“… We command no worship. We mandate no belief. But we poison our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We court corruption when we leave it bereft of belief. All are free to believe or not believe; all are free to practice a faith or not. But those who believe must be free to speak of and act on their belief, to apply moral teaching to public questions.” (President Ronald Reagan)
How things have changed since President Reagan so eloquently spoke of that first constitutionally guaranteed right – our religious liberty. What do we now see from our current president, his administration, and imperious judges? A commanded worship at the altar of political correctness. A mandated belief in special “rights” for homosexuals that supersedes religious liberty. A stripping away of freedom “to speak and act” on our beliefs and “apply moral teaching to public questions.”
Take a look at what just took place in Arizona. Governor Jan Brewer succumbed to overwhelming pressure (from the Left and from RINOs) to veto legislation which would have strengthened religious liberty protections for individuals. As Family Research Council explains, the Arizona RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) would have insured that “individuals do not have to trade their religious freedom for entrance into public commerce. In other words, whether it's a wedding vendor, whose orthodox Christian faith will not allow her to affirm same-sex "marriage," or a business like Hobby Lobby or Conestoga Wood, whose faith bars them from providing drugs that have the potential to end a pregnancy, the provisions of RFRA would apply.”
In essence, assuring that a privately owned business cannot be forced by the government or anyone else to provide a service that goes against their religious beliefs. “Discrimination!” decried the left. The homosexual demand for affirmation of a lifestyle trumps religious liberty, they claim.
As blogger Matt Walsh writes: “… Put differently, to tell a Christian that they must provide services to a gay wedding because that’s what a gay person wants, is to say that one must condone the actions of a gay person in order to affirm the dignity and inherent human worth of a gay person. Now we have, yet once more, provided special legal accommodations to this protected class.
“No other group is afforded such privileges. I can’t force a Jewish deli to provide me with non kosher meat. I can’t force a gay sign company to print me “Homosexual sex is a sin” banners (I’d probably be sued just for making the request). I can’t force a Muslim caterer to serve pork. …
“I can’t force a private citizen to involve himself in a thing which he finds abhorrent, objectionable, or sinful.”
Now let’s travel from Arizona to Texas. Yesterday a federal judge in Texas became the latest in a growing list of lawless judges to strike down a state’s voter-approved amendment which affirmed the definition of marriage as one man-one woman. The state’s Marriage Amendment, which prohibited homosexual “marriage,” was approved by a whopping 76% of Texan voters in 2005.
This follows recent similar unilateral decisions by federal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Virginia. While these judges legislate from the bench, this week our nation’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, gave state Attorneys General a pass on their sworn oath to defend the law of the land – at least in regards to laws which prohibit homosexual “marriage.” According to Holder, AGs can choose not to uphold laws which they ‘feel’ are unconstitutional.
However Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen stated: "If there's one clear-cut job I have, it's to defend my Constitution. There is no one else in position to defend the State Constitution if it comes under attack."
Now to my home state of Michigan where “marriage” is on trial – literally. Where one federal judge is hearing arguments to decide the fate of Michigan’s Marriage Amendment approved by 59 percent of Michigan voters.
Like dominoes falling, each day we see another example of lawlessness and despotism kicking at the legs of liberty.
But liberty is not going down without a fight. In Detroit, 50 pastors gathered Tuesday evening to speak out against homosexual marriage. During their press conference, this group made up mostly of African-American pastors, stated that they represented 1,000 churches in Michigan which support the true definition of marriage as one man and one woman.
"We are standing here united … not ashamed to stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the institution of marriage. God defined marriage and 2.5 million people went to the polls (in 2004) to reaffirm what God has said,"stated Pastor Swimp from Flint, MI.
"It's going to tear the foundation of the family asunder. It's going to have a devastating effect."Pastor Roland Caldwell said regarding homosexual marriage.
"We … stand by both our Michigan Constitution and our Judeo-Christian values. We believe that marriage between one man and one woman creates the best possible environment for the health and wellness of children … no one is entitled to redefine marriage." said Pastor Lennell Caldwell of First Baptist World Changers.
These pastors were joined by Southfield City Council president, Sylvia Jordan, who stated: “The Bible can't be changed. We don't change what truth is.”
Also, on Tuesday, CNSNews reported:
“A coalition of black pastors announced on Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that they are launching a campaign to gather one million signatures on a petition calling for the impeachment of Attorney General Eric Holder for violating his oath of office by trying "to coerce states to fall in line with the same-sex 'marriage' agenda."
"Our nation calls for the building up of a healthier marriage culture; instead, our elected leaders are bent on destroying marriage, remaking it as a genderless institution and reorienting it to be all about the desires of adults rather than the needs of children," says the coalition. "In pursuing this intention, the president and his administration are trampling the rule of law.
Attorney General Holder in particular has used the influence of his office and role as the chief law enforcement figure in our nation to try to coerce states to fall in line with the same-sex ‘marriage’ agenda," says the coaltion. “Millions of voters in 30 states have voted to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but Attorney General Holder is attempting single-handedly to throw those votes away! …” (To sign their petition click here.)
In addition to these pastors standing for biblical truth and religious liberty, earlier this month Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal delivered a powerful speech in which he stated in part: “Our religious liberty must in no way ever be linked to the ever-changing opinions of the public. To the contrary, we must understand that our freedom of conscience protects all Americans of every persuasion — however those persuasions may evolve.” (To read this stirring speech, click here.)
Governor Jindal entitled his speech, “The Silent War on Religious Liberty.” No doubt there is a war on religious liberty. However, one side is far from silent. The other side – made up of millions of Bible-believing Christians – often cowers rather than contests for Truth. May we not be part of the silent majority as biblical marriage and religious liberty are bloodied and beaten.
——————————————-
To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412.
American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
photo credit: Scott* via photopin cc
Call us:
231-924-4050Email us:
info@americandecency.orgWrite us:
American Decency AssociationCopyright 2024 American Decency
