Christian Counseling under Assault – This week a homosexual activist group reported findings from their undercover “sting” operation at Minnesota Christian counseling clinic owned by Republican Presidential candidate Michelle Bachman and her husband, Marcus. Sympathetic national media seemed shocked that the Christian counseling center offered help for homosexuals to break free from addiction to homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ. Where will the homosexual assault on religious liberty stop?
Meanwhile, the right-wing website Lifesite News is sounding the alarm simply because NY Gov Andrew Cuomo has told the state's marriage clerks that they must comply with the law and sign their names on same-sex marriage licenses.
In these two stories is a theme which is recurrent throughout many religious right Christian and evangelical circles - the idea that someone's religious beliefs trumps the fact that they are not honest or that they have a job to do.
Both stories are really simple.
Bachmann lied and was caught in his deception. He initially said that his clinic does not engage in ex-gay therapy. And he was proven to be a liar by the undercover video.
But some folks who call themselves Christians aren't questioning the fact that Bachmann lied because they are too busy spinning conspiracy theories as to how the entire controversy is a "plot against Marcus and Michele Bachmann and evangelicals."
What's more, these folks actually embrace the fraudulent therapy done by Bachmann's clinic while conveniently omitting the fact that he lied about it.
And to top it all off, they do all of this while talking about "morals" and "values" and "upholding God's truth."
It's a bizarre gymnastic conundrum which should alarm anyone who really do care about morals and values.
The case in NY is even easier to figure out.
As shown by Lifesite News, some folks actually believe that someone working for state government should be absolved from following the rules of their job simply because they are Christian.
The question of where the line should be drawn is a serious one. It should not be taken lightly.
If state workers can use the Biblical verses as an excuse to not sign same-sex marriage licenses, then what's the justification of them not using Biblical verses to deny interracial couples their licenses (i.e. the Tower of Babel story) or refusing to sign licenses because the woman in the potential marriage may have signed it before the man (in defiance to what some say about the supposed subservient position of a woman in a relationship in accordance to Scripture).
Just when was the Biblical verse "render to Caesar what is Caesar's" replaced by "I'm a Christian so I deserve more rights than you?"
It's ironic that the same evangelicals and Christians who support all of this mess are constantly complaining about how Christianity has a bad name in this country.
Maybe these "Christians" should stop acting like a bunch of self-righteous, spoiled brats who want their way all of the time.
umm, the clerk in New York was elected to the position! i'm assuming that her oath included to uphold the laws of the state of New York.
ReplyDeleteif she couldn't do that, then her resignation should be a moot point; but the NOMist's will undoubtedly make her a victim...
This clerk is a victim, of her own bigotry and fear.
ReplyDeleteListen to the far right of the Christian population in this country and you will see that they are ALWAYS being persecuted for their faith. It never stops. Or, at least they want us to THINK it never stops. These dear folks making such claims wouldn't know oppression, real oppression, oppression because of personal beliefs, if it sat in the front pew some Sunday morning. It's just a device to obfuscate, and to deflect criticism. Christians in their view are always on the shot end of it all and SO misunderstood.
ReplyDeleteThe imaginary war on Christianity! I detest the American Family Association and the American Research Council - both hate groups according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. They fought real hard against the Matthew Sheppard Act, because they said it went against their rights. They say the most hateful things, and when they are called out on them, they play the victim card!
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