Losing Our Way: Arizona and Education

Laura Mayfield Coppock
3 min readJun 28, 2021

Our beloved Arizona lost its way, and I’m concerned for our survival, prosperity, and citizens. This week, our House and Senate hold budget hearings offering more tax breaks for the wealthy, which sounds great on the surface. Unfortunately, the tax breaks directly countermand Proposition 308, which dedicated secured funding for education- something education desperately needs and something the Arizona constituents voted for with a resounding yes.

God shows me a common thread between Judah, Israel, and Arizona’s current standing. It concerns me, to say the least. Amos, a prophet between 760 and 750 BC, challenged the kingdom of Israel to examine their materialism and disregard for the disadvantaged. Specifically, he called out to Judah to turn away from their false gods. I see many loving, well-meaning humans following the god of politics, losing sight of their God of the Universe. Amos spoke of the Lord destroying Israel because…

For three sins of Israel,

Even for four, I will not relent.

They sell the innocent for silver,

and the needy for a pair of sandals.

They trample on the heads of the poor

as on the dust of the ground

and deny justice to the oppressed.” (Amos 2:6–7, NIV)

While many today claim lower taxes for the wealthy produce a more robust economy for all, I believe they miss the big-picture impact on the middle- and lower-income communities as God sees it. God called the Israelites to care for the needy, the innocent, and the oppressed. Read that again; God called the Israelites to care for the needy, the innocent, and the oppressed. Does not God call us to care for the needy, the innocent (who could be more innocent than our state’s children?), and the impoverished (those lacking resources, skills, and basic needs). God, so disappointed at the Israelites lack of responsibility and defiance, committed to striking down their communities, punishing them for their sins.

Can anyone else see the parallels here? Do we worship idols by worshiping the almighty dollar, the machine of big business, and political alliances? Do we miss our calling? Do we sell out our children’s futures for a few more bucks in our pockets? Do we ignore the homeless and hopeless in our cities to add another pair of tennis shoes to our overflowing closets?

Just as Amos preached, I pray the Holy Spirit would invade our cities and bring revival. I pray those tempted by our culture and riches would hear His voice, that the blinders fall off, and eyes would focus on the God that calls us to more than what we are. I pray our hearts would humble before our Lord of Lords, and we would turn our compassion, generosity, and humility to our innocent, our needy, and our oppressed.

Someone brilliant reminded me we can choose to be cobelligerent for a cause, without becoming an ally of the establishment (political, or otherwise). I can stand with educators for more funding while standing with God for his purpose.

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Laura Mayfield Coppock

Laura teaches elementary school in Arizona and writes for His Story magazine. She combines a love for teaching and God to encourage others in finding purpose.