California: Banning or Burning Religious Books?

California’s “Must Stay Gay Bill” could literally mean the banning of certain religious books.

On April 17, David French noted that this bill “...would actually – among other things – ban the sale of books expressing orthodox Christian beliefs about sexual morality.  Yes, ban the sale of books.”

“Assembly Bill 2943 would make it an ‘unlawful business practice’ to engage in ‘a transaction intended to result or that result in the sale or lease of goods or services to any consumer’ that advertise, offer to engage in, or do engage in ‘sexual orientation change efforts with an individual’” says French.

You might well say, “No one in their right mind would consider voting for such a bill. That’s totally insane.”  Well, think again.

AB 2943 bans books, conferences, or counseling advocating Muslim, Jewish, and Christian views on gender and sexual orientation.  The California Assembly already approved a bill (50-18) that tells churches and other[s] with traditional beliefs about gender and sexual orientation that advocating for their views could get them sued.  AB 2943 declares ‘advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual’ is illegal under state’s consumer fraud law.

As a conservative Christian, it’s tempting to say to California and the rest of America: Go ahead.  Pass your radical bills.  Outlaw our most fundamental freedoms.  Consign struggling people to their struggles.  Muzzle our religious rights.  Go ahead and do your thing, and we’ll watch the whole country crumble.  Perhaps then the church (and other people of conscience) will wake up.  Perhaps then they’ll understand the warning that those who came out of the closet want to put us in the closet.  Perhaps then they’ll see the utter intolerance of the radical left.

But then I must consider the cost: At what price to our kids and grandkids?  At what expense to the very fabric of our country?  Some things leave irreparable damage in their wake.

My friends: It’s not too late – but it is getting later by the day.  Of course, the mockers will say, “You’re a nutcase!  You’re a religious fanatic!  No one is going to burn your silly books!”

Dr. Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program, reminds these mockers of four things:

• First, these same mockers once said to me, “No one wants to put you in the closet.”  A few years later, they changed their mantra to, “Bigots like you belong in the closet!”
• Second, these same mockers rejoiced when Kim Davis was put in jail, saying she got what she deserved when she refused to sign same-sex marriage licenses in Kentucky.
• Third, these same mockers have likened Christian conservatives to ISIS and the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and the Nazis, holding signs saying that we should be thrown to the lions.
• Fourth, and most tellingly, these same mockers think this new California bill is a great thing.

Listen, California and the rest of America: It’s past time to wake up!  You ignore this bill at your own peril.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel