ARKANSAS – IN JESUS’ NAME

“In Jesus’ name” – I heard it twice last night.

At a high school graduation, students opened and closed the memorable event with prayers that ended, “In Jesus’ name.”

Watching the graduates of 2010 walk across the stage and get their diplomas, I was happy about a decision made 14 years ago to move to a place only visited once.  Thankfully, my children haven’t been fed many of the “progressive” ideas that are allowed in schools in places across this nation.

A few years ago, when attending a high school football game and band performance, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when the announcer began the game with “In Jesus’ name.”

The school will not be identified because you never know when swarming ACLU lawyers will spot another target.

Arkansas is no different than other states in some ways.  The effort to keep God out of the public square has been felt everywhere.  A court case in Little Rock in the early ’80s kept Scientific Creationism out of science classrooms.  Because of ACLU lawyers, it is not legal in Arkansas to teach that there is an “Intelligent Designer” of any kind along with evolutionary theory.  There are many scientific evidences that point to a creator, but many judges can’t or won’t distinguish evidence from “religion.”  Fortunately, the Christian faith hasn’t been, and never will be, removed from many minds in spite of its removal from the classroom.

Other articles at this site point to problems that we face locally.  Yet, You and I still have something that is disappearing in more places than we know.  We can still say a public prayer “In Jesus name.”  It is said at community and government meetings.  It is said at local club meetings.  It is said in the schools.

Arkansas may be considered near the bottom in education when compared to other states.  Other states have higher test scores. What does that matter if “in Jesus’ name” is not allowed?

After last night, my emotions are mixed.   At the same time, I am so thankful that I live in a place that hasn’t placed a mandate on “in Jesus’ name.”

Chris Reimers

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