Sun Journal New Bern, Letter to the Editor: Prayer, by CCTA Member, Tyker Gonzales

March 9, 2012
After reading this past Sunday’s paper and the letters to the editor, one struck my eye, and actually my heart. It was a rebuttal letter referring to Mrs. Dorothy Vogel’s letter about prayer, specifically the right to do so in the name of Jesus Christ. While reading the rebuttal there seemed to be anger in the writing that came forth through the words and I would like to help explain some issues that I hope will remove any anger.


First, I do believe that praying in the name of Jesus is a freedom. Until the past few years it was never questioned. It was just something that most of us (here in the Bible belt especially) are used to doing because Jesus says in the Bible, "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son," so this is why Christians pray in the name of Jesus. It’s not meant to offend anyone (although for some reason it does); it’s never been a mandate for all to participate, in fact to the contrary. Just as God gives each one of us a choice in whether or not to believe in Him, His Son and the Holy Spirit, He never would force us to love Him let alone force us to pray to Him. By giving us this choice, He shows His love for us. If you don’t believe, that is absolutely up to you, but according to the Christian belief, a lack of thereof will not land you in a positive place after death. Again let me stress, this is not mandated; all are choices. That is true freedom. Christians are supposed to be Christ-like, therefore they also give others their freedom in whether or not to participate in prayer or sharing in the faith.


Let me explain it this way: I have children. I love them both with every part of my being and I want them to love me in the same manner, but I can’t make them love me. Even if I could it wouldn’t be the same; they would be more like robots. I want them to love me because THEY WANT TO. To a Christian, what is love? "Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the Truth, ... Love never fails … now abide in faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love." This is how I want to be loved, this is how God wants to be loved, this is how, if we truly love, are supposed to be, loving others as ourselves, again all by choice, one that we are supposed to be free to make.


Why would anyone think that because a prayer is offered in Jesus’ name, that all in attendance are being forced/mandated to pray? All prayer is, is showing love, love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and love for the people. Why does that offended people? What a sad place this world is in when love becomes offensive.


Now, America was formed on the basis of freedom. Separation of church and state was placed to keep the government from mandating religion on its people. Offering a prayer before meetings, school gatherings or any other function is again, not a mandate of participation and I am unaware of any such event with the disclaimer that "all must pray." If there are those who wish not to, they can just remain silent for a few moments. It is however a freedom that those who are leading whatever said event can chose to do as individual people of this great free nation. If the leaders of such events were Muslim, Buddhists, Jewish or any other religion, I would expect their prayers to be offered, but it certainly doesn’t mean I would be forced to pray with them either. If the ones leading are refused the right to pray in whatever name they chose as members of this nation, isn’t that in itself a violation of their freedom?


Did the people themselves not vote these representatives of the people into office? If the people didn’t want "Christians" in office then one would assume they wouldn’t vote for one. However in this country, the majority of voters choose who will represent them and we happen to have (I’m proud to say) seven Christian men who represent Craven County as commissioners. They all pray, they all have the right to pray, as they believe in or out of office. If the majority of the voters of this county wanted otherwise, they would have voted for others who were non-believers. But the amazing fact is, most folks who have run for these offices are also Christian. If and when our country reaches a point of a majority of atheists or any given religion other then Christianity, I suppose we will have to follow the will of the people then, but we are not there now.


I watched an interview with one of the Rowan County commissioners. The Rowan commissioners are continuing to pray with no changes even in light of the recent courts decision. The reporter asked a question as to this particular commissioner’s position with upholding the Constitution (referring to the separation of church and state). His response was beautiful … he stated that his hand was on the BIBLE as he took the oath, what about his personal rights of freedom of religion and speech?


I am not angry, but again am hurt that so many who claim the title of Christian would rather keep silent then to exercise their freedom of religion and speech. Jesus said, "You will be persecuted for my name’s sake." If we don’t speak His name no one will have to worry about persecution. There are hundreds of examples throughout the Scriptures where silence was not an option. If the disciples had been silent, Christianity would have been over 2,000 years ago. If the Jewish descendants had been silent, their faith and populations would have become extinct.


I had a friend tell me to turn the other cheek, but this is not my cheek to turn. I will gladly let anyone criticize me, dislike me, reprimand me, and give them additional opportunities to do so and still love them while praying for them. But I cannot be silent while the main faith that this nation was founded upon is continually denied the freedom of being represented.


I will love ALL willingly, I will keep my faith and I will pray in Jesus’ name always especially for those who persecute the faith in whatever form.


Tyker Gonzales, Cove City, NC 

http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/sunday-104955-letter-past.html

N.C. County Stands up to ACLU’s Attack on Public Prayer

North Carolina county has thumbed its nose at the state’s ACLU franchise, which has been warning county officials all over the state to stop opening government meetings with prayer.

As reported by the Associated Press, a “Rowan County commissioner opened the board’s [March 5] meeting with a Christian prayer, despite a warning from the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union that it would violate the law and potentially trigger a lawsuit. As has long been the elected board’s practice, Commissioner Jon Barber (left) opened the public meeting with an invocation asking for a blessing in the name of Jesus.”

The ACLU has been harassing counties all over the Tar Heel State since mid-January, when the U.S Supreme Court declined to review a ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals against the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in its long-held tradition of opening meetings with predominantly Christian prayers. As reported by The New American, two residents sued the county after a local pastor opened a December 2007 government meeting by thanking God for sending His Son “to forgive us for our sins,” and closed the prayer “in the name of Jesus.”

http://thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/11138-nc-county-stands-up-to-aclus-attack-on-public-prayer

Good news of great joy!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV)

If Jesus Had Never Been Born

by Tim Wildmon, December 22, 2011

If Jesus Christ had never been born, there would be no United States of America.

After Jesus left this earth, Christianity spread from the Holy Land to modern-day Turkey to Greece and Italy and then covered the rest of Europe. In fact, Christopher Columbus wrote that his discovery of the New World was inspired by "...the Holy Spirit, because he comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures." Indeed, if it were not for Christmas, we would not be living in the greatest country and most generous country in the history of mankind.

In 1950, President Harry Truman gave a speech to the Attorney General's conference. This is what he said: "The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days...."

Truman's message reminds me that there was a day that many reading this can remember, when the Christian value system was the common value system that governed our country. It fostered self-control and served as the basis of our laws. It was understood. It did not matter if you were a Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, Christian or not (Truman was a Democrat, by the way).

Today, if a President of the United States were to say the very same thing Truman said in 1950, he would be called a member of the "religious right" and publicly ridiculed for trying to mix church and state.

If Jesus Christ had never been born, obviously, there would be no Christmas celebration or even a "holiday season." Think about it. Thanksgiving Day is based in America's Christian roots. New Year's Day is based on a calendar that measures time from the birth of Jesus Christ. Or, as our Founding Fathers wrote: "In the Year of Our Lord."The American economy depends heavily on people buying other people Christmas gifts each year. That is why the idea of "holiday" shopping is so ridiculous. No one buys gifts to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The kids don't run downstairs at 5:00 a.m. on New Year's morning. Overwhelmingly, Americans exchange gifts with friends and family precisely because it is Christmas. Ask American retailers and they will tell you -- it's the most wonderful time of the year.

CONTINUED:http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=1502056