This week’s 3-part blog postings are attributed to Dr.
Michael Brown – host of the nationally syndicated ‘Line of Fire’ radio
program. Throughout this week, you’ll
read of the increased hostility toward Christian values and religious freedoms
in our country. Dr. Brown provides representative
examples … all from the month of April. Read them, and judge for yourself.
1. The NCAA announced that it will not hold any men’s and
women’s Final Four basketball events in a city that “discriminates” against
anyone based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In its official statement, the NCAA declared
that, “The board’s decision follows the recent actions of legislatures in
several states, which have passed laws allowing residents to refuse to provide
services to some people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While proponents of the laws focus on how they
protect religious beliefs, critics have voiced concerns that they create an environment
of sanctioned discrimination.”
Not only has the NCAA statement grossly mischaracterized
these recent laws, but it is now guilty of discriminating against Biblically-based
beliefs and declaring that no Final Four game will be held in any city that
does not allow men to use women’s bathrooms or that protects a Christian
photographer from being forced to photograph a same-sex “wedding.”
2. The Colorado Supreme Court has chosen not to hear the
case of Christian baker Jack Phillips who was previously ordered by the
Colorado Civil Rights Commission “to create cakes for same-sex celebrations,
re-educate his staff, and file quarterly ‘compliance’ reports for two years.” According to Jeremy Tedesco, Senior Counsel
with the Alliance Defending Freedom, “We asked the Colorado Supreme Court to
take this case to ensure that government understands that its duty is to
protect the people’s freedom to follow their beliefs personally and
professionally, not force them to violate those beliefs as the price of earning
a living. Jack, who has happily served
people of all backgrounds for years, simply exercised the long-cherished
American freedom to decline to use his artistic talents to promote a message
and event with which he disagrees, and that
freedom shouldn’t be placed in jeopardy for anyone.”
The Court declined to hear the case, meaning that the
state’s Civil Rights Commission not only has the power to require a bakery to
make same-sex “wedding” cakes but also to require that baker to “reeducate” his
staff and file regular reports proving that he is baking those cakes. [Chairman Mao would be proud of
state-mandated “reeducation” like this.]
3. Dr. Eric Walsh, the highly-qualified, newly-hired
District Health Director with the Georgia Department of Public Health was fired
because of the content of his sermons as a Seventh Day Adventist. As expressed by Jeremy Dys, an attorney with
First Liberty, which has taken on Walsh’s case, “No one in this country should
be fired from their job for something that was said in a church or from a
pulpit during a sermon.”
As noted by attorney David French: “Working for former
president Bush and President Obama to combat AIDS, serving as a board member of
the Latino Health Collaborative, and starting California’s first city-run dental
clinic for low-income families dealing with HIV/AIDS wasn’t sufficient to
overcome the horror at Walsh’s Christian views.” How dare he preach what the Bible says and
try to serve his country at the same time.
On Wednesday, read two more examples of the increased hostility
toward Christian values and religious freedoms in our country.
Rev. Dr.
Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor,
Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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