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
I am truly stunned that in today’s age of supposed enlightment such fear and hatred still exist in my country. First and foremost this law has nothing what so ever to do with the teaching of Jesus the Christ, nor does it have anything to do with supposed religious freedoms. It is purely and simply a tool of the hard core right wing fear mongering political establishment to deny me the rights and priviliges guaranteed in our constitution.
Sadly what these closed minded people have done is open up a Pandora’s box of possible discrimination toward any and all people who are not white,Christian, males. The very term “sincere religious belief” is wide open to interpretation. Who decides who is sincere. What “religions” are considered to be sincere. I honestly think we all know the answer to that question.
Now with all that being said I wonder if in some unintended ways the LGBTQ community has created this backlash of fear and anger. What right do we really have to force a bakery to make us a cake if they truly disagree with who we are. Go somewhere and find people you love and accept us as we are. Human beings…….
Dexter, I feel your pain and my heart goes out to all those who continue to suffer at the hands of polarized religious views. Hopefully our words and our prayers will change this one day for good.
Good post. Very true. Though it’s always flipped around to being ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’, that phrase ticks me off everytime, cause their still judging me. Nothing like the big government they rally against dictating how others should live at their own hands, hypocrites!!
Thank you Scott for your comments! It’s such a difficult subject right now for all of us isn’t it?
It’s time for our law makers and politicians to sit and reflect on what they are allowing to happen. First and foremost, this country was founded on religious freedom. The pilgrims and puritans fled England because of their religious beliefs and how they long to have the right of choice and now the oppressors are at it again.
We have separation of church and state and its time that those who so proudly wear their religion on their sleeve sit back and take notice that they are not preaching Christ’s word, there are merely distorting it for their own purposes. Once and for all, let everyone live in peace and allow them the right of liberty and freedom.
The amount of energy wasted on worrying about how someone loves and who they love is far less important than those that are being persecuted in other places, merely for their religious beliefs. The day shall come when big government interferes with their lives and then how will they feel. Just think, we could be in China praying on our knees to God and then some individual walks up from behind and whispers in their ear, “Religion is poison” and then a loud bang. Shot in the head because they were being spiritual and doing nothing to harm anyone around.
Perhaps this is just idle chatter and it is my own opinion. I do respect anyone for their beliefs and their convictions; however, I do not have tolerance for their ignorance in forcing everyone to believe their way. It is what it is but I don’t feel that I am asking the government to force my homosexuality on everyone else and I certainly do not wish for the religious to tell me where I can go and what I can do. I would like to know what they are so adamant to hide. Perhaps those things that they hide should be made into law and then they should be openly discriminated against so they can taste their own medicine.
I think Chris’ comment is exactly right. I think the law-makers and politicians need to look at this law. Sadly, it seems they *are* looking at this law, but what they are saying is this: “Hallelujah! Look at what we have wrought!”
In the end, it will be the money of non-religious businesses that will repeal this abomination. Concerts cancelling, conventions pulling out, other states’ leaders refusing travel to Indiana, businesses choosing to locate elsewhere – THIS is what’s making people think twice about this law.
People? The creatures who created this law don’t give a DAMN about people, or God. There is no part of “Christ” or “Christianity” (in the classic sense of love of God and neighbor) in this. Their primary tools are fear, ignorance, and division. As long as there is a “them” that can be counted on to be the enemy of “us,” the folks who created this law will have won the day. And the only force that can weaken their might is economic power… because the conservatives have already bought the vote (or allowed so-called ministers to threaten voters with Hell) in places like this.
I am grateful to those who are standing up and saying, “Nope, we’re not going to do business in Indiana. Nope, we’re not going to travel to Indianapolis. Just like Woodward and Bernstein in ‘All The President’s Men’ forty years ago, we’ll just let them ‘follow the money’ and see what happens.” There were reports today that they were going to try to change the law to make it non-discriminatory (or at least appear so), but I’m not sure anything short of repeal is going to change attitudes.
Arkansas has enacted virtually the same bill – and that state is so “red,” the only way to get it vetoed or repealed will be if Walmart bends their will toward the state capitol. The ThinkProgress.com website says, “Unlike the scramble now happening in Indiana, [Arkansas] lawmakers do not plan to include any clarification or carve-outs for nondiscrimination protections.” Arkansas – about 60 miles away from our Missouri home – is set to become the most anti-LGBT state in the nation.
Here in Springfield, MO, we are six days away from a showdown between the Baptist and Assemblies of God religious powerhouses and the LGBT community (and its allies). The false shepherds leading local mega-churches have already publicly (and without shame) told their members how they should vote, from the pulpit. Only a concerted appearance of the LGBT-and-allies community on election day will prevent a conservative-led repeal of LGBT housing and employment protections.
No, there is nothing of “Christ” in this. It is self-will, it is fear and ignorance, wrapped in the Flag and carrying a Bible. They have forgotten what that flag stands for, and they have ignored the basic message of the Bible – and unless good people stand up for what’s right, they will win.
It scares me to death, some days.