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God Doesn't Require a Petition; He Requires Steadfastness by Roger Young Recently I received an email petition titled “Petition to President G. W. Bush.” The unknown author requested me to sign by adding my name to the bottom of the list and then passing the petition on to another interested individual. When the list reaches 500 names, the instructions request that the entire petition be sent to the White House’s email address. The petition reads: Dear President Bush: Many of us were deeply touched to hear you recite a portion of Psalm 23 in your address to this great nation in the dark hours following the terrorists attacks. We were encouraged and comforted to know that we truly had a believer working with us and for us in our nation's highest office. We the people of America are requesting that you lift the prohibition of prayer in schools. As the pledge of our great country states, we are to be "One nation, under God." Please allow the prayers and petitions of our children in schools without the threat of punishment. Currently, adults and children in the schools are prohibited from mentioning God unless, of course, His name is uttered as part of a curse or profanity. Madeline Murray O'Hare is dead. Let her legacy of atheism in our schools die with her! Sincerely, The
People of America The petition ends with the following Bible scripture: Mark 10:13-14 "People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." What follows is a list of 434 names of people who have signed. Even though I agree completely with the sentiments of this appeal, I decided not to sign the petition, and sent a reply to the person who sent the petition to me (which just happens to be my gracious and tolerant sister) briefly stating my reasons why. Praying to the Creator is an inalienable right we have as a supposedly free people. Praying to God is an inalienable right supposedly protected from government interference by the U.S. Constitution. It is not a privilege that can be granted to or taken away from us at will by any group calling themselves “government.” Therefore, petitioning the President to “lift the prohibition of prayer in schools” makes about as much sense as asking an electrician to fix your plumbing. This “prohibition” on prayer is artificial and illegitimate and should be recognized as such by all 434 names on this petition. Should Christians resist by ignoring this unlawful prohibition? Absolutely! The response to this kind of government-sponsored outrage should be what I like to call the “Nike Response”--Just do it! You want to pray in school? Do it and accept the consequences. Petitioning the party (government) responsible for this unjust exercise of authority merely justifies their involvement and legitimizes, in their minds, the idea they possess this unjust authority. It’s better to ignore than to beg. When the State oversteps its boundaries by negatively affecting personal freedoms, there are three possible responses: 1) You can petition the particular level of government responsible. This method, however, is usually ignored unless it is accompanied by ample campaign contributions. Ninety-nine percent of politicians are only interested in money and the power over other people it provides. They simply buy the people’s votes with the people’s own money. 2) You can respond with violence toward the offending party to make your point. The result is usually a loss of respect toward the legitimacy of your cause by the public and should only be used a last resort. This type of action also tends to rally the public toward the view supported by the State. 3) Resistance through peaceful civil disobedience will keep the ear of the public tuned in and listening to your point of view. Filling the jails, if necessary, will impress them with your diligence. I certainly didn’t support all the ambitions of what has become known as the Civil Rights Movement, but continual, peaceful, unabated protest by its supporters impressed me and kept me tuned to their message. Eventually civil society (though maybe not political society) may come around to your view. Christians are stuck in the mindset that they must request permission to live their faith. We are all children of God, and he has blessed his flock with a life of liberty, independence and personal sovereignty. We do not live under Man’s dominion, but His. It is against His will for us to be living under any other circumstances, and it is arguably sinful for us to accept any other circumstances. Do not be “rebuked” by tyrants. The “little children” are the believers, and let them not be “hindered” in expressing their faith or protecting that expression. The ”kingdom” of God belongs to them.
discuss this column in the forum Roger Young is a freelance photographer in Texas and maintains a website called PixelPrairie.com. He believes that being a Christian, creationist and anarchist are three of the most rational decisions a person can make. |
