As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive (Gen. 50:20).
How many times have you heard this verse quoted? Lots. How many people actually believe it? Pat Robertson doesn’t seem to believe it. The school board in Dover, Pennsylvania, was voted out of office in Tuesday’s election. Its members wanted Intelligent Design taught along with evolution in public (government) schools, and apparently the majority of voters didn’t seem to agree with them. Impolitic as ever, Robertson called fire and brimstone down on them:
“I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God. You just rejected him from your city. . . . God is tolerant and loving, but we can’t keep sticking our finger in his eye forever. . . . If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.”
Maybe God is saying something else. He’s been sending us messages like this for decades, but most Christians don’t seem to be listening. I don’t want some unbelieving science teacher teaching a theory about origins that he doesn’t believe in. I can hear a biology teacher trying to comply with the law. “The school board says I have to teach this ‘Intelligent Design’ stuff. There are very few real scientists who actually believe it, but it’s the law, so I’m going to do what I’m told. Maybe there’s a supernatural cosmic worm that has created creatures so it can use them for food for his billions of offspring? That seems intelligent to me.”
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Instead of wasting time and money fighting for scraps, why don’t Christians remove their children from these atheistic schools and teach them at home or set up their own schools? How many more times and in how many ways does God have to tell Christian parents to get their children out of public schools? Too many Christians are looking for any excuse to keep their children in government schools so they won’t have to give up a new car every few years, downsize their house, cut down on vacations, or eating out twice or more a week. Others are more socially conscious. They’re afraid what their friends and family might say if they get all “religious.”
Then there are those parents who like the public school culture of sports and social status. I know parents who send their children to Christian school during the elementary years, and then put them in public school because of the extra-curricular activities. Anything the public schools offer can be gotten elsewhere. I know something about high level sports competition. It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Even so, if your child is a gifted athlete, there are club programs. This is especially true for soccer, swimming, baseball, tennis, softball, track and field, and basketball. The vast majority of kids will never get a pro contract. Deal with it.
What should Pat Robertson have said? “God has spoken. Get your kids out of the atheistic public school system. Do it now before it’s too late for you and your children.”