What Comes After County Clerks? It’s Christian Churches

I find it utterly reprehensible! The long-standing constitutional right to freely exercise one’s religious convictions (1st Amendment) has been trampled by an erroneous ‘right’ for same-sex couples to marry.

Yesterday, a federal court case involving Kentucky Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis ... who declined to issue marriage licenses to same-gender pairs based on her religious beliefs … was sentenced to jail for refusing to serve gay couples.  Davis’ Christian conviction was not protected, but denied.  Davis said during the hearing that her conscience wouldn’t allow her to comply with the court order.  “God’s moral law convicts me and conflicts with my duties,” she said.  U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning countered that Davis’ good-faith religious belief wasn’t a viable defense.  “The idea of natural law superseding this court’s authority would be a dangerous precedent indeed,” Bunning said.

Mind you, that our founding document (the Declaration of Independence) declares that our unalienable rights are granted by the Creator and are based upon “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.”  Same-sex ‘orientation’ is not an ‘immutable characteristic’ – it is merely a preference.

A poll conducted soon after June’s U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges decision suggested that ‘we the people’ are more concerned with religious freedom than homosexuals marrying.  And understandably so, for Judge Bunning’s quote reveals his ignorance of our Founders’ interpretation of “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” – meaning the will of God for humanity.  The fact is: Bunning has ruled toward the dangerous path that will no doubt lead to a wide variety of businesses and professionals and occupations that will challenge their free exercise of religion. 

“If we’re going to go down this road where religious free exercise rights are just simply trampled,” says Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, “that’s a completely different America. That’s no longer the shining city on a hill.”

Given this decision, it is well within reason that Bible-believing churches will be next. Does that include yours?  It does mine!  It won’t be tomorrow, but soon.  First, you’ll be required to keep your opinions inside the walls of the church; then contrary to the Great Commission, you’ll not be able to publically witness to your faith.  It’s coming … sooner than later.

Christians and the Church are ultimately accountable to Christ who said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13)  In this life, the un-salty church is marginalized and trampled by men.  In eternity, un-salty church members will give an account for their failure to be the salt God called them to be.

Sadly, it was nice knowing you, America!

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel