May We Remain as One Nation Under God

On June 25, 1962, Engel v. Vitale was decided by the United States Supreme Court on an 8-1 vote.  On that day, the highest court of the land established that the reading of a nondenominational prayer at the start of the school day violates the "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment.  This was the first in a series of cases in which the Court used the establishment clause to eliminate religious activities of all sorts, which had traditionally been a part of public ceremonies. (ENGEL v. VITALE. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 21 June 2012. <http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1961/1961_468>.)

  
Justice Potter Stewart, the one dissenting vote blasted the ruling saying, "It led not to true neutrality with respect to religion, but to the establishment of a religion of secularism."  (http://www.free2pray.info/2schoolprayerrulings.html)

Fifty years later my question is:  what kind of a society has emerged in the United States after kicking God out of our public schools?

I did not go to elementary, middle or high school here in the United States so I do not have any personal experience per se.  I wonder, however, if incidents brought to light a few days ago regarding a bus monitor for a school district in Illinois have anything to do with the Godlessness instituted in our public schools by our national government.

As I watched the terribly disturbing video of these young students insulting, in the worst possible ways, this hearing-impaired, elderly woman who works as their bus monitor, the cold chills of fear ran down my spine.  I cannot understand anybody being so vicious and mean to anyone, let alone to a Grandmother figure that has done nothing to provoke such treatment.  I cannot conceive how these young students (by their voices they can’t be older than pre-teens) are able to do this.  I cannot help but think that behavior such as this is a direct result of a life without God.

It is not my intention to trash public education. Neither it is to blame all the ills of society on public schools for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 23) My intention is precisely to offer a reminder of this very verse in order for us never to forget it. “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” “There is no one who does not sin.” (1 Kings 8: 46) “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7: 20) “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.” (Romans 3: 9) Therefore, we all need a Savior. Without God we are reduced to putrid waste.

Why then force God out of the place where the future of our society is forged?

God finds a way, however, and He always wins. Just like the outpouring of support for the bus monitor and condemnation for the kids that verbally abused her has been overwhelming, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords reigns now and forever. And ultimately, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” (Philippians 2: 10)

Regardless of any high court ruling or of the depths to which we are descending as a society, in the end, “It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" (Romans 14: 11)

Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"