“Non-discrimination” is one of those new buzzwords that has widespread appeal.
After all, nobody can defend discrimination against people because of immutable characteristics like their skin color, religious beliefs or ethnicity, right?
But America has moved way beyond that ideal. The cultural and political pendulum has swung so far the other direction that “non-discrimination” actually means victimizing people because of their religious convictions.
It’s happening all over the country, but here is just one example to bring it home.
In the rush to condemn “bias” of any kind, in particular discrimination against people based on their sexual proclivities and behavior, faithful, Bible-believing Christians and Jews could be permanently banned from participation in city government, business and even employment!
“Now wait a minute, Farah,” you say. What are you talking about? That wouldn’t be legal. This is still America, where people’s religious convictions are protected by the First Amendment! Furthermore, the Constitution explicitly prohibits any religious test as a qualification for office or public trust.”
Well, tell the city council in San Antonio.
There, council members are on a path to add “sexual identity” and “sexual orientation” to the city non-discrimination ordinance, which, on the face of it, would bar anyone from office who has “demonstrated a bias” against someone based on categories that include “sexual orientation.” The proposal does not define “bias,” which, according to local church leaders, could mean someone who declares homosexual behavior is sinful, as the Bible clearly does.
The new ordinance would state: “No person shall be appointed to a position if the city council finds that such person has, prior to such proposed appointment, engaged in discrimination or demonstrated a bias, by word or deed, against any person, group or organization on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, age, or disability.”
Anyone in office who demonstrates a bias would be considered guilty of “malfeasance” and removed from office.
“Bias,” in other words, is not necessarily an act of discrimination. It is a thought crime.
Church leaders have gathered to discuss what they consider an alarming plan. They said it would allow the city council “to prohibit those that speak their religious beliefs regarding homosexuality from serving on city boards.”
The council is set to take up the matter again later this month.
But this is only the beginning. This kind of “thinking” is spreading across the country. It’s easy to see how “good intentions” can lead to bad results.
It’s why America’s founders established a Bill of Rights. These were not “special privileges” bestowed by government. Instead, they were recognized as God-given rights. Whenever government starts handing out special protections of classes of people, especially based on their behavior, you are no longer protecting rights, you are denying them.
That’s where the homosexual agenda is rapidly heading.
The movement started with this slogan: “It’s nobody’s business what I do in the privacy of my own bedroom.” It has become a movement that is obsessed with what people do in their own bedroom – a movement that seeks to identify people based on what they do in their own bedroom, or anywhere else for that matter.
Yet, few Americans have yet realized how far off the rails this train has veered.
The popular culture loves, adores and worships all things “gay.”
In such an environment, is it really that tough to imagine Americans being victimized because of their most heart-felt religious convictions?
It’s easy. It’s just one small, inevitable step from where we were just a few years ago.
|