Helvig's Helvitorials

West Ottawa didn't respect Constitution

Published in the Holland Sentinel on June 16, 2008 -

“We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution."

Do you recognize these words? They are the preamble to Michigan’s Constitution. Like almost every other state in the union, Michigan acknowledges the existence of God in the opening lines of their state constitution. So much for the so called “separation of church and state.”

How is it that public school valedictorians are still being persecuted for their faith and prevented from exercising their right to freedom of religion, as in the 2008 case of Jed Grooters of West Ottawa High School? All Jed wanted to do was quote an inspiring passage of scripture as part of his commencement speech, as is his constitutional right.

However, school officials deprived him of that right. Proving himself to be a better person than the school officials, Jed respectfully complied with their illegal requirement.

What would possess the West Ottawa School District to so blatantly violate a student’s constitutional rights? Could it be that our local educators don’t know, understand and/or respect their own state constitution?

Article 1, Section 4 states: “Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, or, against his consent, to contribute to the erection or support of any place of religious worship, or to pay tithes, taxes or other rates for the support of any minister of the gospel or teacher of religion. No money shall be appropriated or drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious sect or society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the state be appropriated for any such purpose. The civil and political rights, privileges and capacities of no person shall be diminished or enlarged on account of his religious belief.” Jed’s rights, privileges and capacities were deliberately diminished.

Article 1, Section 5 states: “Every person may freely speak, write, express and publish his views on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of such right; and no law shall be enacted to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press.” Jed was clearly restrained and the liberty of his speech was definitely abridged.

Worst of all, Jed was the subject of religious discrimination in violation of Article 1, Section 2, which states “No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of his civil or political rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of religion, race, color or national origin. The legislature shall implement this section by appropriate legislation.”

I don’t know what should happen to the officials responsible for these violations, but I do know that all public officials need to learn and comply with the protected rights of those under their charge. Maybe we should start by requiring all public officials to pass the U.S. Naturalization Citizenship Test. I wonder how many school board members, administrators and teachers would fail the exam required of an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen.

My hat goes off to Jed Grooters for standing firm in his faith and for honoring God by respecting those in authority over him, even though they were clearly wrong. My hat also goes off to the graduating class president, Andrew Webster, who made sure God’s word would not be silenced after all. To both of them, I offer this prayer from Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen.

'Discrimination' isn't always a dirty word

Published in the Holland Sentinel on February 18, 2008 -

People have a bad habit of taking things to the extreme. Case in point: We pick words or phrases that we don't like and make them out to be completely bad, or even evil.

Take the word "discrimination." Many in our society would have you believe that any and all discrimination is wrong. I have to disagree. I don't believe that girls should be allowed in the Boy Scouts anymore than I believe boys should be allowed in the Girl Scouts. I don't believe male reporters should be allowed in the women's locker room anymore than women should be allowed in the men's locker room. Non-veterans should not be allowed to join clubs such as the VFW. Yet, to deny such access is technically "discrimination".

I do believe that a store should be allowed to decide which organizations may solicit contributions on its property without the threat of being sued for discrimination. I do believe that the emotionally unstable should not be allowed to be police officers. And I do believe that God discriminates against those who have refused to repent of their sins.

Anyone who says, "All discrimination is wrong and should not be tolerated," is an extremist. Although there are many types of inappropriate discrimination, there are also appropriate types. Extremist thinking and behavior of any sort should be challenged, so that common sense may prevail.

What does it mean to discriminate? According to my dictionary, it means to differentiate, to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences. Is all discrimination bad? I think not. Can discrimination be used in a godly way? I believe so.

I'm not talking about treating people badly because they're different. I am talking about understanding the difference between right and wrong. I am talking about distinguishing between what is acceptable to God and what is not. I am talking about identifying sin and what God says we should do about it.

It is not because of hatred that the Christian calls on others to identify and turn away from their sins. It is because of love for their fellow man and their love of God that they say such things. It is not discrimination against the person, but discrimination against the sin. Anyone who discriminates against sin is acting according to God's word. Anyone who hates others because of their sin is in direct violation of God's greatest commandment.

If those who understand what is right never correct me, how am I to know when I'm doing wrong? There is a huge difference between correction and condemnation. Just because someone points out my sins, that doesn't mean he is judging or condemning me. There is also a huge difference between earthly discrimination and biblical discernment. Directing me away from my sins should not be confused with discrimination.

The good news is that God's love for people and hatred of sin both come from the same heart. God's grace and judgment come from the same heart. We cannot have one without the other. We cannot stand in the comfort of God's mercy without first being convicted of our sins.

There can be no salvation until there is forgiveness; there can be no forgiveness until there is repentance; and there can be no repentance until there is confession. How can there be confession, if we don't know what to confess?

There are many forms of appropriate discrimination taking place every day across this great country. You have to be of minimum age to get a job. You have to be able to see in order to get a driver's license. You have to pass a physical to join the armed forces. You have to pass all your classes in order to graduate from school, etc.

Unfortunately, there are still way too many cases of inappropriate discrimination occurring daily as well. Racial discrimination is still one of this country's worst character flaws. Labeling Christians as hateful because they try to lead people to repentance is also wrong. What we all need to do is learn to discern right from wrong and help each other get on the right path.

Separation of School and State

Published November 20, 2006 in the Holland Sentinel as "Separate school and state"

   It is time for a new direction in the way our government handles our public schools. It is time for the government to relinquish constitutional control of our public schools. It is time for a separation of school and state.

   How insane is it that all American children cannot participate in a Bible club at school if they so desire? How wrong is it that Christian children are being persecuted by faculty and staff if they want to pray in school? How unacceptable is it that our valedictorians are not allowed to thank or praise the Lord their God as part of their commencement speech?

   If a local school board wants to allow their schools to have Bible clubs on campus, they should be allowed to do so without governmental persecution. Criteria would need to be established and upheld to ensure the club's activities are in keeping with the school's guidelines. Such clubs would be voluntary, require faculty sponsorship and hopefully parental involvement, just like the chess club, the Spanish club or the debate club.

   What about other religions? If the local school board wants to allow religious clubs on its campuses, they should also be allowed to do so. Consider Dearborn, where there is a huge Muslim student body. If there is a demand for a Koran club and there is faculty support of such a program, students should be allowed to have a religious club.

   If a student wants to pray silently at his desk prior to the commencement of class or taking an exam, he should feel free to do so without being chastised by the teacher. If a student wants to pray over her lunch tray in the cafeteria, she should be able to do so without any pressure from faculty or staff. If a team of students want to pray before a big game, they should be allowed to do so. And if the coach is invited and wants to participate in the prayer, she should be encouraged to do so.

   All across this "great" nation, our brightest and our best students are acknowledged at commencement ceremonies by giving their valedictorian speech. In too many cases, these most honorable students are being told that they will face stiff penalties if they mention God in their speech. Can someone please tell me when and how these students became part of school staff, subjecting them to this ludicrous misrepresentation of the separation of church and state, as it relates to public schools?

   The valedictorian is simply a student of the school. He or she does not represent the faculty, the staff, the school itself, or the country. These students should be encouraged to say whatever is in their hearts and on their minds at their commencement ceremony. The government has no business and no right to interfere with a speech from one student to other students. How can we be such a "great" nation, when we stifle the "free speech" of our future leaders?

   The government needs to get out of the business of running schools and let local school boards manage their academic programs according to the culture of their respective communities. The schools are not government bodies and the faculty members are not government officials. Just because their salaries are paid by our taxes, that does not justify holding them to the same standards as our elected officials.

   What is the difference between a school principal and the foreman of an engineering company hired by the government to lay 100 miles of highway? Is the contractor prohibited from expressing his faith in the workplace, as the principal is? What is the difference between a Navy chaplain and a high school guidance counselor? Why is one allowed to express his faith, while the other is prohibited from even mentioning matters of faith on the job?

   The concept of the "separation of church and state" has gone too far and it is time for a common sense correction. It is time to allow God back into the schools where the majority of the people who send their kids to those schools want Him there. It is time for a separation of school and state.

   Alan Helvig is a local resident. He can be reached at Alan@Helvitorial.com.