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Religious Freedom, the LGBT+ Community, Our Faith, and Our Hearts

Posted by Joseph Beckley , 10 August 2016 · 2469 views

I read an article Tuesday morning that distressed me.
I thought about just letting it go. I have a few friends who still aren’t talking to me much following previous posts on contemporary issues. It is certainly easier and less heartbreaking to simply be quiet. However I cannot do that. These issues, and their impact on our faith, are too important. And my personal comfort is irrelevant.

 

The article I read concerned county clerks and officials in North Carolina. They find themselves in a difficult dilemma. Their jobs require them to take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution. However when following that oath would cause them to violate their deeply held faith/religious beliefs, the religious freedom law recently passed in North Carolina [and other states] allows the officials to “opt out” of performing services contrary to their beliefs, without losing their jobs.

 

These religious freedom laws have become “necessary” since SCOTUS declared same-sex weddings a right protected by the constitution. Since marriage licenses are both given out, and signed, by county clerks those clerks who oppose same-sex weddings based upon sincerely held biblical convictions should not be forced to dispense such documents in violation of Scripture. The same religious freedom laws would also protect bakeries, florists, caterers, and other service agencies from having to provide services for same-sex events, and thus violate their faith. Their reasoning is that no person should be forced to choose between their vocation and their faith. After all this is not 1st century Rome.

 

I can hear my denomination and my conservative Christian friends asking me what could possibly be wrong with such a law AND why should I possibly be distressed? If I am going to be distressed about anything it should be SCOTUS and our liberal executive branch and our morally bankrupt culture for forcing faithful Christians into these moral dilemmas.

 

I guess I would say 2 things and I am begging you to hear me:

 

A] first if our government, or laws enacted by that government, truly force us to deny or compromise our sincerely held faith/beliefs then we have the right—even an obligation—to resist.

 

B] however IMHO, county clerks and businesses having to provide marriage licenses and/or services for same-sex couples is NOT a violation of our religious liberties. And laws passed to “protect” our religious liberties are not really about religious liberties…rather they are about gay people…they are written to deal with one community of people—the LGBT+ community …and sadly they reflect our thoughts and our hearts regarding LGBT+ individuals.

 

Now if you disagree with me and you honestly think this is about religious liberty—please consider these examples [gleaned from 35 years in ministry] and then if I am wrong I will be quiet.

 

-- a heterosexual couple [one man/one woman] enters the office of the county clerk for a marriage license…the man is a non-Christian [unbeliever] and the woman is a Christian [believer].
I know of no county clerk [in my experience] who is a Christian, who would ever deny this couple a marriage license—even though their union would clearly violate a traditional reading of
2 Corinthians 6:14—18 [do not be unequally yoked].

 

--a man and a woman have an extra-marital affair. They end up divorcing their spouses and decide to get married. I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would deny the couple a marriage license even though their union would clearly violate several passages of Scripture, as well as the teachings of Jesus.

 

-- a heterosexual couple [one man/one woman] enters the office of the county clerk for a marriage license…the man and the woman are practicing Wiccans. Their wedding is being held outdoors and the name of Mother Gaia will be invoked during the service, as well as several additional Wiccan/pagan rites. Once again, I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would deny the couple a marriage license even though their union would clearly be pagan and violate several passages of the Bible.

 

AND regarding each of the three examples above, I know of no bakery, florist, caterer, photographer, or other business who would deny these heterosexual couples their services based upon religious/faith considerations.

 

--and finally …before I became a Christian I was a psychic reader. I never charged a fee for my readings. However if I had decided to gain profit from my “gift” I would have had to acquire a business license from a local official or county clerk. Even though being a psychic reader or medium…or practicing sorcery, divination, or witchcraft…is an abomination and sin before God, our secular laws allow me to do psychic readings. And I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would have denied me a license even though I, and my “gift,” would clearly be pagan and would violate a traditional reading of the Bible [which actually calls for my death for being a practitioner of this ancient art].

 

In the above examples no other group or community receives censure due to Christian conscience EXCEPT the LGBT+ community. And honestly that distresses and saddens me.
The truth is, we do not pass these laws to protect our religious liberties which are not threatened—and the reason I know that is because the Catholic church and the Christian and Missionary Alliance [my denomination] operate under bylaws that openly discriminate against women and gays and are not threatened with lawsuits. We do not ordain women or gays…we do not allow them to serve in positions of elder authority…we do not allow practicing gays membership or participation in the sacraments/ordinances of eucharist/communion or baptism. And as I said above we have not been sued…why?...because the government and our courts protect our religious freedoms of conscience. We talk about “loving the sinner” and “hating the sin.” However I fear that in our zeal for “purity” we have opted for “hate the sin” and “don’t like the sinner very much.” Gays receive far more of our censure and bylaw changes than any other transgression…and it grieves me.



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Lewis Butler
Sep 21 2016 12:01 PM

Just be thankful I am not a D.S. because I would be calling you before a disciplinary LO&CC committee for the things you have written for greater clarification. I can only pray you don't preach this over the pulpit.

 

Pastor to pastor I am sad and never dreamed I would read something like this coming from an Alliance minister.

 

I hope you will rephrase your words about the Alliance as a denomination that "openly discriminates" against women and gays. It would be better to say that the Alliance creates bylaws to reflect a biblical view of ministry and morality.

 

Because of the SCOTUS same sex marriage decision, Pandora's legal box of precedent has been opened. The government you think is protecting your religious liberties and conscience may soon deny them on the basis of this precedent.

 

Americans should be outraged as citizens. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  

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Joseph Beckley
Sep 21 2016 01:46 PM

Dear Rev. Butler,
Thank you for taking time to reply to my blog.  I am grateful.
I have posted additional blogs and also theological essays in the forum roundtable. 

 

Where do you serve the CMA?

 

While I appreciate ALL replies you did not reply to my biblical examples.  I really wish you might.

 

And second my comments about the CMA “openly discriminating” against women and gays were clearly made within the context of the law in modern society and yet we are protected from litigation because of our 1st Amendment rights.

 

Lewis I am sincerely grieved to have saddened you……..

May your evening be kind…….joseph

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Lewis Butler
Sep 21 2016 02:57 PM

Dear  Pastor Joseph

 

Glad to reply

 

I am new on the block

 

I am sorry, I didn't see any biblical examples. Please clarify.

 

I serve in Alabama.

 

To me your comments weren't as clear as you think in the context of our bylaws. Having read another of your blogs it just seems you are bit overly sensitive about the homosexual community. You seem to be more critical of the church than the attack against our country through PC and judicial activism. Personally, I don't see a lot of animosity against homosexuals individually, and I live in the south. I don't think you are aware of their huge movements of legal activism, power in the media, and their ardent desire to force the churches to accept their sin as appropriate behavior.

 

Personally, you don't make me sad. I wish you were more grieved by your own views. That fact you aren't is what is sad to me. To me you fail to see the big picture politically and spiritually.

 

I am going out of town for a few days. Perhaps when I return I may speak more specifically to your rational. You seem like a very sensitive nice guy but........

 

Praying for you... Lewis

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Joseph Beckley
Sep 21 2016 06:50 PM

good evening lewis......may your travels be safe.......i look forward to talking when you return...........in the meantime let's get alabama a win on saturday..................joseph

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Lewis Butler
Sep 27 2016 09:23 AM

I am an Auburn fan. :) I am for anyone who plays Bama. WAR EAGLE!

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Joseph Beckley
Sep 27 2016 07:22 PM

good evening lewis........then may i say-----------nice job against lsu

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Joseph Beckley
Oct 02 2016 04:35 PM

Dear Lewis………I appreciate your asking me for some clarification regarding Biblical examples.  I am going to do this in 2 sections so it is a little more clear.

 

SECTION 1
In the essay/blog you responded to my main point is that:
1]  IMHO, county clerks and businesses having to provide marriage licenses and/or services for same-sex couples is NOT a violation of our religious liberties.
2]  And laws passed to “protect” our religious liberties are not really about religious liberties…
3]  rather they are about gay people…they are written to deal with one community of people—the LGBT+ community …and sadly they reflect our thoughts and our hearts regarding LGBT+ individuals.
4]  and the reason I say this is that no county clerk, baker, florist, or caterer [for the vast majority of cases] EVER denies service for any number of other Biblical sins.  They seem to only deny services for the “sins” of those of the LGBT+ community…and that does not seem consistent to me…
5]  and so I gave examples, along with the Biblical injunctions they violate.

 

-- a heterosexual couple [one man/one woman] enters the office of the county clerk for a marriage license…the man is a non-Christian [unbeliever] and the woman is a Christian [believer].
I know of no county clerk [in my experience] who is a Christian, who would ever deny this couple a marriage license—even though their union would clearly violate a traditional reading of
2 Corinthians 6:14—18 [do not be unequally yoked].

--a man and a woman have an extra-marital affair. They end up divorcing their spouses [for no Biblical reason] and decide to get married. I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would deny the couple a marriage license even though their union would clearly violate several passages of Scripture, as well as the teachings of Jesus.

-- a heterosexual couple [one man/one woman] enters the office of the county clerk for a marriage license…the man and the woman are practicing Wiccans. Their wedding is being held outdoors and the name of Mother Gaia will be invoked during the service, as well as several additional Wiccan/pagan rites. Once again, I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would deny the couple a marriage license even though their union would clearly be pagan and violate several passages of the Bible…including the first two commandments.

AND regarding each of the three examples above, I know of no bakery, florist, caterer, photographer, or other business who would deny these heterosexual couples their services based upon religious/faith considerations.

 

--and finally Lewis…before I became a Christian I was a psychic reader. I never charged a fee for my readings. However if I had decided to gain profit from my “gift” I would have had to acquire a business license from a local official or county clerk. Even though being a psychic reader or medium…or practicing sorcery, divination, or witchcraft…is an abomination and sin before God, our secular laws allow me to do psychic readings. And I know of no county clerk who is a Christian who would have denied me a license even though I, and my “gift,” would clearly be pagan and would violate a traditional reading of the Bible [which actually calls for my death for being a practitioner of this ancient art].

 

In the above examples no other group or community “practicing sin” receives censure due to Christian conscience EXCEPT the LGBT+ community.  And honestly that distresses and saddens me.

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Joseph Beckley
Oct 02 2016 04:39 PM

SECTION 2
Lewis, in another essay I wrote I address what I see as a clear double standard toward the LGBT+ community. 

 

As Conservative Evangelicals and Fundamentalists in the CMA and throughout this nation and beyond we are convinced from a clear reading of Scripture that LGBT+ behaviour is sin.  And we are adamant that accepting the LGBTQ+ community is clearly unhealthy and unbiblical “tolerance” that damages our witness.

 

SO, for the moment I WANT TO ACCEPT THESE CONCLUSIONS —  Accepting the LGBTQ+ community is clearly unhealthy and unbiblical “tolerance” that damages our witness.
--And  further— We “know this” to be true because the Bible clearly cites homosexual behaviour as sin [Leviticus, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Timothy].  

 

--SO—I would ask, according to this “literal” interpretive method [hermeneutic], why is acceptance of LGBTQ+ behaviour unhealthy and unbiblical “tolerance” HOWEVER the Biblical list I am offering below is generally accepted by most Conservative Evangelicals and Fundamentalists in the CMA and throughout this nation to NOT be unhealthy and unbiblical “tolerance?”

 

To date Lewis NO ONE will respond to me…  maybe you might?

 

[1]
Old Testament
A]  --there are both men and women in my former congregation with tattoos, apparently in “clear violation” of Leviticus 19:28.  Is that unbiblical/unhealthy “compromise” and “tolerance?”  [Some CE&Fs would say “yes” however MOST would not]

 

B]  intimacy with one’s wife during her “cycle” was clearly sinful [Leviticus 15;20:18]……however we do not consider such behaviour sinful today…why?

 

Also…almost every behaviour listed in chapter 20 was prohibited at that time and is still prohibited today…however 20:18 is viewed differently—why?.

 

[2]
New Testament
C]  --every Sunday I was the pastor of my last church [and in many CMA churches] we had women teaching ALL ages [including adults], apparently in “clear violation” of Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 2 [“I do not permit a woman to teach”]

 

D]  --in these churches I have see a wonderful man who led the services would call upon a woman to pray…and she would pray every Sunday with both “short hair” AND her head “uncovered,” apparently in “clear violation” of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11 and 14.

 

E]  --AND when I would ask questions from the pulpit women “spoke up” in the church, apparently in “clear violation” of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14.

 

[[note:  if you think I am just making this up, Paul is pretty adamant regarding his censure…please read his words…they seem pretty clear…and yet despite Paul’s “warning” at the end we CE&Fs seem pretty confident that women may indeed speak:
(As in all the churches of the saints, 34 women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.  36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?)

 

Now it is obvious that the majority of CE&Fs do not consider these behaviours [listed above] to be unhealthy or unbiblical “tolerance.” 

For instance I have never personally seen any Elder Board in the CMA discipline someone for wearing a tattoo nor women disciplined for praying with heads uncovered or for speaking in a church service [just to cite 3 examples]… though each behaviour is clearly censured in the Bible.

However accepting LGBTQ+ behaviour clearly is “tolerance” and “compromise.”
SO……….i have 2 questions:

 

==>why are LGBTQ+ behaviours sin however the other behaviours are not recognized as sinful

 

==>I want to know how we differentiate between what IS clearly “compromise” and “tolerance” and “sin” and what clearly IS NOT “compromise” and “tolerance” and “sin?”

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I am neither a minister nor a theologian but I am a Christian and I am an American. Law is not determined by the clerk, but by higher authority and he is obligated only to determine if the applicants meet the conditions of the law to be issued a license to marry. The ideas you present are red herrings because the clerk would not likely know or have any responsibility to determine those issues if there is no prohibition by law. Remember when marriage license applicants had to present medical evidence that they were not retarded, had epilepsy or syphilis.  Some states had laws against biracial marriage. These were determined by law for the good of the community. However, pagans, divorced, psychics were never, as far as I know, prohibited.  

Even at that, I support the Freedom of Religion laws because it reinforces our First Amendment. In the case of Dick and Don showing up at the clerk's office with an in your face demand to be issued a license signed by the county clerk as a part of his official duties, and she cannot, in good conscience put her name on it there are ample alternatives for someone to sign the document whether a higher level official or an assistant clerk. The secular does not override the conscience of a believer.

With regard to your charges of hypocrisies in church practices, I'll leave that to more qualified people except to say that you overlook a huge jump in the marriage process.  The state issued license is only that, a recognition that the applicants meet the current secular laws and has little bearing on the marriage ceremony where they are declared by the authority invested in them as married. In other words, the burden is on the authority that marries them rather than on the state. Would any C&MA pastor dare to decline to marry Dick and Don?     

As to caterers, why would you want to hire someone that doesn't want your business?  

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