I Love Poetry

I received some more Christian SPAM - a wonderful Christian poem. And I thought every one might want to read it.

I think I’ll respond as the poem goes along ... (my comments will be in black, original comments in blue).

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule

(For the millionth time, prayer in school is not against the rules. A Christian can pray 10,000 times per day without consequence. What is against the rules, is making your schoolmate-friend Muhammad join you in praying to Jesus Christ before or during third period French class. Is this such a hard concept to grasp? Seriously. Christians, pray as much as you want in class, do you really need an announced prayer-time, like in church, in order to pray at school? No one is telling you to stop praying - what we are saying is quit requiring all the Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Atheists, Taoist, and everyone else to join in you in praying to Jesus. A little religious tolerance and sensitivity to other’s beliefs would be a nice change of pace.)

For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.

(Not true. Biblical scripture is welcome in a religious studies class and in the hallways of your public school. Where it is inappropriate is during biology, English and algebra. If someone was assigning required reading from the Bible during English Lit class, then that would be a violation of the 1st Amendment. See the difference? In fact, as a student, you are more than welcome to read your Bible at school. It is your right to read your Bible at school, provided it doesn’t interfere with your education or the education of fellow students.)

And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

(For the millionth and one time, bow your head and pray as much as you like – just stop requiring everyone else to join you. What’s the old adage, “misery likes company?” I’m sorry that was harsh – just a joke.)

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

(A little closer to the truth, but still not 100% accurate. You and your classmates can pray at school, before a test or in the halls (remember how every school has a Bible club or a prayer vigil by the flagpole, for instance?), but your prayers, aloud or silent, cannot interfere or disrupt the educational experience of other students, nor can you require the other students to participate or have the school organize such prayers.)

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.

(Obviously practicing religious sensitivity is a serious issue that must be put to a stop. We definitely don’t want that - especially since our Founding Fathers were escaping religious persecution. What we need to do is require people of non-Christian faith and people of no faith to pray to Jesus.

And again, not to beat a dead horse (what a weird cliché that is), but you can pray in a public hall – just don’t have the state sponsor your prayer. I am pretty sure it doesn’t say in the Bible that public prayer to Jesus needs to be sponsored by the government. In fact, the Bible does say that Christians should be obedient to laws of where they live ... Hmmm ... I guess that Bible teaching doesn't apply to the laws of the US, otherwise Christians would stop pushing this agenda.)

In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

(Actually, profanity and/or abusive language is not allowed in most publicly-funded buildings, including courthouses and schools. Considering piercings regularly have religious and cultural significance, it’s interesting that the Christian author of this poem would consider that freaky. Plus, dressing like a “freak”, coloring your hair purple, or piercing a body part does not equal immorality, as the author subtly suggests.)

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

(Last time I checked, guns weren’t outlawed in the US. Remember the Second Amendment? There are certain assault weapons and bullets that are illegal, but nothing that prohibits the right to bear arms that is given in the Bill of Rights. Quoting the “Good Book” in school doesn’t make you liable of a civil rights violation, either. Quote scripture as much as you want in your classroom discussions (provided it’s relevant to the discussion) and graduation speeches, just don’t make others do it or have the school sponsor it. Quick aside, if everyone was required to worship Jesus, do Christians really want non-believers faking their faith anyway?)

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

(Who ever said teaching right from wrong was inappropriate? Regardless, the Bible isn’t the only source of moral code and teachings. In fact, most of the values stated in the Bible are not unique to the Bible and did not originate in the Bible, either. Biblical values are shared by almost every other religion in the world and were practiced and documented long before the Old Testament. Confucius taught the Golden Rule as a basis for our conscience hundreds of years before it was found in The Bible. Forcing every American to worship the Christian God is not a necessary component of teaching right and wrong. )

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

(Not killing, not stealing, and other values promoted in the Ten Commandments are found in almost every other religion and are practiced by Atheists, too. Many countries that have lower crime rates, lower teen pregnancy rates and don’t have school shootings, don’t practice the teachings of The Bible. Given the poem’s/Christian’s arguments, how is that possible? Our First Amendment exists to prevent our country from being oppressive to those with diverse viewpoints, including Christianity. Why are there Christians against this?)

If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on.
Jesus said, " if you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father.." Not ashamed. Passing this on

Have a great weekend!