True stories for children - 6
Refusing to Compromise
Jillian's story:
All the students at River Junior High School had to take a class called “Life Mastery Skills.” We called it LMS. Even though I wanted to like it, I knew from the beginning that something was wrong. Very wrong!
We hardly ever worked or studied alone. Instead we did group work every day. We had group assignments, group answers, and group grades. When some kids didn't want to work, I had to do it for them so that I wouldn't get a bad grade.It was especially hard when we had to compare different religions. Some religions are similar. Witches, New Agers, and Native Americans all believe in a spirit that is in everything. It was easy for the kids who really like those religions. They could all agree. I couldn't, because I am a Christian.
“All religions are right,” said the teacher, “It’s up to you to decide which is right for you.”
One day I stood up and said that wasn’t true. ‘There is only one good religion.’ Then everybody got upset and mimicked me. But I didn’t care.”
My teacher taught us that Muslims think Jesus is just one of the gods. He said that Christianity came from Islam.
One weird thing was that we had to vote on whether or not we wanted to do the Pledge of Alligiance. I was the only one in the entire school who voted for doing the Pledge of Allegiance.
We were told that if everybody signed a petition, the school would have to do what we asked. So one day we made a petition to stop Life Mastery Skills class. This time all the kids signed it. One of the teachers even did. But my teacher said, "No. This is a very important class."
It’s really a sad and depressing school. The kids never smile. Their faces look like robots. It’s strange. At home I would cry because I had to go back the next day.
I got a lot stronger in the Lord going to that school. Every night I would ask God, “Please help me get out of that school Please help me and give me faith and wisdom to know what to do. It made me much stronger, because I wanted God so badly.”
Jillian, a twelve-year old girl in Northern California
God's Word
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed... but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God...." 2 Timothy 1:7-8
Let's talk about it.
1. Why was school so difficult for Jillian?
2. How did the hard days help make her strong in Jesus?
3. What does 2 Timothy 1:7-8 promise those who trust and follow God, no matter what?