[Pastor Ezekiel]

THIS article by Pastor Cowart is worth pondering.

Devil, not God, is welcome in schools?

By DR. CLAYTON A. COWART
Pastor of the Church of God the Bibleway

Recently, an age old battle regarding separation of church and state has resurfaced causing a riff in our city.

It seems to be a constant fight with different issues within the community, but the center of the whole battle is religion, God and the terminology known as separation of church and state.

First there was the issue with the city of Lakeland, then the sheriff and now the School Board.

I believe that both the atheist and the religious institutions have been unfair to God regarding this issue.

How is it that Satan or the devil has been allowed to remain with no complaints from the Christian arena, the atheist or the government officials, but God has been taken out?

It is a known fact that there are at least two schools that have the devil as their mascot (Kathleen High School Red Devils and Winter Haven High School Blue Devils).

I wonder what commotion would be created if the Winter Haven High School called themselves the Winter Haven Christians, yet for decades they have been know as the Winter Haven Blue Devils without any complaints from atheist, Christians or even the government leaders. This alone makes me feel that God has been given a raw deal.

One would have to ask, who is the "Devil" and where does this concept of terminology come from?

And the answer is it comes directly from the Bible and the total concept "Devil" derives from the biblical character Satan. This is the very book being challenged by atheist, yet we are permitted to utilize the Devil's name and title for schools, mascots and emblems, but can not use the cross or any Christian symbols.

Have we really taken the time to consider that devil worship is also a religion? How can we reject the "God" of the Bible and except the "Devil" of the same Bible?

With this concept it seems as if the attitude towards the Devil is accepted. It is amazing that we have removed God from our schools in every way possible, but have allowed the devil to remain as a mascot without any opposition. With as much opposition as the atheist gives toward religion in public schools, many atheists proudly proclaim they are Blue Devils or Red Devils. Why can't the Christians proclaim God?

I believe Christians should not identify themselves as devils and our schools should refrain from mascots and/or emblems that symbolize the Devil.

I think it's time for Christians to consider their actions, and it's also time for atheist to be realistic and admit to some degree that they have embraced biblical character (the Devil) and have supported him directly or indirectly. Let's be fair to God, either we kick Satan out. Bring God back in.

Dr. Clayton A. Cowart is a pastor at the Church of God the Bibleway in Winter Haven.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

An excellent point, Zeke! Atheists want to kick God out of the public square, but roll out the red carpet for Satan!

Isn't that just more proof that there are no real atheists? They just hate God and are Satanists!

[Billy Bob Jenkins]

I believe one of the reasons that atheists and liberals hate God so much as due to the fact that most of them are gay. In the circles where they move, homosexuality is considered normal and "cool". They know God won't stand for their sodomite ritual abuse of children, so they hate Him.