Christians and the Confederate Flag Issue

Okay, warning in advance.  I'm going to stick my toes in shark infested waters here.  I do this mostly because I have been asked a couple of times about how we, as a Christian school with a growing racially diverse enrollment, will handle the ongoing conflict over the Confederate flag, also known as the Stars and Bars.  So, let me tell you up front, that this question is one that we are reviewing and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we are able to address it from a biblical and spiritually sensitive position.  This is not a simple matter because there are several different perspectives that all must be considered.

Let me begin by saying that I am a son of the South, born and raised here in our great state.  I have deep roots in the history of the South and in the confederacy.  My great grandfather had two uncles killed at Gettysburg, fighting for General Robert E. Lee.  I say that, not to elevate the confederacy nor defend the flag in question.  Long preceding my roots in the confederacy, my roots were in America and I am simply an American, first, last and always.  I only want the reader to know the perspective from which I write.  And there is where the real problem exists, the matter of multiple perspectives and attitudes about this flag.  For some, it is a symbol of slavery, a horrible and sad blight in our national history.  For others it is a symbol of heritage. Some see it as simply a part of the fabric of U.S. history, while for still another group it means the continuation of slavery, hatred, racism and denial of civil rights in America.  For some, like myself, it is a direct connection to my roots, even though, as far as I can trace back, no one in my family ever owned slaves.  For others it is simply a matter of regional pride.  For many it is yet another thing that is creating racial division in America, while others see being forced to remove it as yet another threat to our freedom of speech and expression.  And the thing that makes this issue so volatile is that most of these different perspectives are held by very passionate and vocal people. 

So, where does a Christian, and in our case, a Christian school, go to seek answers for what to do when vehicles driven by faculty, staff, or students may bear some emblem that includes this flag?  How do we address students wearing clothing that bears that controversial emblem?  Believe me, these aren't easy questions to answer.  But one thing you can be sure of is that in a matter like this, one that involves so many passionate opinions, we are going to turn to our one consistent source of guidance, the Word of God. As opportunities to address this issue, as well as others of a controversial nature are offered to us, we covet your prayers, patience and commitment to the mandates of Scripture.  Philippians 2:3-4 teaches a biblical principle called deference.  This simply means that each of us, as believers, should respectfully and humbly submit to the judgment and opinions of others.  "With a humble spirit let each of us consider others better than ourselves.  Do not just look after your own self interests but be willing to put others ahead of yourself."   Counter cultural?  To be sure.  Counter intuitive?  Perhaps.  But, let's let the Bible and the Holy Spirit be our guide in all these things.  

The Success of the Opportunity Scholarship Grant at ACS

In a recent state supreme court decision, the school choice program known as the Opportunity Scholarship Grant was ruled constitutional and permitted to resume in the state of North Carolina.  Here at ACS we applaud that decision as it afforded not only the six children already enrolled here to continue their studies at our school, it also allowed fourteen more to enroll with still more anticipated.  The OSG is a needs based scholarship providing up to $4200 per child for families who want to choose private education for their children.  This is not only a privilege enjoyed by the residents of our great state, it is also a right they are entitled to as tax payers.  By the way, this scholarship is money awarded to the FAMILY, not to the school and can be used for private education in a religious OR non-religious school.

It would be good to remind the readers that based on Deuteronomy 6 the education of children is the responsibility of the parents, not the county, state nor federal government.  While our state needs a strong public education system, the right and responsibility for educating children rests solely on the shoulders of parents. Therefore, if they wish to choose alternatives to public education they have a right to use part of their own tax dollars to pay for that choice.  While not everyone may agree with this position, the North Carolina General Assembly and the Supreme Court of this state DO agree and hence, the OSG will continue and be expanded to permit more families that option.

ACS enrolls 20 children on the OSG and ranks among the leading schools in the state in participation in the program.  I am often asked how these children compare, academically, behaviorally and spiritually to those in our school who are NOT part of the OSG.  I am not only happy to answer those questions but am happy to report the answers are quite encouraging.  Nearly all the children coming to us by way of the OSG perform very favorably in the classroom and we see very few academic issues with any of them.  Many students who come to us from any background will have learning gaps and things we need to strengthen and some of these kids are no different.  But few of them have serious academic deficiencies.  As far as their behavior is concerned, the OSG kids are some of our most well behaved and present us with very few disciplinary problems, very much on the same plane as all of our children.  The idea that those who come to us on the OSG are just kids who struggled in the public schools and were prone to get in trouble and be a headache in the classroom simply does NOT apply to our students on the scholarship.  Just like all kids, there will occasionally be a wrinkle we have to iron out, but across the board these are great kids from great families.  They are here because their parents wanted more for them than the overcrowded and undermanned public school system could provide them.  We have certain qualifications that determine our acceptance of all students who apply for enrollment at ACS.  Among those are spiritual expectations and the kids here on the OSG meet all the same expectations any other child accepted in our school does. They have Christian background, learn the Word of God, go to chapel, manifest behavior that is becoming the spirit of Christ and are growing in their faith and preparing to impact the world for their Savior. 

Alamance Christian School is grateful for our dedicated state leaders who support a parent's right to choose the educational environment they feel is best for their child.  We hope that in the future we will see the number of OSG recipients in our school continue to grow as that will give us the wonderful blessing of impacting more young people for the glory of God and His kingdom..