A Moral Wrong Does Not Equal a Civil Right

The SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) legislative movement that is sweeping across America has produced a collision of two incompatible worldviews which will forever be irreconcilable. Biblical fidelity and sexual anarchy are simply contradictory to each other and no amount of understanding or negotiation in a legislative process will provide an acceptable compromise for either view. That is why I have often said, “There is no such thing as neutral”. When it comes to a prevailing ideology of a culture some group’s worldview ultimately dominates. This is why the SOGI debates are critical and foundational whether they be held locally, statewide, or nationally.

One of the critiques given to Bible-believing Christians in their opposition to SOGI ordinances is the analogy of racism. The reply from LGBT activists, as well as many compartmentalized Christians, is that civil rights for homosexuals and their events is exactly the same as civil rights legislation of the 1960’s. The picture is painted that Christians of that era (and perhaps some today) use “a sincere religious conscience” as their justification to discriminate against Black Americans. (By the way, I am willing to use the terminology of African-American, but in this instance I want to underscore that we are all Americans with different skin pigmentation and not simply hyphenated sub-groups who happen to live in America.)

Let me be clear, the Church has it’s responsibility to take ownership of the sins it embraced as this country awakened to the evil of slavery and it’s repercussions. I, in no way, am absolving those who called themselves “Christian” and perpetuated an actual slave system or subsequent systemic discrimination that both was and is unbiblical. However, to over generalize and indict the whole Church for these sins would be equally unfair. The abolitionist movement and the civil rights movement of the 1960’s were in no small part led by Bible-believing Christians. These movements were empowered by a clear understanding of Scripture and the realization that skin color was an immutable characteristic. Race implies nothing about one’s actions or choices. On the other hand, SOGI concerns are directly related to one’s actions. To be described as LGBT necessarily means more than attraction or proclivity, but one who voluntarily engages in sexual conduct consistent with that attraction. This is a profound difference from those Black Americans in the Civil Rights era who from the moment they were born were excluded by law and practice from massive areas of public life simply because their skin pigmentation was darker than others. Unfortunately, this comparison is used in far too many discussions as many want to assume that sexual attraction is as immutable as skin color. (BTW… Many Black Americans would take great exception to that analogy.) To put it simply, a moral wrong does not make a civil right.

Recently, while visiting with a group of pastors, this analogy was used to caution our work with regards to challenging SOGI legislation. The narrative is that LGBT people are recipients of incredible discrimination and victimization on numerous fronts. The (false) narrative is usually presented as:

1. They are marginalized in our culture.

Really? Have you watched prime time TV? Have you seen the various design and home building networks? Have you watched the homosexual characters that are always being assimilated into every media outlet imaginable? To suggest marginalization is at best disingenuous and at worst a strategic tactic to employ sympathy. Whether I think it to be right or not, it is beyond question one of the most incredibly affirming times in history to be LGBT. ESPN gave a “Courage” award to Bruce Jenner as he “transgendered” before the nation. The NBA and NFL are threatening economic reprisals for states that refuse to venerate this group. To feign this feeling of marginalization when in fact you are being mainstreamed is nothing more than a ruse to continue to play on the sympathies of a population who isn’t connecting the dots.

2. They are economically disadvantaged.

I did a recent search and found that the average yearly salary of an LGBT person is 20% higher than the average “straight” American. That means if the average salary of a straight American is $50,000 a year, then the average LGBT is making $60,000 a year. Add on top of that the seemingly untold millions of dollars of fund raising that goes on to underwrite these SOGI attempts and the increasing numbers of people “coming out” in high paying fields, seems to run counter of the narrative that claims impoverished status. This group is not remotely close to the systemic poverty faced in the Black communities of America.

3. They face widespread discrimination.

Businesses are scrambling to make sure they can access the large number of LGBT dollars on numerous fronts. Theme Parks, sporting events, and city parades are evidences of the greater acceptance and facilitation of LGBT people. Again, I have a Biblical and moral concern about all of this, but to say that there is widespread discrimination can simply not be documented with any consistency. Even in the Bakeries and Flower Shops of America, LGBT people are being serviced with goods. The problem only arises when businesses are asked to facilitate events that violate a clear religious tenant.

4. Their “plight” is analogous to interracial marriage.

This is a twisting of what is being argued within the framework of civil rights. An interracial couple who desires to be married are still affirming the foundational concept of marriage which is between one man and one woman. Those who argued against interracial marriage had to do so based on the race component. A Biblical case can be made for interracial marriage with several clear portions of Scripture as well as the civil notion that these are two people representing opposite genders which fulfills the universally held concept of a marriage union. Same-sex unions, in an attempt for legitimacy, have tried to make this an analogy. This is revisionist history and the refusal of servicing a so-called “gay marriage” is not discriminatory but rather a sincere religious response to an event that is expressly forbidden in the Scripture. To coerce a Christian business to facilitate these events (even though there may be those that might choose for their religious reasons to service the event) is a clear violation of the first amendment and more importantly a precept of Scripture. For example, if an interracial couple of females (lesbians) entered a bakery seeking a baker to provide a cake for their same-sex ceremony and they were refused, the premise of that refusal is not based on their race but rather the religious legitimacy of the wedding ceremony and the bakers participation.

Again, SOGI legislation is an attempt of government to make something morally wrong a civil right. I fully understand that people sin in all manners and ways, but creating a special protected class of “gossipers, liars, adulterers, fornicators, cheaters, and various other sinful activity” makes as little sense as these SOGI ordinances. It makes even less sense when you are required to violate your conscience and ultimately disobey God. Government has now crossed a very sacred line.