Tuesday, July 8, 2008

In the News Again


On April 18 I told you about a Mt. Vernon, Ohio teacher who refused to remove his Bible from view of students. Well, John Freshwater is back in the news again! This time he's fighting his recent firing from the school.

According to a news story Mr. Freshwater had been under severe scrutiny for focusing on creationism & intelligent design in his science classes. An investigator for the district "found" that his teachings undermined science eductation and that the students will have to be re-taught when they get to a higher grade level. The hearing to protest his firing will be on August 26th (he's currently still on payroll).

I'm sorry - but what in the world are you teaching in science classes that could be undermined by creationism or intelligent design? Could it be that this Ohio school district has completely put all of their teaching efforts into the Theory of Evolution? I have said it before and I will say it again, "If you teach theory as fact when it comes to creation then you are teaching theology." In other words: the Mt. Vernon School Board is "o.k." with teachers teaching a theology that says creation was an accident rather than by God.

You want to know why it seems as though our kids grow up in a God-less society? It's because they are being taught that there is no God involved in creation. I find it interesting that teachers can give opinions on all other subjects (politics in government, personal views in world history or sex eductation) but a teacher is strung up if he dares to bring God back into the equation when it comes to the topic of life on this planet.

I don't expect our schools to be the pillar for religious education (that's reserved for the home & the church), however, I'm bothered by this current issue of evolution being the only theory accepted when it comes to creation. Just the simple fact that we talk about the creation points us to a Creator. You cannot have it any other way just like you cannot have a building without a Builder nor a painting without a Painter.

In a recent documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed", Ben Stein pushes the envelope by asking the hard questions associated with intelligent design being ignored by the scientific community and teachers. Truth is that by ignoring creationism and a logical fact the scientists and teachers of the world have taken intelligence off the map when it comes to life.

If you can rule God out of the equation for life then you can rule Him out of all other equations. Your salvation doesn't rest in God if He did not create you. Part of His redemption plan was to buy back what He had already created. In the book of Revelation praise and honor is given to God for His work of creating us and saving us by the sending of Jesus Christ into the world. There's no question about creation in heaven!

Pray for Mr. Freshwater. Pray that he be reinstated as a teacher and pray that this whole process will bring to light the ignorance of evolution while at the same time bring glory and honor to God. Who's on trial: God or Mr. Freshwater? You decide.

3 comments:

Chris said...

It is difficult to comprehend the dedication and faith it must take for someone to truly believe we ourselves and the entire universe is just an accident. The state of Ohio is full of spirit filled Christians who know unquestionably that we owe all to a God who can do all things. I am compelled by this article to show further evidence of a creator found in Jude chapter 13 "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." This to me is clearly a reference to Black Holes in space, how amazing it is to see that our God could enlighten a man of such things long before a telescope could confirm their existence. All Christians need to act now and I second your motion to pray that God apply his judgment to this case and I pray that HE moves each Christian across our nation to make the right decision to press all of our schools to teach not only the theory of evolution but to teach the truth of creation. Thanks for the great article!

Benjamin Franklin said...

If you want to teach your kids your particular creation myth, thats fine. Teach them at home, or teach them at your church. A public school science class is not the place for it.

Funny how you neglected to mention the primary reason that Freshwater was fired. That being his penchant for demonstrating electrostatic devices in his class by burning crosses onto students arms.

How absurd that some parents were outraged at Freshwater's teaching methods. The question is - why aren't you outraged as well?

Neal Hawks said...

Ben,
I find it interesting that Mr. Freshwater has been in the news NOT because of the cross incident but because of his faith.
Removal of the Bible from his desk and his teaching of creationism (which by the way is not a myth). Evolution is a theory - creation is a fact.
Thanks for your comments.