"Student's 'Jesus' shirt sparks feud with school"

[Muffled]

"A Christian student suspended from a high school in Nova Scotia for sporting a T-shirt with the slogan "Life is wasted without Jesus" vows to wear it when he returns to class next week.

William Swinimer, who's in Grade 12, was suspended from Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin in Lunenburg County for five days. He's due to return to class on Monday.

The devout Christian says the T-shirt is an expression of his beliefs, and he won't stop wearing it.

Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, board superintendent, said some students and teachers found the T-shirt offensive.

Swinimer wore the T-shirt every day to class for several weeks. The principal told him repeatedly to stop wearing it, but the student refused to comply.

Swinimer says the principal would have accepted a shirt with the slogan, "My life is wasted without Jesus."
source

​

So, what do you think? To me it looks too much like proselytizing, and should be stopped.

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing. I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

 

[Muffled]

I misunderstood you. My fault, not yours. I reacted to what looked like the notion that the kid's shirt = religious expression.


Personally, I thought my high school's staff spent too much time worrying about shirts they ought not to have worried about.

But as a non-Christian public school student, an "I love jesus" T-shirt wouldn't have been any more bothersome than wearing a crucifix necklace.

The shirt in question, however, is over the line.

If I had the knowledge then that I have now I would have worn a "Jesus or Hell" T-shirt. It might not be totally theologically correct but it would certainly garner attention.

 

[Father Heathen]

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing.

What does it do other than alienate others? Seriously, how many people do you think are swayed to convert by cheesy, condescending t-shirts and bumper stickers?

I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

Who, exactly, worships "the devil"?

 

[A Troubled Man]

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing. I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

And somehow, calling others "devil worshipers" is good thing? It doesn't cause any conflict whatsoever? Those you call devil worshipers are going to just sit back and simply accept that and feel good about you labeling them such? Does it make you feel superior when you denigrate others that way?

I wonder what Jesus would say about your words?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing. I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

Really? In making a show of his "righteousness", he strikes me as more like the Pharisees that Jesus condemned.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

And somehow, calling others "devil worshipers" is good thing? It doesn't cause any conflict whatsoever? Those you call devil worshipers are going to just sit back and simply accept that and feel good about you labeling them such? Does it make you feel superior when you denigrate others that way?

I wonder what Jesus would say about your words?

John 12:31 "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out."

Matthew 4:

8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”

Luke 10 17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Jesus talks about Satan being a ruler of the Earth. The implication in the Gospels is that he rules all who don't belong to Jesus. The key for any evangelist is to use these passages in a gentle and loving way not berating and judging those who they preach to

 

[Vinayaka]

More updates ... Father pulls son from Nova Scotia school over Jesus T-shirt controversy - The Globe and Mail

Now that it's clear overt proseltysing was the issue, it seems about 99% of the locals are on the side of the school.

 

[Sunstone]

I suspect this has more to do with the preacher wanting to increase the size of his congregation than with religious freedom. Especially if the preacher is going to pull his son from any school sessions discussing religious freedom.

 

[Nakosis]

More updates ... Father pulls son from Nova Scotia school over Jesus T-shirt controversy - The Globe and Mail

Now that it's clear overt proseltysing was the issue, it seems about 99% of the locals are on the side of the school.

A father who won't allow his son to participate in a discussion on tolerance is dangerous.

Free speech, ok. But free to speak only when it suits your parents purpose. I wouldn't exactly call that free.

 

[Poisonshady313]

If I had the knowledge then that I have now I would have worn a "Jesus or Hell" T-shirt. It might not be totally theologically correct but it would certainly garner attention.

In high school, your t-shirts aren't supposed to garner attention. When it does, you get told to turn it inside-out or go home and change.

You can't really believe that it's ok to judge and condemn all non believing high school students in a school, even if you believe that they're doomed.

Public school isn't a battle ground of religious ideas. It's a place for English, math, and gym class. If you can't avoid being a jerk to everyone around you, stay home or otherwise face the consequences.

 

[A Troubled Man]

Jesus talks about Satan being a ruler of the Earth. The implication in the Gospels is that he rules all who don't belong to Jesus. The key for any evangelist is to use these passages in a gentle and loving way not berating and judging those who they preach to

There is no such thing as telling others they are ruled by Satan in a gentle and loving way. There is only intolerance and hatred in that ruling.

 

[McBell]

Who, exactly, worships "the devil"?

Some people have a serious either/or mentality.
To them, you either worship God or you worship the devil.

The student in question seems to suffer from this fallacious mentality and so does Muffled it seems.

 

[Gomeza]

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing. I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

How can proselytizing possibly be a good thing in a high school setting? I don't know of anyone who sends their children to school and feels comfortable having other children attempt to indoctrinate them. Your attitude would change in a hurry if it were your children and not your religion being proselytized.

 

[Vinayaka]

My kid quit school. This wasn't the complete reason, but it was a contributing reason. The Christian club was just too obnoxious for her ... in her face. So unless you've been on both sides of this fence, its hard to understand.

 

[Nakosis]

My kid quit school. This wasn't the complete reason, but it was a contributing reason. The Christian club was just too obnoxious for her ... in her face. So unless you've been on both sides of this fence, its hard to understand.

She should have resorted to mocking.

 

[McBell]

She should have resorted to mocking.

Perhaps she was taking the higher moral ground the members of the club claimed to be on but refused to walk?

 

[Vinayaka]

She should have resorted to mocking.

Yup, her older brother would have (and probably did, without me knowing it) done that. But he mocks everything, most especially me.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

My kid quit school. This wasn't the complete reason, but it was a contributing reason. The Christian club was just too obnoxious for her ... in her face. So unless you've been on both sides of this fence, its hard to understand.

That's too bad.

My high school had two Christian clubs, but they didn't do anything obnoxious at all, as far as I could tell. I didn't even know they existed until I saw them in the "clubs" section of the yearbook.

 

[Oryonder]

I think that proseltyzing is a good thing. I see this person as faithful to jesus, not willing to bow down his knees to the devil worshippers of this world.

This lad is a poor misguided soul who has been brainwashed by his father since birth and is now making a fool of himself and ruining his life.

He likely thinks the world will end shortly and he will be "raptured". As such he has given up on making something of himself in this world and he is well on his way to failure.