LETTERS: APPLY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE LAW

To the editor:

I would like to address the issue the author of the Jan. 18 letter stated dealing with public prayer. I never take Scripture lightly, because I believe it to be the 100 percent accurate word of God, and I do not believe in boastful, insincere actions or prayer, which is what I believe Christ is referring to in Matthew 6:1-7. These verses, however, do not say that public prayer that is sincere is to be condemned. There is a history of these verses that one needs to investigate to completely understand them. Public prayers at the very least recognize God as sovereign. This is not different than a group of students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance which poses God as our nation's judge and ruler and indicates that there is a higher law than our own. As I recall, Jesus prayed with a small group of disciples before his last supper. Jesus was a perfect example for us to follow, and I believe this action was a promotion of sincere prayer in front of people. There are other examples of outward showing of sincere faith, but that is not what this letter is about.

The letter writer went on to discuss the religious beliefs of Abraham Lincoln. I would agree that Lincoln never belonged to any Christian church, because he did not believe in church membership being determined by men, but by his own words he was a Christian. He acknowledged his Christianity after his viewing of the Gettysburg battlefield. Lincoln would not have supported withdrawing the use of the Bible as a teaching tool in schools. The schools he grew up in and the home he grew up in used the Bible regularly. Lincoln quoted scripture often in his speeches and debates. Lincoln above all believed in original intent. He believed the Constitution was a document divinely inspired, and the principles set forth by it should be viewed from the perspective of those who write it.

The letter said that I admitted that the churches and homes had failed at putting the job of religious instruction on the poor little teacher. This statement was never written in my letter. The issue of the moral ills of this country and who's responsible for curing them is a topic better left to another day. I would say that all social ills can be cured by the teachings of the Bible.

The litmus test in any controversial issue in this country should be examined in light of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. If one does this, he will always end up examining the supreme law of our land in lieu of biblical principles. If someone can prove to me that the Founding Fathers wanted the federal government to tell a school district how it should deal with religious issues, I will gladly listen. I do, however, know that no such proof exists. I am note interested in what one thinks about matter of law if one is not first willing to examine the principles set forth by the Constitution. This is common ground that all legal discussions should start at. Examining our laws and issues outside this document is what has gotten our country into the mess it's in today. I would greatly suggest that any American who does not know what the Constitution says should read it. You may be amazed what it says.

BRUCE ADEN

Benton