Burning Crosses

A Knox County school teacher from a town near Colombus Ohio made the news this week fwhen he was dismissed for proselytizing and burning crosses into students skin.

Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater, who has been teaching for 20 years, denies wrongdoing.

The incidents came to light when a family filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Columbus against Freshwater and the school district for burning the impression of a cross on their child's skin.

Freshwater used a science tool known as a high-frequency generator to burn images of a cross on students' arms in December, the report said.

Freshwater told investigators he simply was trying to demonstrate the device on several students and described the images as an "X," not a cross. In the past Mr. Freshwater had been reprimanded for refusing to remove his Bible and Christian posters from his classroom desk and teaching creationism alongside evolution.


The ACLU has also jumped into the fray head first and sided with the school on the matter.


As Christians we need to accept that we are in the World and must deal with it. We certainly want all to share our faith and be a part of the Family of Christ. However we need to let go and take our lead from God. Would not it be better for this man to act in a Godly manner and be respected than to tattoo crosses on children and become fodder for the days news of what those zany Christians are up to now?

The AP photo to the right does not appear to be an X. So I tend to disagree with Mr. Freshwater's explanation.

As Christians we face a dilemma known as The Great Commision. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Most Fundamental and Catholic Christians would interpret this as a directive to all men. There are some that believe this was a directive to the eleven remaining disciples. Historically the Word of God has spread to all ends of the earth. And sometimes zealousy for proselytizing has caused war and martyrdom.

As a newly saved 18 year old, I would of had no qualms about walking up to a stranger and asking if he would like to talk about Jesus. As someone in the middle of my life, I would be much more cautious.

I would hope that Mr. Freshwater would be honest in his diliberations with the school, his students and the parents of his students. And also honest with himself.