Bitter/Sweets: Civil Rights

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! {James 2:12-13 NIV}

As if lumping abortion, capital punishment and suicide together was not bad enough: this segment is even worse. For issues over the separation of church and state, homosexual marriage and illegal immigration fit quite nicely under the banner of civil rights.

Let us begin with prayer in schools: shall we? For it is not as much of a political issue now as it was a few years back; but there are still far too many who believe that laws are needed to be enacted in order to insure its return unto the classrooms of our public schools.

Yes, it is indeed a shame that it is no longer welcome; but how is this preventing anyone from praying unto our Heavenly Father anytime they want to? For it is not like it must be done openly for all to see and hear.

In fact: it would do us all well to do just the opposite. For it truly is as it is written: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”{1}

Yes, it can be argued that prayers offered openly can have a good influence upon others—especially upon those who have not come to know our Heavenly Father yet; but cannot a Muslim say the same thing about Allah? After all: we do live in a free society; and what is allowed for one should be allowed for another.

No, this is not to say that we would do well to protect our children from such influences. For our Heavenly Father’s absolute Truth{2} shines the brightest in the midst of spiritual ignorance{3}; but of what comfort is that unto those who refuse to accept that it is the work of His Holy Spirit to seek and to save the lost{4}???

Alas, is this not also a driving force behind the fight to keep our Heavenly Father’s Ten Commandments{5} prominently on display in public places??? For it has been widely taught that it is the duty of the Christian church to make a stand against the evils of this world{6}; and this is something that far too many want to believe is true{7}.

Add opposition unto legally-recognized homosexual marriages unto the list, as well. For far too many have been led to believe that this will be detrimental unto the covenant that our Heavenly Father instituted between a man and a woman{8}.

No, this is not to deny that homosexuality is a sin{9}; but to believe that making it legal for Adam to marry Steve instead of Eve will cause irrevocable harm unto the institution of marriage is utterly ridiculous{10}. For Chuck and Larry or Thelma and Louise getting officially hitched does not make Joseph taking Mary as his lawfully wedded wife anything less than it is—certainly not in the eyes of our Heavenly Father!!!

Yes, it can be argued that making homosexual marriages legal sends the wrong message unto those who want to experiment with their sexuality; but can it not be also argued that making it easier for more to come out into the open also makes it harder for them to deny what is truly in their hearts{11}??? For our Heavenly Father established His Law in order to make it easier for us to recognize sin{12}; and no man-made law can make that any less true{13}.

Lastly: illegal immigration; and this appears to be something completely different. For the great cry for more secure borders has nothing to do with concerns over the spiritual welfare of our children.

Nonetheless: does it not have something in common with the other issues??? After all: are they not all matters of us versus them; and should this not be of grave concern unto all who fear the demise of this country??? For it truly is as it is written: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.{14}

Yes, there is most definitely a great need for improvements to be made. For gangs of hardened criminals slip across like packs of ravenous wolves in search of prey and then avoid prosecution by slipping back across before our law-dogs can catch-up unto them.

There is also the threat of terrorism hanging more over our heads with each passing day; but even this is of lesser concern unto most than someone from another country taking what is ours.
“I’ve worked hard for everything I have; and I’ll be dipped if I’m gonna let some yahoo from who-knows-where get welfare that my tax dollars pay for!” Sound familiar{15}???

[{1}Matthew 6:5-6 NIV; {2}John 14:6; {3}John 8:31-36; {4}John 16:8-11; {5}Exodus 20:3-17; {6}Proverbs 14:12; {7}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {8}Genesis 2:23-24; {9}1 Corinthians 6:9-10; {10}Ephesians 6:10-12; {11}Jeremiah 17:9-10; {12}Romans 5:12-13; {13}Romans 5:20; {14}Proverbs 16:18; {15}Deuteronomy 10:14-19]