High School Valedictorian Stuns Audience After He Rips Up Speech and Delivers the Lor

[Revmitchell]

Roy Costner IV, a former public school student from South Carolina, stunned the audience at his high school graduation last weekend when he ripped up his previously-approved valedictorian speech, going on, instead, to speak about God — and then deliver the Lord’s prayer...

..“Those that we look up to, they have helped carve and mold us into the young adults that we are today. I’m so glad that both of my parents led me to the Lord at a young age,” he said. “And I think most of you will understand when I say –”

And that’s when he commenced the popular invocation.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name,” Costner continued. “Thy Kingdom come…”

Throughout the entirety of the prayer, cheers and clapping raged. The school district, which, as stated, was already facing scrutiny over graduation prayers earlier this year, has no plans to punish the former student for his actions (after all, he’s no longer under their authority, so what retribution could he receive?).

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...e-lords-prayer-instead-wild-applause-follows/

 

[Oldtimer]

Praise this young man. Wish we had a lot more young people who are willing to don the armour of God.

 

[go2church]

So he lied by submitting his speech for approval that he had no intention of using in order to say the Lord's Prayer? Or was this a spontaneous act?

 

[Revmitchell]

So he lied by submitting his speech for approval that he had no intention of using in order to say the Lord's Prayer? Or was this a spontaneous act?

And I knew you would come out of your lurking closet for this post and display your hatred for a public display of Christianity and the glorifying of God.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

He may have thought himself wise as a serpent, but he was not as harmless as a dove.

 

[annsni]

I agree that while it seems good on the surface, did he honor his Lord by basically thumbing his nose at the authorities on this issue in public?

If he were my child and wanted to speak about the Lord and was told not to, then I would respectfully decline the opportunity to speak. I would explain that if they wanted my view and my opinion in my speech to the students, I would have to include God because He is all of me. I'd let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Oldtimer]

I agree that while it seems good on the surface, did he honor his Lord by basically thumbing his nose at the authorities on this issue in public?

Daniel 6: KJB
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

 

[Robert Snow]

I heard an old pastor once say that it's OK to lie to the devil.

I don't think this young man did anything wrong, certainly not something to be ashamed of doing.

 

[Salty]

Ann,
I understand your concern, but where do we draw the line?

On one hand the School says no talk of religion (first amendment) but that same amendment also gives the right to free speech. (yes, there are exceptions - such as you cant yell fire in a crowed theater).

Found an interesting web page:
Should we obey governments that are bad

Bottom line, I applaud this student, and apparently so did the audience!:thumbs:

 

[Zaac]

So he lied by submitting his speech for approval that he had no intention of using in order to say the Lord's Prayer? Or was this a spontaneous act?

Shouldn't you have asked the second question first?

I applaud the young man. Reading the story gave me a Chris Matthews-like thrill up my leg. I LOVE it when I see Christians taking a stand about God's word instead of some issue du jour!!!

 

[Zaac]

I agree that while it seems good on the surface, did he honor his Lord by basically thumbing his nose at the authorities on this issue in public?

If he were my child and wanted to speak about the Lord and was told not to, then I would respectfully decline the opportunity to speak. I would explain that if they wanted my view and my opinion in my speech to the students, I would have to include God because He is all of me. I'd let the chips fall where they may.

I don't think he was told to not speak about the Lord. The Pickens County School District made the decision to no longer include a prayer as part of the graduation program. I don't see anywhere that they say speakers couldn't pray.

You simply cannot tell folks there will be no religious speak while allowing folks to speak on every non-religious subject imaginable.

The SCHOOL DISTRICT can't sanction it, but individuals have the right to do as they please.

 

[InTheLight]

Here's what he said:

“Those that we look up to, they have helped carve and mold us into the young adults that we are today. I’m so glad that both of my parents led me to the Lord at a young age,” he said. “And I think most of you will understand when I say –” And then he recited the Lord's prayer.

Forgive me if I'm not too impressed with this. As long as he had the podium he could have expounded on what Christianity and Jesus means to him. People were expecting a speech, certainly ready to listen to more than two sentences and then a rote prayer. Ripping up a prepared speech, then saying one phrase--"the Lord"--relating to God and then reciting a prayer that everyone has memorized and probably doesn't listen to anymore seems more like an act of defiance than a heartfelt effort to connect with listeners about his faith.

Opportunity missed, IMO.

 

[InTheLight]

I don't think he was told to not speak about the Lord. The Pickens County School District made the decision to no longer include a prayer as part of the graduation program. I don't see anywhere that they say speakers couldn't pray.

From the article:
The act, which drew loud applause, was taken in opposition to the School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events, Christian News reports. Officials said that they had recently received complaints from atheist activists and church-state separatists, leading to the removal of invocations from all school events.

You simply cannot tell folks there will be no religious speak while allowing folks to speak on every non-religious subject imaginable. The SCHOOL DISTRICT can't sanction it, but individuals have the right to do as they please.

Precisely. However, prayers were specifically banned. Which is why it appears to be an act of defiance to me. He could have spoken about his personal faith, given his testimony, even given a sermon, but he chose to violate the recently passed rule about no prayers.

 

[Zaac]

You're never going to please everyone. I think telling the story of his Christian upbringing and going into the Lord's prayer made the point it was supposed to.

Again, nowhere in the story does it say that the speakers could not pray. The Prayer was simply removed from the official program.

KUDOs to the young man.:applause:

 

[Zaac]

From the article:
The act, which drew loud applause, was taken in opposition to the School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events, Christian News reports. Officials said that they had recently received complaints from atheist activists and church-state separatists, leading to the removal of invocations from all school events.



Precisely. However, prayers were specifically banned. Which is why it appears to be an act of defiance to me. He could have spoken about his personal faith, given his testimony, even given a sermon, but he chose to violate the recently passed rule about no prayers.

Prayers were not banned. Prayer was taken out as an official part of the graduation events and thus no invocation. They had not specifically said that speakers could not pray.

 

[InTheLight]

You're never going to please everyone. I think telling the story of his Christian upbringing and going into the Lord's prayer made the point it was supposed to.

Telling his story of Christian upbringing? It was one phrase buried in a sentence--"I'm so glad my both my parents led me to the Lord at a young age." That's a story?

Again, nowhere in the story does it say that the speakers could not pray. The Prayer was simply removed from the official program.

What does this mean to you?
School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events, Christian News reports. Officials said that they had recently received complaints from atheist activists and church-state separatists, leading to the removal of invocations from all school events.

KUDOs to the young man.:applause:

So this is what passes as taking a stand for Jesus nowadays? :BangHead:

 

[InTheLight]

Prayers were not banned. Prayer was taken out as an official part of the graduation events and thus no invocation. They had not specifically said that speakers could not pray.

You might not see it that way but the crowd did.

The act, which drew loud applause, was taken in opposition to the School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events,

 

[Zaac]

Telling his story of Christian upbringing? It was one phrase buried in a sentence--"I'm so glad my both my parents led me to the Lord at a young age." That's a story?

Yes. "Jesus died for you" is a story too.

What does this mean to you?
School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events, Christian News reports. Officials said that they had recently received complaints from atheist activists and church-state separatists, leading to the removal of invocations from all school events.

It means what it says. They axed prayers from graduation events and thus took out the invocation.

It doesn't say that speakers aren't allowed to pray.

So this is what passes as taking a stand for Jesus nowadays? :BangHead:

As there are many parts to the Body, there are many different ways to take a stand.

 

[Zaac]

You might not see it that way but the crowd did.

The act, which drew loud applause, was taken in opposition to the School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events,

So? The school system seemed t think they couldn't sanction prayer at graduation exercises so they removed the official prayer from the ceremony. There is no mention of speakers being told they could not pray.

 

[InTheLight]

So? The school system seemed t think they couldn't sanction prayer at graduation exercises so they removed the official prayer from the ceremony. There is no mention of speakers being told they could not pray.

Once again you are inferring things the way you wish to see them. Axing prayers from graduation events covers the ability of speakers praying during graduation events. It's clear to just about anyone.