Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: math1h3@jetson.uh.edu Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: 1st amendment (was: religious courses in a secular school) Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 06:08:50 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Houston Lines: 53 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , jclark@sdcc6.ucsd.edu (John Clark) writes: > In article math1h3@jetson.uh.edu writes: > > +What I would like to see, although the current trend is in the opposite > +direction, is for more christian churches to provide christian schools, > +supported by offerings, so that middle and lower income families can > > Unfortunately, church schools are not 'free of sin'. You can easily > explain promiscuity at 'public school' due to the Adversary's > control of the situation. But what of the church school. Or don't > you believe church school students engage in sex, drugs and > rock-and-roll. I freely admit that church schools are not 'free if sin.' Nor of sex, drugs, rock-and-roll, etc. What they do have is the only effective weapon against sin, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason, I believe that a Christian school provides a much healthier environment than atheistic schools. And I do think that there is less sex, drugs, etc, in Christian schools. > It takes a great amount of 'maturity' to realize that > the preacher's son is an independent entity and his behavior does > not reflect on the father's. However, at 14 I could not discern the > moral code which imparted immunity to the P.K. and not to me. We both > smoked and drank, but when I was caught, I was kicked out. When he > was caught there was silence. > I think I recognize that stuff like this goes on, and it is indeed regrettable. How common is it? I don't know. How do we compare this to public schools where common criminals are kept in school 'because it is better for them than prison?' > There lots of 'observations' from the other point of view which most > Christians seem to ignore. They seem to blithely go on unaware that > the world would not be any more perfect if there was prayer and > Bible reading in the schools. If you read my post, then I think you know that I am not in favor of prayer and Bible reading in the public schools, for that would violate my conscience regarding the proper use of Christian fellowship. Furthermore I do not think unbelievers would make effective teachers of God's Word. In addition, I do not believe that it is the mission of the Christian church to make the world more perfect. Our mission is to preach the Gospel so that souls may be saved from eternal punishment, and receive eternal life instead. If the world becomes better in the process, then may God be praised, but I believe the world is destined for destruction on Judgement Day. (see Rev. 20). David H. Wagner a confessional Lutheran My opinions and beliefs on this subject are disclaimed by The University of Houston.