Letter to School Parents
As you probably already know, Heritage has received
a lot of local and regional attention today. If you don’t know
what I am talking about, you can read the article in today’s
courier (
www.thecourier.com Read “Don’t go to the prom…”).
My guess is that many of you were bombarded at work with
questions and statements. In fact, I have had e-mails this
morning telling me that great opportunities to give the gospel
have taken place. I believe I ought to address the situation.
First, the article in the Courier is fairly accurate. What the
article leaves out are the principles behind the rules. In the
Old Testament, Joseph was in a place of temptation and he
fled. Unlike this situation, he didn’t put himself in that place.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence for
out of it are the issues of life.” II Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee
also youthful lusts but follow after righteousness faith charity
and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
When the school committee, many years before I became the
principal, set up the policy regarding dancing,** I am confident
that they had the principle of fleeing lustful situations in mind.
The question as I see it is, should a Christian place themselves
at an event where
young ladies will have low cut dresses and
be dancing in them?*** Isn’t it contrary to the example of Joseph
and the verses that I stated?
Second, at the beginning of the school year,
every family must
sign a statement of cooperation.* Students in 7th through 12th
grades must also sign it. It doesn’t say that you have to agree
with them, but that we will all abide by them. What kind of a
school would we be if we suspended a policy because it was
convenient to do so? That would not be a Christ-like response.
Jesus did not avoid trouble. He made statements such as, “I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me” (John 14:6). His statements didn’t make Him popular
with the world. Can we expect anything else? The verses that I
have thought of throughout this day are Matthew 5:11-12,
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you.” Wow! I can build up a whole lot of rewards
in heaven today, and so can you. ****
Third, when discussing this particular issue with folks in the
community please remember that the servant of the Lord "must
not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently
enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness"
(2 Tim 2:24, 25).
Esther received great counsel from her uncle Mordecai when
he said, “And who knoweth whether thou art come into the
kingdom for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14). This is a time
for Heritage to shine as a light in this world. It isn’t easy, but
it is right.
