"Awesome God" and the school

This is a story from the Alliance Defense Fund, a group which seeks to preserve religious liberties in this country.

Four years ago in New Jersey an eight-year-old girl named Olivia wanted to sing her favorite song, “Awesome God,” in a school talent show. However, the teacher told her the lyrics were too religious and that, therefore, the school would not allow it. The mother spoke to the school board to support her daughter’s choice, but again the song was turned down. The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter stating that nothing in the United States Constitution prohibits a person from expressing his/her religious faith on government property. The school rejected this letter.

The mother said to the author, "If you are a Christian -- if you're a person of faith -- you do not leave your faith at the school door. You are who you are. And you take it through every aspect of your life. And for somebody to shut you down, or tell you that you can't be the person that you are -- that's not what God created us to be." As a result, the family turned to their only remaining option, a lawsuit.

The case came before a judge on the very day of the talent show. The judge asked why Olivia could not sing the song. The attorney for the school district said that the girl was attempting to proselytize through the words of the song. The judge then asked if it was OK if the girl sang “Amazing Grace”, to which the attorney replied that it would be fine.

Things got interesting at this point. The judge began to recite the first verse of “Amazing Grace” and asked how this song was not proselytizing but the other song was. There was no response from the school’s attorney. The judge went on to recite a verse of another Christian song called “Put Your Hand in the Hand.” He asked the attorney if this song also proselytized. The attorney at this point was completely flustered. The judge concluded that, despite his personal conviction that the school’s case was unsubstantiated, he could not grant a preliminary injunction since it raised constitutional issues too complex for quick resolution. So, unfortunately, Olivia was not able to sing the song at the talent show that evening.

A year and a half later, a federal judge ruled in favor of Olivia. Just as any other child in any other American public school, she would be free to present Christian themes in a talent show. That ruling has since enabled The Alliance Defense Fund to win several other similar free-speech cases for other students around the country.

How did the New Jersey school handle the result of this decision? School officials have not allowed a talent show since the decision came down. What a shame and what stupidity.

The Alliance Defense Fund is there for all of us. Please consider reading their material or supporting them-- you can reach them at telladf.org.