US Muslims get to exercise religious rights. Why not Christians?

Just how far does the persecution against Christians in America have to go before we all start opening our eyes and fighting against it? Joe Kennedy, the long-time high school football coach in Bremerton, WA, had the habit of kneeling down in prayer on the 50-yard line after football games. He forced nobody to participate, though he was often joined by his players, and sometimes even players from the opposing team.  

But because someone in the stands who could not tolerate the sight of prayer complained about it, the school district began investigating the coach, and then ordered him to cease and desist. On Sept. 17, Kennedy, a private citizen, was told he must avoid kneeling, bowing his head or doing anything that could be seen as remotely religious. 

After deciding to continue exercising his Constitutional right to express his religion freely and therefore, continue the post-game prayer tradition, Kennedy was informed by the school district’s Superintendent Aaron Leavell that he violated the directives by engaging in religious-type behavior while on “duty”. So Kennedy was put on administrative leave pending further review of his conduct. This is an outrageous example of the insidious assault on Christians in public.

Nowhere in the First Amendment does it say Christians cannot exercise their religious rights just because they are on tax-funded public property. In fact, as taxpayers, we should have all the more right to exercise our Constitutional rights, but more to the point, only the government is prohibited from establishing a religion or from telling a citizen he cannot exercise his religion. The limits are on the government, not the citizen.

But what’s so sad and so telling, is that in this day of violence, hatred and evil, shouldn’t the sight of peaceful prayer be seen as a good thing? Don't we have bigger fish to fry? Unfortunately, not when you’re an anti-Christian, freedom-hating liberal.

Ironically, liberals, who customarily shun the Bible, are using it to cite a passage from it in defense of the school’s actions against Kennedy. Citing Matthew 6:6, which states: "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen," liberals claim that even the Bible tells us not to pray in public.

But that Bible passage refers to those who pray insincerely only to be seen. Actually, Jesus tells us that where two or three gather in His name, He is present, and commands us to publicly evangelize and spread the Gospel. You cannot do that from your bedroom behind closed doors. Moreover, the Constitution backs up our right to do just that – publicly express our religious beliefs -- no matter how much liberals hate that fact.

Still, the hypocrisy of the Left is astounding, if not outright frightening.

You don’t see this type of harassment with other religions. Recently two Muslim truck drivers sued after being fired because they refused to deliver beer, as they were payed to do, because alcohol violates their religious beliefs. Did the jury back up the business that fired the truck drivers for not doing the job they were hired to do? No. The jury awarded the drivers $240,000 after being defended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

So let’s get this straight. A high school football coach wants to exercise his Constitutional right to peaceful religious expression and he gets fired. Christian bakers who don’t want to provide services for a same-sex marriage for religious reasons get fined. But Muslims exercising their religious beliefs get nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Do you think a Baptist who also shuns alcohol would have his religious liberty defended like this?

Tell me there is not persecution against Christians in America. We really need to wake up to what is happening.

What do you think?  Click on the comments link in the bar below to share your thoughts. No registration necessary.