God, Jesus, and Devil Are Not Appropriate

A disturbing story was reported this month by RTV6. The news station shared that an elementary teacher from Indiana had warned a group of students not to use the words, "God, Jesus, and Devil" at school. After overhearing the group discuss these topics on a subsequent day, the teacher sent a letter home with the students informing the parents that their children were not to use these words at school. The teacher's letter communicates a belief that conversations of this nature are only "appropriate" at churches and homes. Read full story here.

This evoked strong emotions within me and prompted me to issue this message to all teachers, whether their classroom be in private schools, public school, or Sunday school. First, I freely support that each teacher should be allowed to establish rules as are beneficial for the safety and learning of the majority of the students. Rules restricting cell phones, hats, tank tops, or gum are acceptable to prevent cheating and distractions. However, the rule invoked by this particular teacher provided neither safety nor learning as the motivation for this decision. The reason given was because it may "upset a child/parent." However, it is not the responsibility of a teacher to prevent students or parents from becoming offended. It is the responsibility of the teacher to take measures to prevent intentionally hurtful or disruptive language in the classroom. If such language is being used, then it is the intent of the aggressor that is in error, not the words themselves. Likewise, it is not a problem with the children, if the teacher chooses to take offense of their religious beliefs.

Furthermore, even if this rule can be justified within one classroom, the teacher composed the letter as being inappropriate within the whole school. Since no warnings are given regarding the use of other religious words, such as Koran, Buddha, or Shiva, the indirect message becomes that the school's policy of tolerance of religious diversity, does not apply to Christians. One teacher does not have the authority to restrict the freedom of speech in this way.

Teachers have an obligation to encourage their students to open their minds, not to close them. What this teacher did provided neither safety nor learning. In fact, it discouraged learning by hindering conversations. The value of 'not upsetting others' is over-emphasized in our society and, unfortunately, has infiltrated our churches. If Christians were not allowed to offend others, then Christ would not have overturned the money-changers' tables, Martin Luther would not have been able to nail his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle church door, and the American Revolution would never have succeeded. We each need to take spiritual care. It would be better to offend others rather than compromise our Christian values, our Constitutional rights, and offend our Judge, Jesus Christ.

29 August 2017