I’m truly saddened as I sit here and begin to write today’s entry. Why? Solely because legislation was passed in the state of Indiana several days days ago that could possibly make room for new forms of discrimination, all under the guise of religious freedom. But the question I really find myself asking after reading up on this new legislation is the same as the title of today’s entry. Is the unconditional love of Christ present in Indiana’s new legislation?
Before I get into discussing that though, I wanted to provide a few more details about this extremely controversial religious freedom bill. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), as it’s called, gives the right to Indiana businesses and their owners with strong religious beliefs, the ability to deny their benefits and services to others if it comes into conflict with those beliefs. The case that was used to push this legislation forward dealt with a private business and the University of Notre Dame who each had to file separate lawsuits challenging provisions that required them to offer insurance coverage that violated their religious views. Although this new legislation does not mention sexual orientation, its opponent’s fear it will now allow for business owners to deny services to gays and lesbians, using their religious views. Many have felt the RFRA was a direct response from conservative group’s failure to preserve a same-sex marriage ban in the state’s constitution last year, mostly because at the time of it’s private signing into law, the heads of several of those groups were present. Regardless, I’m not specifically writing this blog entry to debate any of these concerns. I’m actually writing it to talk about whether the unconditional love of Christ was or is present within its words.
After all, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to argue the fact that Christ is probably the most notorious figure throughout history to represent unconditional love. Yet, I read the predominant people that supported the RFRA also claimed that Christ is their savior. So with that being said, I don’t understand how can they claim that, and then back a bill that can be used to deny rights to any person? Is that truly showing unconditional love, by denying another human being some basic rights? Unfortunately, what could happen now with the RFRA being in effect in Indiana could be as simple as a gay or lesbian walking into something such as a coffee shop and being denied service just because the owner feels homosexuality is a sin.
I know I’ve said this before in previous writings, but I feel I must say it again. I’m convinced that God wants us to embrace each other unconditionally no matter what our race, color, creed, sex, gender, sexual preference or orientation, disability, or national origin is. And I truly believe that Christ would feel and do the same if alive today. But there seems to be a strong movement on this planet as of late, especially in the United States, to divide rather than come together, to discriminate, rather than find total equality. To me that’s not practicing the love of Christ at all. I can’t believe that Christ would ever deny rights to anyone, including gays and lesbians, because the Christ I learned about welcomed everyone at his table.
So if that’s the case, what’s it going to take for everyone to finally grasp this? What’s it going to take to convince each and every person on this planet that Christ and God is about unconditional love and nothing more? The only truth I know is that if we continue to sign into law any legislation or bills that can ultimately lead to removing any of that amongst us, then maybe the unconditional love of Christ wasn’t and still isn’t present within it…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson