Because of local circumstances that warrant discussion, I am straying from my series on separation of power. This is to alert you to trends taking place all over the country in local governments.

Over the last five decades the liberals/progressives have taken to using the courts to achieve laws that they could not get passed through the correct legislative process. (The fact that the courts are willing to do it is against the whole separation of powers and checks and balances.) The main targets have been laws concerning social, moral and religious issues and in so doing they have changed the culture of the nation. Of course, they had help from the media, TV, music, and movies.

Because of these court cases prayer, Bible reading, and the Ten Commandments have been removed and banned from our schools. Abortion was legalized which has resulted in an ever increasing culture of death in the nation as life has been cheapened. Many of these laws sound good and seem to come from good intentions but the resulting consequences have been anything but good.

In recent years we have begun to see an additional front that is targeting individual cities in getting ordinances passed that aid in the promotion of the homosexual agenda and same-sex marriage. By using the nondiscrimination ordinances in local governments to include “sexual orientation” and “gender Identity” it sets up a special class that in all actuality is already protected by federal and most state laws already.

These ordinances prohibit discrimination in places of public accommodation, employment and housing practices and city contracting. The language is vague and the power to regulate this is given to an unelected bureaucrat such as the city manager. There are statistics given to back up a real need to expand the nondiscrimination ordinances.
On December 8, 2014 the city council of the city of Plano, TX approved by at 5-3 vote amending its nondiscrimination policy. The citizens were only given the required minimum notice of the public hearing before the final vote. The testimony was 80% against and I am sorry to report that the Christian citizens of Plano were treated with contempt. It was astounding to witness the disrespect and disinterest in what the majority of Plano citizens had to say.

The majority of testimony was centered on issues of conscience, freedom of religion and free speech. In no way was there any disrespect given towards the homosexual community. It was more about our First Amendment rights being trampled on as citizens and business owners. This policy is a direct assault on Christians, Jews and Muslims by forcing them to violate their sincerely-held religious beliefs, in contravention of federal and state laws protecting persons of faith.

However, they will allow businesses to apply for a waiver in order to do business with the city. In other words, you must get permission to live out your sincerely held religious views (first amendment freedoms and freedom of conscience). The Liberty Institute is filing a lawsuit while the Plano churches and citizens organize a petition drive to put this ordinance on the ballot for a vote of the people in May. Unfortunately, time is short on this effort compared to the time Houston and San Antonio had to organize and try to stop their ordinances.

I share this information so as to alert everyone in every city to be on alert that this is coming your way. In areas where they have these laws in place it is being used to put Christian businesses out of business. It seems that they don’t just want us to embrace their lifestyle choices but they actually want to punish us for believing God. We, on the other hand, must walk circumspectly before the Lord. Speaking truth in love while standing strong for righteousness. We are all guilty of sin and rebellion so who are we to cast stones. No, we are to respect every citizen’s right to their beliefs. It is that American tradition that has allowed for true freedom of religion to flourish unlike most the nations of the world. Be alert, pay attention to what your city officials are doing and pray!

Next Week: We will continue with the series on Separation of Power

Questions for Discussion: What do you believe is the problem with the church taking a back seat on the moral issues of the day? How has it impacted society?