VILLA RICA, Ga.- Are our schools really off limits to God? Christians have been often told in recent years that they are not allowed to be Christians in public, especially in our schools. It’s in the constitution, don’t bring your faith to school.
A high school football team in Georgia didn’t get the memo, they had a good old fashioned baptism before football practice last month and some people are none too happy about it. Well, when I say people I mean the Freedom From Religion Foundation(FFRF), but they’re people too, right?
A video was posted for a short while on YouTube by First Baptist Church of Villa Rica that boasted the following caption,
“We had the privilege of baptizing a bunch of football players and a coach on the field of Villa Rica High School! We did this right before practice! Take a look and see how God is STILL in our schools!”
The video was shot on school grounds before the football practice on August 17 and shows many football players and even a coach being baptized. As you can well imagine the event has sparked an investigation by the school and the FFRF is fit to be tied, which I think they should be, tied that is.
The Carroll County School system released a statement Tuesday afternoon:
“The Carroll County School System was made aware of a situation that took place at Villa Rica High School prior to football practice on August 17th. The District is currently looking into the specifics of this situation and will take appropriate steps to ensure all state and federal laws are followed.”
The FFRF is demanding that all such “illegal religious” activity be stopped, and that the football team stop violating the First amendment of the US constitution. Ok, I have to say it, the First amendment does not prohibit baptism on school grounds, it just prohibits the state from establishing a religion. If people want to baptize on school grounds, it is public property and according to the Supreme Court of yesteryear that is fine.
Coo-dos to the good people of Villa Rica though, they are not hiding their faith. The Villa Rica Touchdown Club posted the video to its Facebook page with the caption, “Share this with everyone! This should go viral!”
This is the choice we have today. Chose the Lord and do not apologize for it. If young men and women decide to follow Jesus and they are a part of a football team or some other team and enough of them want to get baptized, they should just do it! The school can’t condone it nor should they condemn it. That is what the constitution was written for.
