Really? Have we actually come to that? Three recent cases suggest that we have.
Navy Chaplain Wes Modder was threatened with firing because he used the Bible and followed his church’s doctrine when counseling military personnel who came to him for guidance. He was doing what he had been commissioned to do, but when his superior officer found that he was explaining biblical teaching on homosexuality, he tried to have him expelled from his position. Fortunately the Navy has explicit guidelines for chaplains, none of which Modder had violated. He has been allowed to keep his position for the time being.
High school football coach Joe Kennedy has been threatened with “discipline, up to and including discharge from District employment” if he doesn’t stop praying at the 50 yard line after games. Coach Kennedy, a former marine combat veteran started the practice of going there alone after games to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing for the teams. Before long other coaches from both teams decided to join him as did several players. They made this choice with no coercion, but the Washington State school system has decided this must not be tolerated. If the coach wants to pray, he can only do it in private.
Kentucky Court Clerk Kim Davis asked to be allowed to keep her name off marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples. Because that was not allowed, she refused to issue marriage licenses. As a result she was jailed. The circuit court judge had her released after several days but ordered that she not interfere with her deputies in issuing marriage licenses (which still had her name on them). Legal action is ongoing on her behalf.
Those who pooh pooh the idea that these situations constitute religious persecution obviously don’t see the loss of a job, a business, or freedom as persecution. They must think that all the person has to do is go along to get along. In other words give up their strongly held beliefs in favor of political correctness. Don’t they realize that in areas of the world overrun with ISIS terrorists, Christians are offered the same choice in order to live?
Os Guinness in The Global Public Square, reported that the U.S. “in 2010, for the very first time,… moved into the top sixteen countries of the world where there was a rise in both government restrictions and social hostility toward religion.”
Americans must recognize the truth that this situation is really occurring and if left unchecked will lead to a loss of freedom of conscience and belief for everyone.
Educating for Truth 