It has been nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court ruled that officially sponsored prayer in public schools violated the separation of church and state.
“I definitely think that we should try to get our relationship with Christ back into the schools,” said Christian Chapman, who describes himself as a “traveling evangelist” and often speaks at schools.
But in some corners of the country, especially in the rural South, open prayer and Christian symbols have never really disappeared from schools, with what legal advocates call brazen violations of the law coming to light many times each year.
At a school assembly here in South Carolina on Sept. 1, a preacher described how Christ saved him from drugs, telling his rapt audience that “a relationship with Jesus is what you need more than anything else.” A rapper shouted the Lord’s praise to a light show and most of the audience stepped forward to pledge themselves to Christ while a few remained, uncomfortable, in their seats.
Such overt evangelizing would not be unusual at a prayer rally, but this was a daytime celebration in a public school gymnasium, arranged by the principal for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
When the rapper posted a video on YouTube, announcing that “324 kids at this school have made a decision for Jesus Christ,” he drew unwelcome public and legal scrutiny to the event. It was the kind of religious advocacy that is increasingly coming to light, legal experts say, as school populations become more diverse and as the objection of non-Christians — or, in this case, the rejoicing of evangelists — is broadcast on the Internet.
Read More On: BlackChristianNews
Most Views
- Up-Date: As Zachery Tims’ Replacement, Paula White Gets Warm Reception At New Destiny Service
- Zachery Tims’ Fla. Church Flat Out Rejects Riva Tim’s Claims!
- Whitney Houston And Dionne Warwick Star In Documentary
- LOCAL NEWS: Flights Canceled Due To Expected Snow Storm
- Daily Devotional: “Becoming Like Jesus” By Dr Creflo A. Dollar
- ENTERTAINMENT: Aretha Franklin To Marry Longtime Friend!
- Audio: The Bishop Secular Re-Wind {January 2nd 2012}
- Audio: Yolanda Adams’ “Points Of Power” {January 2nd 2012}
- 1,500 Teens Party Like It’s 2012 At Virginia Megachurch
- Queen Latifah: The ‘Joyful Noise’ Interview
