“Don’t Talk About Jesus”

“Don’t Talk About Jesus”

Bible Blast: Read Matthew 10:26-33

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32

One of the most courageous young women I’ve ever heard about was a seven-year-old named Sallie who lived in Los Altos, California. She loved Jesus so much that she was often found praying for a classmate or encouraging her with Bible verses. Sallie’s teacher didn’t like that. She told her about “separation of church and state,” which the teacher said meant that Sallie could only talk about Jesus at church, not at school. Sallie’s mom explained that the teacher didn’t understand what “separation of church and state” really meant. By law, Sallie as a student was definitely allowed to talk about Jesus. So Sallie kept talking.

Pretty soon, Sallie’s principal walked by while she was telling a friend about Vacation Bible School. “Don’t talk about Jesus so much,” he told her. But Sallie kept talking.

Soon she was assigned to counseling because her school teacher and principal felt she didn’t embrace other people’s beliefs. And you can guess that Sallie kept talking about Jesus.

Eventually Sallie experienced so much persecution that her parents enrolled her in a private school, where she could talk about Jesus all she wanted. That made Sallie very happy.

If you go to a public school, you are allowed to talk about Jesus to your classmates. While you need to be respectful and kind when your teachers are not comfortable with it, you do have a legal right to talk about him.

Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Sallie never stopped talking about Jesus. She kept telling others about him, no matter who told her she should do differently.

I just can’t wait to hear Jesus call out her name in heaven one day and tell her how proud he is of her!

Girl Gab: Mom, talk to your daughter about “separation of church and state” and help her to understand that though teachers may have restrictions about how much they talk about their faith, a student has the full right to talk about hers. Daughter, do you ever feel like anyone at school wants you to stop talking about Jesus?