`Ello me lads!
Mouse here, reporting on what appears to be a waning enthusiasm for true religious liberty, and a waxing passion for licentious liberty.
For instance the Chief leftist of Trudeauland (Canada), Justin Trudeau, just made it clear that If you do not believe in Canada’s abortion laws–among the most “liberal” on the planet—you cannot become a political candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada. I’m still endeavoring to see the problem with not being able to join the liberal party……however.
In Canada, abortion policy supports abortion-on-demand throughout all 9 months of pregnancy, up to the moment of birth. If a potential Liberal political candidate objects in any form, they cannot run as a Liberal candidate. Said the poster-boy,
“I have made it clear that future candidates need to be completely understanding that they will be expected to vote pro-choice on any bills.”
But wait. Isn’t Justin Trudeau an international poster-boy for plurality? Has he not sashayed around the planet for the last four years preaching the wonders of diversity, global warming, and multiculturalism? Yet, when it comes to alternate or opposing opinions on abortion, he has NO TIME FOR DIVERSITY.
Pro-life, Sir? You’re not welcome. Against abortion for Christian reasons, Madam? You may go now. Move along!
Next we turn our attention to the States, a benighted country just south of Trudeauland.
Religious Liberty Banquet
A religious liberty banquet was held at the Newseum Institute in Washington DC on the 20th of May. According to the International Religious Liberty Association web page, the event was “Adventist-Sponsored.” Care to guess who the keynote speaker was? The corybantic Texas liberal, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D, the co-sponsor of the H.R. 5 Equality Act. Her statement on March 14,
“On behalf of LGBTQ Texans and all Americans, I am proud to be one of the original co-sponsors of H.R. 5, the Equality Act and I look forward to voting YES when it comes to the House Floor. With this critical legislation, we will finally, fully end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, and move our nation closer to fulfilling the promise of equality, opportunity and justice for every American.”
The Equality Act, which Jackson Lee co-sponsored, seeks to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. It goes further than that. Under the guise of anti-discrimination protections, the bill redefines sex to include gender identity, undermines religious freedom, gives males who identify as females the right to women’s spaces, and sets a dangerous political precedent for the medicalization of gender-confused youth. It is, to quote one Congressman, “An unconstitutional time bomb.”
As Senator Mike Lee told National Review, the Bill “would dangerously undermine the First Amendment and the freedoms it was designed to protect.”
The bill states explicitly,
…(with respect to gender identity) an individual shall not be denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual’s gender identity.’’
Christians believe what Genesis describes and Jesus taught: that God created two types of humans – male and female. We further believe that a sexual relationship should be reserved for a husband and wife. Because that sexual relationship includes the possibility of having children, we want children to have both a mother and a father. Christians understand that biblical teaching about marriage has profound spiritual significance, as the husband and wife relationship reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church.
So a man who believes he is a woman – regardless of his physical appearance or bodily reality – could enter a women’s locker room, dressing room or restroom.
The “Equality Act” takes these basic biblical teachings and labels them “discriminatory.” It puts the full force and influence of the federal government behind enforcing this law and opposing Christian beliefs. The law is a powerful teacher, and the “Equality Act” would teach that Christian thinking about male-female differences, marriage, parenting, family and sexuality are rooted in prejudice — rather than in years of wisdom, reason and sound doctrine.
Under what alternate universe is the co-sponsor of this dreadful Bill invited to keynote a dinner on religious liberty? It’s not just beyond the pale, it’s pear-shaped. Even Brexit (or lack thereof) makes more sense than this codswallop.
The First Amendment will not save us, but it now falls to us to save the First Amendment. The sacred freedoms we cherish secure our right to worship God in spirit and in truth, to tell the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to teach the whole counsel of God. As it says in the Yankee Declaration, we hold these truths, dear friends, and may I say—they hold us. May God give us wisdom as we see religious liberty threatened in these perilous times. From outside the Church and from within.
Cheerio,
ChurchMouse