Vancouver resident Julia Dawn Seaver asks ‘where is the church in all this?’
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com.
Julia Dawn Seaver
Vancouver resident
Pastors, Where Are You? When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in 2015 Justice Alito wrote, “I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools.” Didn’t take long, did it?
Christians are being shut out on social media and losing their businesses or being fired if they don’t provide goods and services for events that go against their beliefs; legislators push to require private businesses and taxpayers to provide insurance that covers birth control and abortion; schools are telling kindergartners that they can be male, female, both, or neither; and teens that they can get birth control and abortions without their parents’ consent or knowledge; sex-ed classes include instructions on the topics found in 50 Shades of Grey; schools and libraries host drag shows; parents are losing custody if they question the wisdom in transitioning their children, while schools tell them they don’t have the right to opt their children out of some of the sex and gender curriculum; drag queens are conducting story hours for toddlers; women are forced to tolerate men in their private spaces, and female athletes are losing competitions and scholarships to males.
Where is the church in all of this? Good question. Some have jumped on the politically correct bandwagon becoming little more than social clubs masquerading as churches, Pride flags displayed more prominently than the cross as they sanctify same-sex marriage, provide renaming ceremonies for transgender people, bless abortion facilities, participate in Pride parades, and host drag queen story hours for children. Like Pontius Pilate who condemned Jesus despite knowing he was innocent, they go along with the crowd and do the easy thing, instead of the right thing.
Rev. Billy Graham cautioned, “Pilate will forever stand as a warning against giving in to the pressure of the crowd and turning our backs on Jesus.” Some churches hide behind “We don’t do politics.” They see their role as simply talking about and bringing people to Jesus. That’s wonderful of course, but they bring them to Jesus and then what? Their job is done? The end?
Sorry kid, I hope your faith in Jesus brings you comfort when the school teaches your child garbage under the guise of anti-bullying and sex-ed programs. May your faith sustain you when your business is shut down for not wanting to provide goods or services for something that goes against your religious beliefs. Upset because your daughter saw a naked man in the locker room? Gee, that’s too bad.
What they get wrong is that this is not the church trying to enter politics. This isn’t about the church recommending candidate A over candidate B or taking sides on a local issue. No, the church isn’t seeking to enter politics. Rather, politics has stormed the doors of the church and is actively working to take away the religious freedoms that we’ve enjoyed since the first settlers came to our shores escaping religious persecution.
Pastors, are you ready to give it up now? If not, then find your feet, put on the armor, and heed Paul’s words to the Galatians, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” And do it soon.
