Judge says prayers to Christ 'do violence to America's pluralistic, inclusive values'

By Drew Zahn

A board of county commissioners in North Carolina is asking the Supreme Court for help: Its members don't believe they should have to forbid volunteers from mentioning the name of Jesus in prayers offered before their meetings.

But the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are standing by their victory in a U.S. circuit court decision that states even "a solitary reference to Jesus Christ" in invocations before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners' meetings could do "violence to the pluralistic and inclusive values that are a defining feature of American public life."

Furthermore, wrote Judge James Harvie Wilkinson III in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals majority opinion, legislative invocations offered in Jesus' name are inherently "sectarian" and thus should be censored lest they make some attendees feel "uncomfortable, unwelcome and unwilling to participate in … public affairs."

But the board disagrees, and with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund is asking the Supreme Court to trump Wilkinson's ruling.

"America's founders opened public meetings with prayer; this county simply wants to allow its citizens to do the same," said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman in a statement. "We trust the U.S. Supreme Court will want to review this case because of the long history in America of offering prayers before public meetings. Public officials shouldn't be coerced into censoring the prayers of those invited to offer them just because secularist groups don't like people praying according to their own conscience."

Read more: Jesus' name ruled 'unconstitutional'

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=361461#ixzz1cLYXdYEF

My Comment: It seems to me that the Christians and Muslims have come together in a mutual fight, Prayer.

Catholic University's Muslim Students Should Have Prayer Rooms Without Crucifix, Complaint States

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/muslim-students-catholic-university_n_1064048.html

I may not understand how someone could walk through a Catholic University and expect to find a Muslim Prayer Room, but to say a simple prayer before a public meeting goes back to the founding fathers of America. America was not only built on blood sweat and tears but on the prayers of both our leaders as well as our Mothers. 

All Americans have never accepted the Jesus of the Bible, therefore the local citizens, Janet Joyner and Constance Lynn Blackmon, who attended the meetings regularly and were bothered by the frequent mentions of Jesus in the prayers are not new.

As we look back upon America, no not everyone prayed or went to church, but when the country was run upon the principle of prayers and the value system taught us in the Bible we could walk down the streets at night without fear. America put on their money “In God We Trust” and when they did, America was great. We have replaced trust in God for trusting our own self will and now many follow their own heart’s desire, no matter what it means to our fellow man.

We now have to legally fight just to use our Lords name in a reverent prayerful sense instead of the curse word the world had made it. In the mean time the Muslims with each court case are gaining ground on all levels of church and state.

I agree with the separation of church and state, I do not want them walking into my church and telling me in which manner I can worship. However as we watch our senators send naked pictures of themselves over the internet and delve into all aspects of immoral behaviour, I do want my leaders to have a Christ minded consciousness.

Now that America has largely done away with Gods moral code of ethics and prayer, the world awaits in anticipation the day they totally collapse. It’s now only a matter of how soon.

Brother Chris 

Psalm 91

Try reading scripture and making it personal

I choose to dwell in the shelter of my Heavenly Father and rest in the shadow of His love and care

I will say of God that He is my refuge and my fortress having the assurance I can truly trust in Him in all aspects of life

I have ultimate confidence that He will save me from the enemies snare and from all deadly attacks of the enemy

My Heavenly Father will cover me with His feathers and under His wings I will ultimately find refuge with His faithfulness being my shield and rampart which will strengthen and so nourish me.

I need not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by day nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand but it will not come near me

I will only observe with my eyes and be aware of those who reap divine punishment due to their rejection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

I will make the Most High my Heavenly Father my dwelling

with the Lord himself being my refuge having the assurance that no harm will befall me and no disaster will come near my tent

I have the ultimate assurance that my heavenly Father will command angels to be round about me to guard me in all ways lifting me up keeping me secure in their hands that I will not strike my foot against a stone thereby I will have the authority over the lion and the cobra and I will trample the powers of the lion and the serpent with the serpents powers being hindered by the authority of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which is in me.

Because I love the Lord Jesus and so respond to my Heavenly Father the Lord says that He will rescue me and will protect me as I so acknowledge His name for His name is my strength wherein I find security and safety.

I will call upon the Lord knowing that He will answer me and that My Heavenly Father will be with me amidst all the problems of life reaching forth to deliver me and exalt me to so abide with my relationship with Christ being evident.

My Heavenly Father desires to bring satisfaction in life and so unfold the full benefits of salvation both today and in the years to come

My part is to so dwell in Christ and rest in the love and care of the Holy Spirit whereby the protection of my Father's protection will be always available.

The security of this relationship as God ultimately intended comes as we truly put our trust absolutely in His love and care and I will keep my focus steadfast on the Light of Christ absorbing the truths of God's Word and having a sensitive ear to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit whereby I will walk in agreement with my heavenly Father with His love and compassion becoming evident as I so partake and extend of His presence as He so leads and directs

Thank you Heavenly Father for the reality of Your love and care that I find is available as I so accept and respond to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wait with anticipation daily on the creative work of the Holy Spirit who teaches, leads and thus guides me influencing every aspect of my life and being

Thank you

study by Charlotte...October 2011