[Hebrews 11:6]

''We do not allow students to distribute non-school curriculum or activity-related literature of any kind directly to other students on school grounds,'' Superintendent Thomas McDowell wrote....''We do not single out students based upon the content of their message, in this or any other instance...''

The school is entirely within its rights, under settled US Supreme Court constitutional law, to make and enforce this policy; very good and defensible reasons could prompt such a policy. If this was already established as policy, rather than being made-up in response to this incident, then the kids were out-of-line.

Christians are called by Romans 13 to obey civil authorities except where the laws contradict God's laws; as Jesus said, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. This tension between evangelism and obedience to law, both of which God commands, is easily resolved: hand out the candy canes out on the sidewalk. Don't be a scofflaw and thereby bring Jesus into disrepute.

[cyncooper]

They requested permission to pass out the candycanes and it was denied. They did it anyway and then evidently went to the media to trumpet the fact and garner the attention of the administration, since the one fellow says he learned of it from the paper. Sounds to me like the students are enjoying a little "in your face" rather than sincerely spreading a message.

[SC Swamp Fox]

You are correct.

I hope you have your flame-retardant suit on.

[gitmo]

You vill learn vhat vw vant you to learn, and nothing else. And you vill like it!

[DAnconia55]

as Jesus said, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's

But nothing rightly belongs to Caesar.

[Freebird Forever]

You've got a point but, as I see it, the following scriptural example also comes into play:

Acts 5 (KJV)

27    And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28   Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

29   Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

[DouglasKC]

Christians are called by Romans 13 to obey civil authorities except where the laws contradict God's laws; as Jesus said, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. This tension between evangelism and obedience to law, both of which God commands, is easily resolved: hand out the candy canes out on the sidewalk. Don't be a scofflaw and thereby bring Jesus into disrepute.

Excellent post...

[rwfromkansas]

Was the American Revolution wrong?

[savedbygrace]

Christians are called by Romans 13 to obey civil authorities except where the laws contradict God's laws;

True. However, what we have in this case is not a law. There is no law that states that students cannot distribute gifts (or literature) to other students during lunch and breaks.

This is something made up by school board lawyers to circumvent a USSC ruling. The clear wording of the 1st Amendment turns this on its ear, and is the supreme law of the land.

Congress made a law (actually several laws) establishing funding and regulations for local schools. By the clear wording of the 1st Amendment, these laws cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion.

Therefore, any regulation persuant to those laws that prohibits the free exercise of religion stands in violation of the Constitution, which means that Christians are not bound to obey the regulation.