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| The Constitution of the United States |
Continuing the subject of religious freedom begun in last week's post This quote is from the Facebook page of David Barton of Wall Builders:
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"Some on the Christian side are now claiming that Kim Davis (the
Country Clerk in Kentucky jailed for refusing to issue homosexual
marriage licenses) has gone too far. They argue that the judge offered
her a way out by allowing others in her office to issue the license, but
she refused. Thus (they argue) Kim is prolonging the punishment by her
own choice. But such claims ignore several key facts.
First, Kim
understands that every marriage license issued out of her office –
whether by her or by someone else – will have the name “Kim Davis”
officially stamped on it. Believing as she does that God does not
approve of homosexual marriage, she does not want her name to ever,
either now or in the future, be associated with something of which God
openly disapproves.
We understand her concern. At WallBuilders,
we have more than 100,000 original or copies of original historic
documents from before 1812. Suppose we had in our possession a
homosexual marriage license issued in 1795 with George Washington’s
signature on it. We would conclude that Washington approved of
homosexual marriage, even if someone below him had issued the license.
(I used Washington’s name in this example because we know that he
believed exactly the opposite on this issue; after all, he instituted
the original ban on homosexuals in the military.)
Kim Davis has
chosen to remain in jail not to be cantankerous or become a martyr; she
remains there because she does not want anyone now or in the future to
be confused about her agreement with Biblical morality.
Second, recall the extensive protections for religious conscience long provided in America:
* Quakers are not forced to fight in wars;
* Jehovah’s Witnesses are not required to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance;
* The Amish are not required to complete the standard compulsory twelve years of education;
* Christian Scientists are not forced to have their children
vaccinated or undergo medical procedures often required by state laws;
And many other examples.
Quakers hold that Bible teachings don’t permit them to be party in
taking another human life. So let's say that the government concedes
that they don’t have to fight in wars; all they have to do is load the
bullets into the guns of the other soldiers who do the killing. This
certainly is not an acceptable compromise for a Quaker.
And Jehovah's
Witnesses refuse to say the Pledge because they believe that allegiance
is owed to God alone and no one else. So let’s say that the government
agrees that they don’t have to say the Pledge; all they have to do is
hold the flag while everyone else recites the Pledge. This compromise
still crosses the line of their religious convictions. We don’t require
any such “compromises” for any other group with religious convictions –
whether Amish, Christian Scientists, Muslims, Jews, Sabbatarians, or so
forth. Why make Kim different?
Third, Christians least of all
should be asking Kim to compromise her conscience. After all, few
subjects in the Bible are stressed as strongly as that of every
individual maintaining a pure conscience before God – referenced more
than thirty times in the New Testament alone; and multiple passages
instruct that public policy be crafted to protect the rights of
conscience.
Consequently, this right is first enshrined in
American legal documents beginning in 1640 and continued for long
thereafter. As John Quincy Adams affirmed, “The transcendent and
overruling principle of the first settlers of New England was
conscience.” A century-and-a-half later, the Founding Fathers affirmed
that support for this right remained unabated:
“Government is
instituted to protect property of every sort. . . . Conscience is the
most sacred of all property.” James Madison, Signer of the Constitution
“It is inconsistent with the spirit of our laws and Constitution to force tender consciences.” Thomas Jefferson
“If I am asked, ‘Why do you obey the will of God?’ I answer, ‘Because
it is my duty so to do.’ If I am asked again, “How do you know this to
be your duty?” I answer again, ‘Because I am told to do so by my moral
sense or conscience’.” James Wilson, Signer of the Declaration and the
Constitution, Original Justice on the U. S. Supreme Court
“The
rights of conscience and private judgment . . . . are by nature subject
to no control but that of Deity, and in that free situation they are now
left.” John Jay, Author of the Federalist Papers and original Chief
Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court
“Consciences of men are not the objects of human legislation.” William Livingston, Signer of the Constitution
Today, America’s three-century-long public policy on this issue is now unknown or ignored.
Significantly, secular nations do not allow differing rights of
conscience but instead demand conformity, which always requires
punishment and coercion. As America allows secularism to become the
dominant force in its culture, the loss of legal protections for the
religious rights of conscience will be a direct casualty. And so here we
are today, with even Christians questioning whether Kim Davis has the
inalienable right to religious conscience that every previous generation
knew that she had."
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Kim Davis is a courageous woman. Please pray for her and her family, and encourage her with a letter or card. The address is:
The Courageous Rowan County Clerk
Mrs. Kim Davis
600 West Main Street,
Room #202
Morehead, KY 40351
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I am happy to report that Kim Davis was released from jail yesterday, September 8. Please note that this was on the condition that she not interfere with homosexuals requesting marriage lisences. This means her ordeal is not over. She said she will not bend on this issue. I admire her for that.
She will still need our support, encouragement and prayers. Also pray for her family and the legal team assisting her. Matt Staver is a fine man, and I admire him for the work he is doing to help Mrs. Davis.
I think it's interesting that only two Presidential candidates attended the rally at the jail just prior to her release. They were Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee. This speaks volumes about where their hearts are. I admire them, too.
Focus on the Family's Facebook page had this quote, and I think it says it all:
INTEGRITY
demands that I do what's right,
even if it's unpleasant and unpopular.
See an update from Kim Davis HERE
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