Scott Tibbs
blog post
January 27th, 2005

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Religious freedom under attack

My friend Josh Claybourn brings news of a disturbing new law to his readers: An Illinois law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation". What is important here is that the law does not exempt churches. Joseph Farah has a commentary on the matter at World Net Daily.

Before we proceed, I would like to point out the following. From the First Amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
From the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States

Common sense would indicate that the above two passages should have caused Governor Blagojevich to veto the law. However, common sense apparently does not exist in Mr. Blagojevich's mind.

This law is a clear violation of the United States Constitution. Illinois law now actually prohibits churches from weeding our prospective employees on the basis of homosexual behavior, something the Bible clearly labels as sinful.

Some would argue that pointing out and condemning sin is "hateful" or "intolerant". It is exactly the opposite. Speaking the truth about God's Word and His Gospel is an act of love, giving the unredeemed an opportunity to accept God's unmerited grace.

The Illinois Legislature and Governor have attempted to outlaw such acts of love. We can hold out hope that the court system will strike down this intolerable attack on liberty, but one can never be sure that the courts will actually read the Constitution they are sworn to uphold. In the meantime, I suggest that Illinois politicians read Isaiah 5:20, which says "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"