“If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!””
There comes a time when saying, “That’s crazy!” is no longer a sufficient response to the actions of political authorities, whether they be Republican or Democrat. Standing on the sidelines, even in diligent prayer, is not a sufficient response when rights enjoyed become rights threatened.
Today, the House votes on H.R.5. better known as The Equality Act. As noted in the Washington Post:
The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act, to explicitly ban LGBTQ discrimination in the workforce, housing, education, credit, jury service and other areas of American life.
Placards raised high in support proclaim, “Inalienable Rights Are For All Americans!” That seems fair at face value. The problem is that The Equality Act is more than skin deep. This act will turn “equality” on its head. As the Heritage Foundation notes, “H.R. 5 is no act of equality.” Various groups have considered the consequences on this piece of SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) legislation:
H.R. 5 would empower the federal government to impose civil and criminal punishments on citizens who dissent from SOGI ideology, including medical professionals, parents, women and girls, businesses, and charities. The bill would violate their rights to freedom of conscience, religion, and speech. The bill would also take away basic authorities of local communities to determine who is allowed in single-sex facilities and whether biological men and boys are allowed to join women’s and girls’ sports teams.
While the statement I make below may sound partisan and political, it is in fact social commentary:
Which is more an egregious affront to national security: the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump or the ideological totalitarianism that “cancels” those with viewpoints it deems harmful or destructive to their cause?
In his book, The Rise And Triumph Of The Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road To Sexual Freedom, Carl Trueman asks a series of questions that get to the heart of the matter:
Why does our social imaginary make sex such a basic marker of identity, and attitudes to sex such a fundamental test for recognition? Why does the public apparently need to know the sexual orientation of movie stars or their attitude to gay marriage, when neither are particularly relevant to their technical competence to pursue their profession? Why is it so important to educate even elementary school children in the taxonomy of sexual preference? It has not always been that way.
The answer is, in part, that we are in a the midst of a cultural shift that has replaced law based on transcendent truth with ideology rooted in the psychology of self, played out in what Charles Taylor describes as “expressive individualism.”
G.K. Chesteron said, “Thinking means connecting things.” It seems that many who champion “equality” are not “connecting” it with the ramifications that will be anything but equal.
What to do?
I have been ruminating on Paul’s response to Festus, when imprisoned on trumped up charges by those who opposed the gospel he preached. Paul, the man who said, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2 Corinthians 2:2 NIV) and “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), and who understood the only power to change the human heart is the gospel, at this moment before Festus said,
“I appeal to Caesar!”
Had Paul switched allegiance? Had he swapped the power of the gospel for a political stage? Of course not. But Paul understood that to be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven is not to ignore the “rights” as a citizen of earth.
I believe we are at a cultural moment where, leaning ultimately on the sovereignty of God, we must take the responsibility entrusted by God to exercise “the appeal to Caesar.” That is, write your congressman and Senators to express your appreciation for their attention to equal rights, but your opposition to The Equality Act, which will diminish the rights of those who disagree.
Write with kindness.
Write with clarity.
Write with the civility of Paul making his appeal.
If you are looking for help, I would recommend visiting the following sites for help:
Hope in the Lord does not deny responsibility as a citizen living for the Lord. You can be a champion of the gospel and still make an appeal to Caesar.,
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Notes:
“The Equality Act would amend . . .” from “Equality Act introduced in House to provide sweeping LGBTQ protections” by Samantha Schmidt, February 18, 2021. www.washingtonpost.com. Accessed February 24, 2021.
“H.R. 5 is no act of equality” from “H.R. 5 is not act of equality” by Emilie Kao. March 25, 2019. www.heritage.org. Accessed February 24, 2021.
“H.R. 5 would empower the federal government . . .” from “H.R. 5 is not act of equality” by Emilie Kao. March 25, 2019. www.heritage.org. Accessed February 24, 2021.
“Why does our social imaginary make sex such a basic marker…” from The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl R. Trueman. 2020. Page 73.
“Thinking means connecting things…” from Common Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. Chesterton by Dale Ahlquist. 2006. Page 48.