The Path of Righteousness

Remember the story about the Ohio middle-school science teacher who is being persecuted for his religious beliefs and denied academic freedom for burning crosses onto students’ arms using an electrostatic device? He has also been "teaching the controversy" in his science class, proselytizing to students, and committing other church-state violations, such as posting the Ten Commandments and displaying a Bible on his desk. (See Pharyngula for background if the story is new to you.)

Since the story broke, there has been an outpouring of support for "Mr. Freshwater."

You’re either for Mr. Freshwater or you’re against Mr. Freshwater. There’s no in between,” (one parent) said. “In the kids’ minds, I think, it is just the Bible issue. And who is going to go against the Bible? Nobody. But it seems like the ‘Christians’ are using that as an excuse to gang up on the ‘atheists.’

“My daughter... told me about a Jewish child who brought his Torah to school when other students brought Bibles in support of Freshwater,” she continued. “He thought he was supporting freedom of religious expression, and the other kids just ripped him apart. ‘What are you doing?’ they asked. ‘You can’t support Mr. Freshwater, you’re Jewish.’ So they don’t get it.

“I don’t think people realize the depth of what’s going on between the students. It’s a mob mentality right now. It’s peer pressure. To not wear a T-shirt and to not bring your Bible when they say bring your Bible and wear a T-shirt, you’re asking for trouble.”

...

“This whole thing has divided the community,” (another parent) added. “I think a lot of kids who don’t blindly support Freshwater have decided, ‘Boy, friends that we thought we had, are not friends.’ It’s even coming out on the soccer field...

HT: Dispatches from the Culture Wars


Some have remarked that this is a curious development as religious tolerance should not be a one-way street. You’re either for Mr. Freshwater or you’re against Mr. Freshwater?? Where could these kids be learning such small-minded, divisive ideas? Especially since religious intolerance clearly goes against the teachings of Jesus and the Bible:

He who is not with me is against me. (Jesus, Luke 11:23)

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. (Luke 12:51)

Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. (Proverbs 19:29)

The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1)

I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.
Then all mankind will know
that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Isaiah 49:26)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Cor 6:14)

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong.

You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
the LORD abhors. (Psalm 5:5-6)

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (Romans 1:18-19)

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:24)

And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. (Ezekiel 6:5)

For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. (2 Thessalonians 3:14)

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject. (Titus 3:10)

You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. (Psalm 9:4-5)

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (Acts 3:23)

Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. (Psalm 73:27)

If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:6)

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:12)

Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay
and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people;
his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,
and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised. (Isaiah 5:24-25)

I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made. (Jeremiah 1:16)

Hear, O earth:
I am bringing disaster on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not listened to my words
and have rejected my law. (Jeremiah 6:19)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:6-7)

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:18)

You live in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,"
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:6)

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. (Matthew 10:34-36)

The peoples will be burned as if to lime;
like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze. (Isaiah 33:12)

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41-42)

If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Come, O Lord (1 Cor 16:22)

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)

If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:6)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11)

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. (2 John 1:10)

Well, you get the drift. (We could be here all day.)