A battle worth fighting

Paul Bowers

Throughout history, education systems have been used to indoctrinate young minds with political, religious, and scientific ideas. In Nazi Germany, teachers informed students that the Aryan race was genetically superior. In North Korea, children are taught to worship Kim Jong-Il as a superhuman entity.

In the United States of America, a world leader in free thought, the minds of children and young adults are relentlessly pummeled by slightly more subtle propaganda. This is a country that started with focused idealism and definite convictions, but today its young are immersed in a morally deterministic, vehemently anti-religious environment that devalues human life and denies the existence of absolute truth.

Most biology curricula, including the one used at Summerville High School, are based on the concept of evolution. Macroevolution, the theory that one species can evolve into another, has yet to be proven, and yet it is presented as an unquestionable fact. All other theories of the origin of species are rejected outright—objective science at its finest, to be sure. Also, science classes beginning as early as middle school teach that a random explosion of particles probably caused the formation of the universe, failing to mention any other viable theories. A significant number of Summerville students claim to be followers of Christ and believers of the infallible truth of the Bible, and yet few take a stand against such blatantly anti-Christian teachings.

Simply put, this is appalling. The theories of macroevolution and the “big bang” cannot be reconciled with the Christian faith—or with any faith that alleges the existence of an omnipotent Creator or the imperative for moral behavior.

Most social studies and English classes are taught from a morally relativistic perspective, rejecting absolute truth as an outdated idea held by self-righteous bigots. Students are taught to be tolerant of all types of behavior and political thought and to accept every religion as equally valid.

Christian students are force-fed socially liberal pabulum on a daily basis, and their response, for the most part, is to sit quietly and take notes. While it is important for Christian students to understand opposing beliefs, it is equally crucial for the rest of the class to hear both sides of the argument.

This column is not just the embittered ranting of a narrow-minded zealot. It is a call for action to the timid, spineless Christians who are allowing themselves to become products of America’s public school system: Fight back. When a teacher presents a concept that contradicts your beliefs, raise your hand and make your case. Even if you get shot down, your classmates will understand that there is a case to be made for the other side of the issue.

In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter exhorts believers, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Do not enter the ring blindfolded. Do your homework, understand the opposition, and do some research of your own. Books such as C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and websites such as clarifyingchristianity.com will provide you with intellectual fodder. However, any defense of the faith must begin in the heart.

Now more than ever, Christian students need to be rock-solid in their faith. Christianity is being assaulted from all sides, and too many high school and college students are giving up the fight and abandoning their belief in a loving God. Pray hard. Read the Bible. Seek the truth in everything.

The line has been drawn in the sand. Either take a stand, or sit and watch as your generation falls to pieces. This could be the most important battle you will ever fight.