A county clerk from Kentucky, acting on her deeply held religious beliefs, refuses to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples and is jailed. The owners of a small pizzeria in Indiana were asked if they would cater a wedding for a same sex couple if approached. They said they would refuse because it was not reflective of their Christian values. A bakery in Oregon is forced to close its doors because they would not bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple after a judge ordered them to do so. Again, the refusal was not based on discrimination or hate, but deeply held Christian beliefs. If you want to really feel the love and tolerance, attend a pro-life prayer vigil in front of Planned Parenthood or The March For Life at the Capitol in St. Paul or Washington, D.C.

How have we gotten to a point in our society where Christians, who actually put their faith into practice, are being called bigots and haters, spat on and subjected to the most vile threats imaginable? Some have even suffered physical harm. I think its important to remember the words of the Lord Jesus who said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you,” John 15:20. We are living in a time when it is not enough for you to tolerate things that go against your beliefs. You must fully approve or else!

It certainly doesn’t help when our own government passes laws that attack religious freedoms. One such case was the one being made against the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic religious order that cares for the sick, disabled and poor elderly. The Obama administration is using the full power of the federal government to tell them how they can and cannot practice their deeply held religious beliefs by forcing them to provide contraception and abortion coverage in the health care plans for their employees. The fine for non-compliance would be over $4 million a year! This case may be headed to the Supreme Court where people of faith have not fared at all well as of late. All that I have shared is but a tip of the iceberg.

In times such as these, it is well for us to remember the words of our Lord who said, “Blessed are you when they hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the son of man! Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven!” Luke 6:22-23.

   Scott Bute

Alden