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How Shall We Respond?!
Only a few hours ago, the North Carolina Values Coalition made a Facebook post on its page about a Massachusetts law to become effective on October 1, 2016. “According to the ‘Gender Identity Guidance‘ released by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) last week, even churches must refer to transgender individuals by their chosen ‘gender identity,’ ignoring their biological sex.” Being a proponent of fact checking, I found the September 1, 2016 Gender Identity Guidance document online and began to read. In Section II. D., I located these words, “Even a church could be seen as a place of public accommodation if it holds a secular event, such as a spaghetti supper, that is open to the general public.”
Is this an infringement upon religious liberty? Is this guidance document correct that a church property has transitioned into the secular realm when it offers an open invitation event, e.g. a spaghetti supper? Is this the first step onto a slippery slope of requiring religious groups meeting in religious properties (a church building, synagogue, mosque, et al) to always allow people to use restrooms and locker rooms based upon gender identity? Could it not eventually be concluded that inviting someone to attend worship makes it a quasi-public accommodation?
What this entire post and document make clear to me again is that, as Christ’s body, we are always missionaries in a foreign land. The culture of the USA, that was once friendly to the church, is at best ambivalent. Should we be upset by this turn of events? Hardly, because this essentially places US Christians on the same footing as those in the remainder of the world.
How should we respond? Certainly, I will choose to vote for political candidates that best suit the culture I cherish in the this nation. However, as a believer I need to be sure that I always reach out with the love of Jesus to every person…even those hostile to Christianity. Allow me to close by sharing a link to a video I believe will be encouraging and challenging. Take 5 minutes to watch Chris’ story by clicking here. If we are not careful about our actions, who will open the door fro people like Chris to find their way? You think about that!
Praying for more to be His,
Reggie Hundley
Executive Director
Mission Services Association, Inc.
the missions network
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