Freedom
of Speech? Religious Liberty?
God exalted Him.and gave Him the name
that is above every name. (Phil. 2:9-11)
Schoolteachers and public officials who dare mention the name of Christ
risk censure, rejection, and even legal action. In more and more
communities an antichrist spirit prevails because Christians don't
take a stand.
The following are a few instances of attacks on constitutional freedoms
in 2004:
...Oregon students were prohibited from giving religious Christmas
cards.
...A Massachusetts second-grader was forbidden from reading a Christmas
story to classmates.
...Kentucky officials refused to give a church permission to stage a
live Nativity scene in a public square.
...A Florida city authorized a Menorah display, but rejected Christmas
symbols.
...A Denver church's float was excluded from the annual "Parade of
Lights" because it included Christmas carolers and a "Merry Christmas"
banner.
...A Washington principal banned Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol"
because Tiny Tim prayed, "God bless us everyone."
...Florida and Chicago schools included Hanukkah, Kwanzaa & other
ethnic and religious songs, but not Christmas songs, in their holiday
concerts. School districts in Florida and New Jersey banned Christmas
carols.
...Macy's and other department stores have abandoned "Christmas"
terminology while Target no longer welcomes Salvation Army bells or
kettles outside their stores.
...Public schools in CA, FL, NY, DE, VA, NH, MN, and GA accommodated
Muslim students during Ramadan with special time off, rooms to pray,
and speakers to talk about the Muslim fast. One school urged non-Muslim
students and teachers to join in the fast.
Thankfully, there are groups devoted to counter these attacks against
our constitutional freedoms. The American Center for Law & Justice
(ACLJ) created a Christmas Information Center
(http://www.aclj.org/Issues/Resources/Document.aspx?ID=883
) to help believers, churches and civil jurisdictions deal with such
assaults.
Please Join Us in Focused Prayer:
...Father, STIR Your People. DEFEAT the ACLU & all who war against
You!
...GIVE FAVOR to those devoted to the defense of righteousness: the
ACLJ, Alliance Defense Fund, Liberty Counsel & others. Help us to
support them with prayer (Ex 3:21; Nu 10:35; Ps 5:10-12; 35:26-27;
44:1-8; 83:1-5, 8-13; Mt 18:10).
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