Category: Government

The Monday Muse – Onward Christian Soldiers

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Comments Posted on Jun 29, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

A little over a week ago Newsweek released an article discussing “the growing controversy over military chaplains using the armed forces to spread the Word.” I have heard that chaplaincy in the military has been forced to take on a more postmodern, pluralistic flavor (though I confess that I know little about military chaplains). Gone are the days when the chaplaincy’s sole convictions are Christian.

The U.S. military Central Command has established a rule called General Order Number One that forbids active-duty troops from “trying to convert people to any religion.” In spite of this rule, the military has encountered a growing “problem” among their chaplains. Some Christian chaplains have continued to be involved in evangelization through Bible initiatives. “The effort is an example of what critics call a growing culture of militarized Christianity in the armed forces.”

It should come to no one’s surprise that Christian ministers serving as chaplains would seek to share the truth of the gospel in the hopes that many would believe and be saved. If the gospel is true and Jesus is the Savior of humanity, doesn’t it make logical sense that people convinced by such things would naturally want to share this news? The impact and influence of the gospel in such desperate situations such as war and conflict should not be underestimated. What hope can a soldier, caught in the line of fire, have unless he believes in Jesus as deliverer from pain, suffering, conflict, and death?

On the flip side, some people would say that the mixing of religion and government via the military can be a dangerous thing. I see the implications of an amicable union to be detrimental to the church more than the government. State sponsored Christianity does not have a good track record. However, Kathryn Joyce also points to the negative aspects of Christian influence on public policy and military actions. The melding of both worlds raises the potential for holy war in the name of God’s will.

That leads me to my question for the week: How should Christian faith and secular government interact with one another? What type of relationship should they have?

California Ban on Homeschooling

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Comments Posted on Mar 28, 2008 Posted by Jeff Lash

My friend Lisa Huddleston recently sent me this email update of the court case in California concerning the ban on homeschooling in that state (point of clarification: the state would require all parents to have a teaching license in order to be “qualified” to teach their children in the home). Lisa has homeschooled each of her three children so she has an experienced perspective on this issue. You can read some of her own thoughts on homeschooling in the comments section of my previous post on this court case.

Court of Appeal Grants Petition for Re-hearing

On March 25, the California Court of Appeal granted a motion for
rehearing in the ‘In re Rachel L.’ case–the controversial decision
which purported to ban all homeschooling in that state unless the
parents held a teaching license qualifying them to teach in public
schools.

The automatic effect of granting this motion is that the prior opinion
is vacated and is no longer binding on any one, including the parties
in the case.

The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school
establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the
California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department
of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three
California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to
Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also
indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups.

Home School Legal Defense Association will seek permission to file
such an amicus brief and will coordinate efforts with a number of
organizations interesting in filing briefs to support the right of
parents to homeschool their children in California.

“This is a great first step,” said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA.
“We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion
has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate
outcome will be. This case remains our top priority,” he added.


													
																
																
								

			
														
							

							
														
							
						
						

					

					

				

			

			
			
			
					
			
			
			

				

					

						
								
						
					
						

							
															
							

								The Monday Muse: Educational Rights							

								
														
							

								
						

							
						
							
												
						

						
														
							
							
							

								
																
									
									
																		
									
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								Posted on Mar 11, 2008
								
								
								
															
															
															
								
							
								Posted by Jeff Lash
								
								
								
									
							

							
							
							
														
							
							
														
							

							
														
															
																
								
It has been far too long since my last post. We traveled up to Michigan last Thursday night after work. Since it was in the midst of the busy time of the month at work, I had to work long hours so we could take off on Thursday. I’m still trying to get caught up on everything. So for the second straight week, I bring you The Monday Muse on Tuesday. How about this:


Should parents have the right to choose how they want to educate their children (homeschool, private, public)? 


Before you answer, I would encourage you to check out some of the articles that Denny Burk has posted addressing the California appeals court controversy.

													
																
																
								

			
														
							

							
														
							
						
						

					

					

				

			

			
			
			
						
			
											
				
			
			
																		
				
		

	
                        

                                            

                                    

                        

                

                

            

        

        								

						

			

				

					            

            
            

            
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