Who is speaking up for religious liberty?

By Joseph Farah

People have been telling me for years to keep an eye on Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, way back when he was just a little-known member of Congress.

I watched him speak. He hit all the right notes. But there was something about him that bothered me. I just couldn’t put my finger on it, until last week. He’s a gutless weakling who cares more about bad press than right and wrong.

The days when he was taken seriously as presidential timber are over – and rightfully so. He had his moment when God gave him a platform on the national stage, and he caved like a house of cards. It was pathetic to behold.

But where is the leadership to stand in the gap during this crisis? And make no mistake about it: It’s a crisis we face at this moment. The stakes are high. Homosexuals and their champions from the squishy liberals to the radical left are going for the kill.

The issue is whether religious freedom – the very basis for the settling of the America and the foundation for the republic in which we live – will have to take a permanent backseat to bogus “non-discrimination” laws elevating aberrant behavior and sinful lifestyles. It’s just that simple.

Without a doubt, this issue is not going away.

It will be a major focus for presidential candidates over the next 18 months.

It’s the new litmus test for the media.

How Christians and their leadership respond will determine who wins the debate.

So who is articulating truth boldly and forcefully in this challenging time?

Where is the church?

Where is the salt and light?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for his articulate stands, but I would have to say the premiere defender of faith in this crisis is a talk-show host. Granted he’s not just a talk-show host. He’s No. 1. He’s a superstar – Rush Limbaugh. But he’s also one who, throughout much of his career, has avoided questions of faith in favor politics. Perhaps he sees what I see: that the art of politics is shallow, meaningless and useless without a foundation built on transcendent values – especially when the opposition is hell-bent on denying or destroying such values.

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Anyway, Rush Limbaugh may be experiencing his finest hour. I’m amazed at how beautifully he, virtually alone, has been, day after day, speaking truth to brute force.

But why is he virtually alone?

Where are the other articulate voices of reason and sanity in this hour of crisis?

Where is the Christian leadership?

Where are the mega-pastors?

Where is the rest of the church?

Why are the only people standing up against this onslaught pizzeria owners and florists and bakers and caterers and wedding photographers?

Some presidential candidate has a great opportunity to lead by example right now – to speak the truth boldly and forcefully.

If not, this fight could be over quickly – without any reasoned national debate.

Will this madness affect the imminent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, which, fundamentally, is the bulldozer being used to run roughshod over religious liberty?

Barack Obama got elected president twice by promising to deliver the “fundamental transformation of America.” He has more than lived up to that campaign vow. But what’s happening culturally now, without his speaking a word about it, could be more powerful and transformative for the country in the long run than any of his unconstitutional executive orders, his misuse of the Justice Department, his abuse of the Internal Revenue Service to target political enemies and chaotic foreign policy adventures.

I really believe the stakes are that high.

Meanwhile, the state of the church in America is in shambles. Where are the prayer vigils? Where are the prophetic voices? When is the congregation of the saints going to arise? Are they aware of the sacrifices previous generations made for their protection? Do they care about the rights of future generations of believers to practice their faith?

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Joseph Farah

Joseph Farah is founder, editor and chief executive officer of WND. He is the author or co-author of 13 books that have sold more than 5 million copies, including his latest, "The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament." Before launching WND as the first independent online news outlet in 1997, he served as editor in chief of major market dailies including the legendary Sacramento Union. Read more of Joseph Farah's articles here.


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