Sheri's Sharebook 

Scripture Base:  Isaiah 55:8-9

The Banning of Christian Topics Are Increasing

©Sheri Liegh Adams

December 15, 2007

We can curse in chat rooms, dress provocatively and sometimes according to religious beliefs, ignore AND get away with breaking certain laws not enforced, watch all the violence we want on television, and play electronic games about violence, sex and more, yet we cannot sing Christmas songs at Christmas that contain religious content.  We cannot pray in school despite the fact the song God Bless America is still used.  We can make out on the streets, annoy our neighbours with loud music or bass boost, but we cannot sing Christian songs in the public.  We can gather on streets and drink, smoke and even deal drugs, but we cannot pray in public.

I have been a Christian since I was 13 years old and I am currently 38.  Over the course of the last 25 years, I have seen such a decline in what religious or Christian people are allowed to do just because it may offend somebody.

Jesus told us we would be persecuted:

Matthew 5:10 – God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Matthew 24:9 – Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed.  You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

John 15:20 – Do you remember what I told you?  “A slave is not greater than the master.”  Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.  And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.”

I have been to several chat rooms – self-help ones mind you.  In there, we are supposed to support and encourage each other.  Even that is Scriptural – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – So encourage each other and build each other up.  Cool.  Every chat room has rules that people are supposed to abide by.  One of the most common rules is there is to be no talk of religion.  Another common rule is that there is to be no vulgarity or swearing going on.  Now comes my point – why is it, the vulgarity and swearing can be gotten away with but the religious talk is so attacked? 

People can find so many ways to get their point across in sly and deceitful manners.  They use short forms that are common to chat rooms and emails.  Or there is a Censoring operation in effect so if people swear, it will not appear to the rest of the chatters.

If people who call themselves Christians are not allowed to have their songs sung on radios, televisions and through other media, then why are so-called “secular” artists permitted to sing about religious topics or beings?  I have nothing against any of the people below, but commend them on their songs, but these are just some songs to consider that are considered secular but have religious meaning:

God Bless America

From A Distance

Did You Ever Know You’re My Hero

Circle of Life

Theme song of Pocohantas

God Gave Rock and Roll to You – Kiss

Unchained Melody – Righteous Bros

12 Days of Christmas – was originally a secret code for Christians

Love Can Move Mountains – Celine Dion

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Testify To Love – Wynona Judd

House of Love – Amy Grant

Losing My Religion – REM

God – Tori Amos

Forgiven – Alanis Morisette

Who Will Save Your Soul – Jewel

Unanswered Prayer – Garth Brooks

Forever and Ever Amen – Randy Travis

Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode

One of Us – Joan Osborne

Devil Went Down to Georgia – a regular for the radio here

Dear God – Sara Mclachlan

Hey Jesus – Indigo Girl

Tears In Heaven –Eric Clapton

The list is endless…………

If Christian artists cannot play their music on public media, then how is it the secular artists can get away with it?  Is this not what we call prejudiced or biased? 

I can get very indignant when I am not permitted to express my joy of my life.  My life consists of loving the Lord with all my heart and doing as I believe He wants me to.  I also know that God does not need to be defended – He is big enough to defend Himself.  But I can get so angry because I am silenced about what causes me the most joy while here on earth while other people can talk about sex, drugs, booze, and so many other things that they find helpful, fun, fulfilling and so on. 

I look back at the lives of my Grandparents, one who lived until he was 89, and I wonder how they must have felt as the times changed and they saw God banned from places like schools, libraries, courtrooms, government buildings and so on.  Even Remembrance Day and O Canada are neglected or disrespected.  How sad it must have been for the seniors to watch the decline of the Christian life.

Still, we must persevere and not let it block our calling.  Acts 20:24 – But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

We can be angry because of being silenced but we must not let that anger cause us to stumble and sin:

Ephesians 4:25 – In your anger do not sin:  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (NIV).

Even Jesus got angry, but He did not sin:

Matthew 21:12 – Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice.  He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.

So Jesus has already warned us that we will be persecuted.  Part of that persecution is being silenced, whether it is Christmas music that contains religious content, not being able to pray in schools, taking the 10 Commandments out of government buildings or to the point of martyrdom.  Regardless of what it is, we must hand it over to the Lord and let Him deal with it.  We cannot fight every fight that comes across our paths as Christians.  We must choose our causes carefully and according to God’s Holy Word.

The next time you are offended for being silenced in your Christian walk, remember how Jesus must have felt just walking on this earth, Knowing what people thought of Him AND knowing what lay ahead of Him.  We offended Him, to the point of death, yet He still found it in Him to forgive us.

May we live the forgiveness He died for.