A video that is making its way around social media seems to be meeting with the approval of many Christians. In it, Roy Costner, the valedictorian of a graduating senior class in a South Carolina high school, stands to give his pre-approved speech, rips up the text and proceeds to share the importance of his Christian upbringing, including The Lord’s Prayer. All this despite the decision by the local school board to ban prayers from public meetings due to protests from atheists in the area. This resulted in applause from some in the crowd, drowning out most of the prayer itself.
I’m having a difficult time sharing the enthusiasm of fellow believers who give their approbation to this speech, calling it “courageous” or a blow to our enemies in our ongoing cultural battles. Christians have a responsibility to understand exactly what is happening here and respond. Based on the facts, here are three reasons I’m having a problem with this “prayer of protest”.
1) DECEPTION – It seems to me the atheists have the moral high ground in this situation. They worked within the system and shared their concerns. What does it say about a young Christian man who has his speech pre-approved, then discards it in favor of comments that are clearly against what he agreed to share? What does it say about Christian adults who cheer him on for his ambush of the administration? There are words that come to mind to describe actions like this, but “courageous” isn’t one of them.
2) THE NATURE OF PRAYER – Right before Jesus instructs us to pray what has become to be known as The Lord’s Prayer, He revealed much about the place and motivation behind prayer:
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:5, 6
There is a time and place for public prayer, no question. But is communicating with God something to be done as a protest? Even Daniel, who defied authorities who banned prayer, did not publicly protest. He continued his practice of prayer in his home. He was being told not to pray to God at all, which justified his civil disobedience, knowing that he would probably suffer consequences.
3) THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITIES – What is the goal of obeying governmental authorities?
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Americans swagger. We just do. But it’s hard to swagger and submit. Yes, you have God-ordained rights, but so do others who disagree with you, whether they believe in God or not. The command to submit to the local school board in a public event would not have caused Roy to sin. Using prayer as a “statement” does not meet the purpose of prayer.
Truthfully, I’m still thinking this through, but my spirit did not rejoice when I saw this video. If there’s something I’m missing, please comment and let me know why.
Rotunda Reflections 
June 6, 2013 at 6:09 pm
If you’re missing something, then I’m missing it too. I think your concerns about this episode are well-founded. Someone in my social circle recently shared this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQrtbVVpnjU in which Eric Metaxas talks about the need to be political “God’s way”, but he doesn’t (at least in that clip) explain what “Gods’ way” is or means. Billy Graham was known to say “It’s never right to do wrong to get a chance to do right.” That is a perspective that I think many American Christians, like young Mr. Costner, have lost.
June 6, 2013 at 6:29 pm
You know, Sam, I don’t blame the senior as much as I do the adults in his life who had a great teachable moment to apply the verses in the post (and others) instead of an American-centric philosophy that allows you to assert your rights while you torpedo your testimony.
June 6, 2013 at 7:20 pm
One cannot teach what one does not know. If it’s any consolation to you (and it certainly was to me), when I presented the story to my teenagers and asked them their opinion without sharing either mine or yours, one raised the point about submission to authority, and another said, “I don’t understand what the debate over prayer is all about anyway. No one can stop you from praying if you really want to.”
June 7, 2013 at 8:54 am
Yes there is submission to authority, but when confronted with authority about healing a lame man, didn’t both Peter and John say shouldn’t we obey God instead of man. To long have the atheist, played havoc on our God given rights,while Christian sit back quietly and watch, the student was well within his God given rights. Acts 4: 19 whether it is right to listen to man or to God you must judge
June 7, 2013 at 9:17 am
That’s right, Dean, but there are some differences here. The passage you’re referring to in Acts 4 says that Peter and John were told not to teach about Christ (4:18) which would be disobeying God. If they were going to obey God, they had to disobey human leaders. I don’t think the parameters that were put on this speech caused the young man to sin or have to disobey God. He could have worked within the system and maintained his testimony with integrity.
This graduate chose to share his faith and say a prayer after the administration told him not to, and he turned in his speech in advance for approval. Then he went back on his word, tearing up the speech and defying the authorities. I mean, once you get to the podium, what can they do, right? My argument is that he didn’t obey God by using deception. Whether he had the right is irrelevant if he was going to be dishonest in order to speak about Christ. Are we really saying that we have to trick people into letting us share our faith? Is God so weak that we have to use a slight of hand to get a platform to witness?
I think he hurt his cause, in my eyes. Look beyond the speech, the one event. What if next year’s valedictorian is a Christian? Should they feel like they should lie in the same way to thumb their nose at authority? What kind of businessman will this student be? What kind of lawyer? What ethics will he develop with so many people patting him on the back for taking matters into his own hands and disregarding honesty? The end does not justify the means is what I’m saying.
June 7, 2013 at 9:41 am
Ok now I see what you mean.