(September 4, 2015 at 1:15 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: Personally I find myself conflicted on this issue. One the one hand, I do not see how a government employee can legitimately claim to engage in civil disobedience. I mean aren't you rebelling against the system of which you are a part. It would be like a soldier suddenly deciding to be a conscientious objector but still want to stay in the military. On the other hand, it creates a tacit religious test for public office. In other words, no evangelical Christian can serve as a public official that even tangentially endorses homosexual conduct.
I love this part:
" It would be like a soldier suddenly deciding to be a conscientious objector but still want to stay in the military. "
However, I have a slight issue with this line:
" no evangelical Christian can serve as a public official that even tangentially endorses homosexual conduct. "
The law does not ENDORSE homosexuality. It is not being PROMOTED.
It is simply being ALLOWED.
Anyway, that's not the main point, here.
You are observing the conflict between being a Christian and working in a job that tolerates homosexuality.
What I have been trying to get Christians to realize (and will make it possible for them to work such jobs)
is that there is really nothing preventing you from being BOTH a good Christian,
AND a supporter of secular equality.
Indeed, as a Christian (nevermind as an American)
you might even view it as your RESPONSIBILITY to promote equal rights for all.
Remember:
Jesus never expected His followers to go out and try to compel non-Christians to live
according to Christian morals.
Jesus never told you to endeavor to pass His teachings into Civil Law.
If I were personally a Christian, myself,
I would not only tolerate,
but PROMOTE equal secular rights for the LGBT, because
1. I would believe that the power of God to prevail is far, far greater than any amount of legislation;
by removing political roadblocks, I demonstrate my faith.
2. Jesus didn't want people coerced into living according to His teachings;
He wanted them to come freely...even when they could just as easily go the other way.
3. Christians believe God only values what is in a person's heart,
...and in their hearts, those gay people still very much want to get married
regardless of whether or not the laws of man say it is legal or not.
....so, I accomplish NOTHING in the way of "serving God", by limiting the rights of non-Christians.
4. ....therefore, to limit their rights would only serve the purpose of accommodating my OWN comfort-level,
and there is something particularly unsavoury about a Christian who is
- doing something God never asked them to do
- then trying to claim they are only doing it to serve God
- when they are actually doing it to serve themselves.
If I was God, that would piss me off.
