Collideoscope

Seniors at McKenzie High School in the Oregon countryside recently experienced a painful loss when one of their classmates was killed in an ATV accident.  At the funeral Isaiah 40:31 was read.  Inspired by the verse, the McKenzie High Eagles’ seniors decided to adopt the following class motto: “They that believe shall mount up with wings as eagles.”

Unfortunately, their motto was rejected by school officials.

It wasn’t because of what the motto said.  Belief is a generic enough term to be accepted by even the most hardened atheist.  It could be belief in oneself, belief in “Eagle Pride,” or belief in any number of non-religious things.  The reason behind the rejection of the motto was merely its source.  Because it was inspired by the Bible it was not allowed.

Now, any sane person could recognize the fact that using the above motto does not violate the constitutional separation of church and state (see the 1^st Amendment which, incidentally, also protects free speech).  And this is where I am supposed to go into the rant about how the secular agenda is squeezing God out of our country.  Christians are losing the culture war.

Sorry, I just don’t buy that line.  This type of censorship comes, not from some evil agenda, but from ignorance and fear.  Ignorance of the Constitution and the law and fear of lawsuits and overreacting parents lead people such as this to take the safest course of action—self-censorship.  Unfortunately, in trying to take the safest course on one direction, it often steps over the line in another, in this case free speech.

So what should be the Christian response to incidents such as this?  I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Josh R