It is interesting that a lot of people reading this will cluck their tongues at me for getting political – meanwhile, Texas is getting religious, forcing one particular religion on their entire population of school-age children. Which is un-Constitutional. It is mind-boggling; I can’t speak to politics when religion is forced on us, but politicians can speak of religion whenever they want to. Such is the case in Texas now – as of September 1, every public classroom will be mandated to have the 10 commandments posted on a wall. I find this kind of thing peculiar, especially when it isn’t mandatory for every church or Christian or Jew to post these rules on their walls.
It is curious to me that the Beatitudes aren’t being posted – you know, all that Jesus stuff about loving enemies. I am curious that Leviticus 19: 9-10 isn’t being posted: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God. Or maybe this golden oldie from Deuteronomy 21: If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place. They shall say to the elders of his town, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. I could do this all day.
Any community that forces their religion on unwilling citizens is going against God. Period. As we approach our 249th birthday, it is good to remember that while our founders missed the mark on a lot of things – like equality and slavery – they got it right with religion. Texas, and any other state, has the responsibility to protect people’s religious rights. They have failed.
Prayer – Holy God, You have commanded that first, we love You and one another. Help those who would use You as a weapon to realize and practice this. Amen.
Today’s art is “Freedom and Honor” by Alexandra Cook.