Praying for educators
God may not be welcome in our school systems, but He cannot be kept out.
A while back I had a conversation with a Christian librarian working at a local public school. She told me about the squeeze being put on her and other librarians concerning the books they stocked on their shelves. Some parents actually came in and counted the number of books with references to Christ, Christmas, and Christianity and compared that to how many books were available containing favorable nods to other religions.
As we parted ways, I was struck with what I believed to be a warning and a mandate from the Holy Spirit. I sensed that now—more than ever—believers were to stand guard in prayer for our brothers and sisters in the education profession.
Things have been in a constant state of change within our educational system. Tensions have increased all over the nation. In Ferguson, the opening of school was postponed three times, and finally—nearly two weeks late—kids got to go back to school on the 25th. The resulting anxieties are not isolated to Ferguson, either, as young people grapple with events happening not too far from their homes. Pressure to accept lifestyle choices that go against biblical tenets has ramped up, as well, and is even a key component of curriculum in some places. Common Core, a government-sponsored, nearly nationwide, K-12 curriculum, is in its second year of implementation throughout the U.S. Fortunately, groups of concerned citizens have been gaining steam in various regions, raising concerns about the validity of an agenda that appears to encompass far more than solid academic practices.
Within the ranks of educators exists a strong majority who embrace without question agendas of social justice. In a nutshell, social justice is the philosophy which insists that certain races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations are always the oppressed (the good guys), whereas other races, ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations are known to be the oppressors (the bad guys). Because of this, all laws, regulations, rules, and behaviors must be modified and then enforced to correct the injustice of the oppressors. The lines of distinction in this worldview are rigid and are more dogmatic than the Old Testament ever could be.
And yes, this philosophy is being taught to teachers and future teachers across the nation in universities, workshops, and professional development curriculum. I, myself, sat in on such demagoguery to find out that I, by virtue of being female, was among the oppressed, yet I was also an oppressor—an evil, white, American, heterosexual Christian. Guess they were hoping I would rise up as an angry woman against my male oppressors, while at the same time genuflect and cower at the feet of non-Christian, non-American, non-white, gay folk whom undoubtedly I had so arrogantly oppressed. I spoke out at the time that I was not oppressed as a female, and the leaders of the professional development looked at me with stern pity. “Oh, but you are,” they maintained. “You’ve been oppressed all your life.” I guess my oppressor side had bludgeoned my oppressed side into supposing I was happy and content with life. Go figure! And people wonder why mental disorders, confusion, and depression are on the rise in our time!
This is the philosophy that infiltrates lessons and programs in most public schools and classrooms. It has even quietly sneaked into some private and Christian schools as well, as leaders with a desire to remain socially relevant tweak curriculum to “keep up with the times”.
Into the mix traipse our unsuspecting little ones and youth across the nation. Their minds and hearts are like blank slates upon which others will seek to imprint their agendas.
But not all instructors are blind adherents of the prevailing worldview promoted in public education. They are men and women called by God to make a difference in the lives of those young ones they teach. These instructors may be in the system, but they are not of the system. Many are Christian; others are deeply patriotic Americans with a respect for traditional values; and all are concerned educators, seeking to right a capsizing ship, throwing out life buoys of honesty, integrity, sound instruction, and high expectations to the young ones under their training.
These educators need our prayer coverage. Pray for the godly and excellent teachers that you know personally. Stand in the gap for them to make wise decisions, to walk closely with the Lord, and to make a profound impact on their students and in their schools. Pray for the other teachers and administrators in the lives of your children, grandchildren, and neighbors. Ask the Lord to move on their lives and hearts to hunger for truth. Pray that these adults will start to see through the philosophy dominating their profession. Pray that they will boldly reject the debilitating stereotypes of victimization. Pray for custom-made laborers to enter into their lives and to minister to them on a deep level. Understand that every case in which the heart or mind of an educator receives light is one more defeat for the enemy. Recognize that every situation in which a believing teacher prays, behaves, and instructs according to the will of God, the purposes of Heaven will be promoted.
God may not be welcome in our school systems, but He cannot be kept out. When the people of God stand on behalf of our schools and their leaders, He will move.
I challenge you to pray for educators and to ask God to move in our schools this year. Through your prayers, I believe that He will frustrate the agenda of the enemy.
Dorothy