Council Community Church
Pastor's Corner
A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY? (Part II)
Not so long ago, in a galaxy not far enough away, there lived a group of wicked little dictators who wished to bend the minds and wills of the population to suit their purposes. And so they struck at the heart and soul of the civilization: the relationship between parent and child.
Some parents complained when their children (and other students in 1st, 3rd and 5th grades) were subjected to a sexually-charged questionnaire given in their public school which included the following questions about whether the children: -Thought about having sex or touching other people's "private parts"; -Touched their private parts too much; -Washed themselves because they felt dirty on the inside; -Didn’t trust people because they might want sex; -Got scared or upset when they thought about sex; -Had sex feelings in their bodies; -Couldn’t stop thinking about sex. And this to children as young as 6! I can’t imagine why the parents would be upset!
But the little dictators said, “We hold that THERE IS NO FREE-STANDING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF PARENTS ‘TO CONTROL THE UPBRINGING OF THEIR CHILDREN BY INTRODUCING THEM TO MATTERS OF AND RELATING TO SEX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS VALUES AND BELIEFS’
…we do not quarrel with the parents' right to inform and advise their children about the subject of sex as they see fit. We conclude only that the parents are possessed of no constitutional right to prevent the public schools from providing information on that subject to their students in any forum or manner they select.”
Leave it to the little dictators of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to come up with a decision like that! Because of course that’s whom we are talking about. Not so long ago was November 2nd, 2005, and the galaxy not far enough away was San Francisco. And this is by no means a singular event. Remember, these are the judges who brought us the Pledge of Allegiance “Under God” fiasco.
The King has something different to say, however: “O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our FATHERS have told us. We will not hide them from their children; WE WILL TELL THE NEXT GENERATION the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.
“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our FOREFATHERS TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, AND THEY IN TURN WOULD TELL THEIR CHILDREN. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.” (Psalm 78:1-7; emphasis mine).
I would say that there is a very fundamental right of parents to control their children’s education and upbringing. This may fly in the face of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s hell-inspired philosophy (see last week’s article) and much of the socialist thinking that it has spawned, but it is fully in line with God’s Word in the Bible.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?’ tell him…” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 20)
Be vigilant and hold tightly to your God-given privilege and responsibility to raise your children. See ya next week.
