An interesting news story has recently been spreading around the Internet. Apparently a student in California sued his school district because he wanted to be able to “to attach [a] 5-inch feather he received from his father to the tassel on his cap” for his graduation ceremony. Reportedly the school does not allow any religious symbols or additional decorations to the cap and gown. The student, Christian Titman, then reportedly sued for the right to be able to wear the religious symbol. Apparently he was successful in his suit and will be able to wear the feather.
The interesting thing about this news story is that the student was reportedly defended by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This is one of many groups that has been behind removing the Ten Commandments, nativity scenes, and other Christian symbols from public places. They’ve worked to protect abortion access and legalize gay marriage. They are also a group that has aggressively fought against the teaching of any form of creation in public schools—they were even behind the famous Scopes Trial in 1925.
A staff attorney for the ACLU apparently said, “The district’s refusal to allow a small symbol of religious expression during the graduation ceremony is a misunderstanding of both the spirit and the letter of the law . . . . The implication that an eagle feather with religious significance is unacceptable or disruptive signals a deep disrespect from the district.”
Now, I wonder, would the ACLU defend a Christian wanting to wear a Bible verse or carry a Bible to a graduation ceremony so they could honor their heavenly Father and the Christian heritage of their family? I would say no! They have consistently showed that they are hostile towards Christians and Christianity. Really, this case represents to me the hypocrisy of such groups. They will defend the free exercise of religion—as long as it’s not the free exercise of Christianity! In defending the religious liberty of this student, but attacking the religious liberties of Christians, the ACLU is showing that they are a completely inconsistent group. Well, actually, they are consistent—they consistently discriminate against Christians and our freedom!
This highlights that it’s really a spiritual battle that we are facing. As Paul puts it in Ephesians, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places
” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan has launched a violent attack on the church in America and on the freedom of Christians to be able to freely exercise their religion. We need to equip ourselves with the armor of God so that we can stand against this attack. And we need to pray that God will protect religious freedom and give us the courage and boldness to stand up for what is right and unashamedly declare the truth of God’s Word from the very beginning.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken
This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.