing you are? Their extremists believe the same thing about their particular faith! Again, apply "The Golden Rule". Would you want them taking the same attitude with you about their faith that you're taking to them by forcing them to hear a prayer of your choosing? Heavens no! If you don't get this, then I say your God is too small--and that's a shame. He will not be put in a "human box"! I apply the same argument to the extremists of other faiths.

How about we have more prayer at home?

I'm saying all this because I was recently invited to join a Facebook group that advocated putting Christian prayer back in schools. Sorry, not going to join. It would violate "The Golden Rule". I sin enough because of my down-fallen nature. I don't need a violation of "The Golden Rule" on top of it.

Besides, as the old saying says, "As long as there are tests, there will always be prayer in schools".