Concerning The Times primary focus is on Bible prophecy, but there are times when certain current events warrant our attention. In those instances, we will dedicate an article to address the issue as is the case now with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act recently passed here in Indiana. Let’s take a quick look at the current controversy and then at a Christian view of Indiana’s religious freedom restoration act.
A disturbing precedent is being set by rogue judges, local prosecutors, and gay activists. It’s set by compelling a business or organization to provide a service that conflicts with the religious beliefs of the owner or leadership and doing so under threats of discrimination lawsuits, civil penalties, and prosecution. Since there has been an over-the-top amount of news regarding the social-political firestorm here in Indiana and most people are acquainted with the details, we are going to look at the real issue behind the issue.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence has made it clear that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is not a license to discriminate. He has been forthright and open about where he personally stands regarding discrimination. On the national news, morning show Fox & Friends the Governor stated: “I abhor discrimination and this law is about religious liberty.” He went on to say that, “the law was never intended (although some have mischaracterized it) to give the impression that business had the right to turn away customers based on sexual orientation.” The Governor also said, “If I were in a restaurant and saw a business owner deny services to a customer because they were gay, I wouldn’t eat there anymore.”
The bottom line is that Governor Pence has clarified that this law is meant to protect religious liberty and not discriminate. In my estimation, the law and its intent are clear, to protect religious freedom. That’s the religious freedom of all faiths, not just Christianity. This realization brings up another issue and I refer to it as the real issue behind it. This current political firestorm in Indiana has galvanized many social activists because this isn’t about discrimination, fairness, or tolerance, it is about a growing anti-Christian movement.
In an earlier article, I noted the case of Barronelle Stutzman, a Christian who owns a florist in Washington state who is facing stiff fines and penalties simply for refusing to make a flower arrangement for a gay wedding because it conflicts with her religious beliefs. Then there is the case of the Colorado bakery owner who didn’t make a wedding cake for a gay couple because he is a Christian and believes marriage is between one man and one woman. He is also facing fines and penalties. A final example is the Lexington Kentucky T-shirt shop Hands On Originals, where in 2012 the owner was asked to make T-shirts for the Lexington Gay Pride Festival. The owner declined to do so based on his religious beliefs about traditional marriage because he is a Christian. The city’s Human Rights Commission investigated and sided with the complaint from the gay activists. All Hands On Originals employees were forced to attend ‘diversity sensitivity training.’ These are just a sample of hundreds of cases impeding religious freedom around the country.
The argument and chief complaint of the gay and social activists are based on a false presupposition. Their argument is that when people are refused service, that automatically equals discrimination. This notion couldn’t be further from the truth. The only reason Christians have refused service to a gay customer was based on the product’s intent. If a Christian’s religious conviction prohibits them from condoning a ‘gay wedding’ by baking a cake, taking a professional wedding portrait, or providing ‘honeymoon’ lodging for a gay couple at a bed & breakfast, that’s exercising religious freedom, not discrimination.
Here’s the thing, the Christian baker might refuse to bake a ‘wedding cake’ for a gay couple, but you would be hard-pressed to find a bakery owner who is a true Christian who ever refuse to sell the daily baker’s dozen to the same couple. This isn’t about discrimination, this is about a radical agenda, making a statement, making an example of, and a growing anti-Christian movement.
I find it so ironic that the people screaming and demanding tolerance the loudest are the most intolerant people.
The following point has been made in recent weeks, but I want to bring it to the forefront again to drive the point home that this outcry from the social-gay activists isn’t about discrimination, it’s about an anti-Christian agenda. The point is this: Except on very rare occasions and (none that I can document) I cannot fathom any gay-social activist, attorney, or local government who would dare to make an example of a Muslim-owned restaurant refusing to cater for a ‘gay wedding reception’ because the Koran forbids homosexuality. You can put any religion, sect, or non-Christian faith group you choose in that scenario and the outcome would still be the same, it is a nonissue.
The very fact that hundreds of these cases involve Christians and no other group is indicative of a growing anti-Christian movement. What makes this truly unnerving is that local governments, prosecutors, and judges are party to this mob mentality, not just the activist on social media and on the streets. John 15:18
This growing intolerance, agitation, and frankly mob mentality witnessed on social media, television, radio, and in front of the Indiana state house this week aren’t directed at any other group but one: Christians. The popular movement #boycottIndiana is full of the most vitriolic hateful speech I have seen. But as a Christian, I’m not about to call the local prosecutor to file a hate speech lawsuit or call the local media to bring attention to this because this type of anti-Christian behavior is exactly what I expect. Knowing what we know about the situation, the street-level facts, and how it affects everyone involved, here is the Christian view of the real issue behind the issue:
The real issue at hand for Christians isn’t Indiana’s RFRA or the social-political-media firestorm surrounding it. The issue is this: Are we going to finish well, be in the world and not of it, and show love by living out the gospel before the world and gay people, or are we going to capitulate, break under the world’s pressure, and compromise the core gospel message to simply fit in.
The LGBT activists don’t simply want to be understood and tolerated, they want your approval, participation, and celebration.
As I stated before, activists are making this issue primarily about the people they believe are behind the legislation. I want to reiterate, if a person is a true Christian, they welcome all people in their restaurants, businesses, and Churches, that’s the love of Christ demonstrated toward all people. It’s another thing altogether to expect Christians to compromise their religious beliefs and be active partakers in someone’s path away from their creator. As Christians, how are we to respond?
We are to engage the culture and the people in our lives. No, I’m not talking about the kind of cultural engagement that compromises beliefs for the sake of unity at all costs, I’m talking about walking a (genuine Christian walk) in every aspect of our lives. I have had gay friends who have remained my friends and it’s not because I jumped on the contemporary bandwagon and embraced everything they believe in. The friendships continued because it was based on his or her value as a person and mine. Some of these gay friends agreed with my stand as a Christian and others did not. I cared for them unconditionally because the fact is, if it were not for God’s grace, I’d be lost without knowing my Savior.
Friendships with gay people or anyone else in the world don’t give me the right to withhold sharing the good news of the gospel for the sake of peace at all costs. On the contrary, it is eternally imperative that we share the truth about God’s righteous judgment, repentance, atonement, and following Jesus with everyone we can share it with.
My concern is this: Many of the notions people have about real Christians aren’t real at all. They are stereotyped by the social media, entertainment industry, and sadly some ‘professing Christians.’ I support a Christian’s right to vote with values in mind, engage in the political/public arena, and weigh in on the issues of the day. It is another thing altogether to stand toe to toe, screaming out in opposing protest lines, and posting hateful, venomous talk on social media because you want to get your point across. This kind of behavior has no place in the life of a Christian. Those are the actions of a religious activist, not a born-again believer. Those are the attitudes and actions that others will use as an example to label Christians as hateful.
Am I endorsing burying our heads in the sand? No way……I’m endorsing engaging-confronting people with the truth of the life-changing gospel. The battle is the Lord’s and this engagement starts on our knees in prayer and asking the Lord to give us opportunities to tell people about Jesus. I had a brother ask me this week if we should show the love of Jesus by going ahead and baking the cake, taking the portrait, etc. to open up a way to talk about the Lord. Excellent question, but the answer is no. I appreciated the motive, but baking a cake won’t open the door to the gospel, it brings more confusion to a soul that’s already mired in confusion. Mark 16:15
The most loving thing we can do for a person who is blinded by sin and stuck in the homosexual lifestyle is to engage them with the truth. The truth is that God is holy, sin cannot be in His presence, we are (all) sinful, rebellious people, and left in our present state, we are facing eternity away from God’s presence in hell. People need to hear the hope of the gospel. But it’s not enough to say, “Jesus loves you.” He certainly does love them, but they will perish if they die in their sins. They must be told about sin, coming judgment, repentance, and atonement. That is the hope of the gospel. It’s not fighting people that think differently on social media or screaming across protest lines, it is telling people the truth about God’s coming judgment and the forgiveness found only in Jesus if they repent of their sins and follow Him.
This message of death and life is applicable to everyone. For those who believe Christians are singling out LGBT people, nothing could be further from the truth. For those carnally minded ‘Christians’ who use the LGBT issue as a platform for an unbiblical version of ‘showing the love of Jesus’, please know you are adding to their spiritual confusion.
The message of the saving gospel is for LGBT people, adulterers, the abusive wife beater, the proud, the white collar churchgoing thief, the hypocrite, the gambler who wastes his family’s savings, and the fornicator. It is for everyone because all sin is sin. Quit compromising this 2,000-year-old message of repentance that has been the one thing that has pierced even the hardest hearts and brought many a sinner to Jesus. Godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation. Romans 1:26
I have a final thought on being a faithful witness for Jesus in this darkening world: Being a Christian in the West has been a relatively safe issue for many years, but if current trends continue, I believe the situation is beginning to change. While I’m thankful for the passage of RFRA here in Indiana, in Arkansas, and in other states:
It seems clear that the tide of public tolerance is turning towards tolerating virtually every group except Christians.
What will this mean in the future? It might mean that my pastor is charged with hate speech for simply reading scripture that condemns homosexuality. It might mean that bank accounts and properties are confiscated because as a Christian, the powers that be consider me part of a hate group.
Friends, these scenarios aren’t far-flung in the distant future events, because things like this are happening across parts of Europe and Canada. I don’t know to what extent this persecution of Christians will go here in the West, but I do believe were are living more as exiles, strangers & aliens than ever before. Be a responsible voter, engage in the political system, and dialogue about current issues, but the most important thing we can do as believers is to live as salt and light before the Lord returns. This dark world and people blinded by the enemy of their souls need to hear the truth from people who know who Truth is. Pray for those in leadership and pray for strength to finish well. Acts 5:29
The verse above isn’t to promote unlawful disobedience, disrespect of leadership, or those in authority. It’s not permission to engage in the type of vitriolic activism so present today. In context, the rulers forbade the Apostles and early church from teaching or proclaiming this man’s (Jesus’) name. Christians should be the kindest most peaceful, law-abiding, people in the world. If however; it becomes unlawful or there are threats of civil penalties for following Jesus, we must choose the Lord…even if it costs us.
*If you are a person in the LGBT lifestyle, I want you to know that there is a way out. That way isn’t acceptance through a church claiming to love you just the way you are, broken relationships, or addictive products to numb the pain in your heart. My friend, the way out is through taking Jesus at His word. He is faithful and just to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Nothing you have done is too much for God to forgive.
This takes action on your part. You must come to the knowledge that you are wretched, wicked, and totally without hope before God. Many people……including myself came to the same realization about the condition of our hearts without God’s forgiveness. The only way to have eternal life with God in heaven is by confessing your sin with a broken, contrite heart before God and confessing Jesus as your Lord.
There is no other way to eternal life, you can’t be kind enough, charitable enough, religious enough, or good enough, because even our best is like filthy rags to a holy God. Jesus paid the price and atoned for your sins and mine on the cross. His blood is the only thing that will cover sin and the only thing that erases God’s coming wrath against every individual on Earth. Please call out to Him today, and God will forgive you, give you a new heart, and you will belong to Him. If you have questions please write us or visit our link: Are You Saved?
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
All for Him,
Howard
