“This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.” –Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
America is an idea that has created the greatest freedom of opportunity, property ownership and religious freedom rooted in tolerance. The type of tolerance that embraced immigrants from all religious backgrounds without compromising the Christian roots and principles upon which the nation was founded. The type of tolerance that respected the individual’s right to disagree with our theology while allowing all people from all backgrounds to live, work and play together in peace. The United States of America is the only nation where this takes place. Most nations operate with much more discrimination.
How can that be you might be asking because all we hear from the mainstream media is what a horrible racist nation we have and how bad sexual orientation discrimination is in America? However, anyone who spends any time in other nations or studying other nations knows racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual orientation discrimination is far worse in those nations than it is here. The truth is that America has always been welcoming and less discriminating than any other nation. The irony is that the LGBT community would not be able to do what they are doing except for the sacrifice of the Pilgrims and Puritans, a small group of believing Christians seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity (these two go hand in hand). They were willing to risk everything to come to America and create a new nation that respected the rights of all.
We, as Christians, need to remember our roots and gather strength from our ancestors who were willing to face death to have a better life. The recent uproar regarding Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs) is based in lies. Lies that are being irrationally pushed by the mainstream network news and talking heads. The real truth is that much of what is reported as news is actually made up in order to push an anti-Christian agenda on Americans. Similar to 1930’s Germany where the Jews were the enemy and cause of all the nations’ problems. Christianity has become, in the eyes of the progressives and their friends in media the enemy of America.
True discrimination prohibits one group from getting ahead educationally and economically. This is not happening to the LGBT community. Just like so many of the recent crises of the last six years this is just another fake news story. In other words there is no crisis. The crisis is in how we define words. Definitions matter and the true definition of tolerance is that it is a two-way street but by today’s “new” definition it is a one-way street where you must believe exactly as I do or else!
Because God loves us as we are, we are to love each other as we are. Just because we believe the Bible and love God doesn’t make us bigots. If God’s word is true then it is true for all to take seriously and walk before God according to His precepts. We are to speak the truth in love and love our neighbor. Love is the key. As Christians are we condemning those who live an alternate lifestyle or are we loving them? We can love without condoning sin, Jesus did not condone sin but He exhibited unconditional love for the sinner. Their behavior is no different than our sinful behavior. Sin is sin no matter in God’s eye. When we receive His plan for our salvation and make Jesus Lord of our lives He forgives our sin and remembers it no more. That is the Good News!
Next Week: Discrimination and the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Dinner Table Discussion Question: How has the Christian community treated the LGBT community and what can be done to turn the situation around. Are we reaping from them what we have sown?