In the culture wars going on here in the U.S., Hoosier Christians have just won a decisive battle.
Now that Indiana Governor Mike Pence has signed the Religious Freedom Act legislation into law Christian business owners who choose to do so can legally discriminate against gay and lesbian customers.
This is not just a law allowing wedding photographers, caterers, or florists to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. All businesses have this right.
So if you’re gay living in Indiana, need a prescription filled, and happen to go to a pharmacy owned or operated by Christians who believe you have chosen a “life style” that is an abomination before God, you probably won’t get it filled.
That’s the way things were in my native Virginia when I was growing up, only the discrimination was directed at black citizens.
White business owners insisted they had the right not to offer you service if your skin color was black, and often claimed the Bible said separation of the races was ordained by God.
Same thing, just different groups.
Sponsors of the new Indiana law insist they don’t want to discriminate against anyone. They are simply protecting the religious freedom…of Christians who want to discriminate.
Before this legislation businesses could not refuse service on the basis of sexual orientation anymore than on the basis of race, but not anymore. And not just Christian businesses. Now any business can discriminate against gays and lesbians whatever its religious tradition.
But make no mistake, Christians are the ones who fought for this legislation so they deserve all the credit.
Of course, not all Christians in Indiana supported this effort. The national offices of my denomination are located in Indianapolis, and three of our top leaders sent a letter to Governor Pence asking him not to sign the bill, to no avail.
But they are liberals, you know, the kind of Christians who don’t believe in the Bible, who make everything about justice or compassion, and who support the gay life style. They even favor gay and lesbian people becoming ministers.
Real Hoosier Christians knew better. They recognized the danger the “gay agenda” is posing to America and so they joined with Christian politicians like themselves to put a stop to it in their state.
Who cares if people think the new law sanctions discrimination. If it’s a choice between “discrimination or damnation,” so be it. Somebody has to stand up for what is right.
No doubt they think they are setting an example of what it means to be a Christian.
All I can say is, what an example, what an example, indeed.
linnposts.com 
With Christians like these, my job is WAY harder than it needs to be. These white washed tombs…. And yet Jesus says to “love them.” I’m struggling.
AZ tried this same stunt a year or so ago. The bill was presented to the Leg by a one man (in this case one woman) hard core Christian right “organization” called The Center for AZ Policy (Now that sounds good, right?). It passed both houses, but was actually vetoed by Jan Brewer. our then R Gov. It allowed discrimination based on one’s “sincerely held religious beliefs”. This kind of stuff sort of goes along with Voter Suppression laws which have been passed in 20 some states, every one of which is Repub controlled. Is their a pattern here?
Jan,
There are so many things I could say, most of then unprintable, but I really am speechless right now — and so weary of the ignorance and hate that surrounds us, not just in Indiana…….
William Stringfellow wrote: “The image of Christian witness in the world is that of a people who have so completely divested themselves of their own individual self-interest that they may intercede–stand in the place of, represent, advocate–the cause of another, any other at all.” …especially the marginalized, I would add. Indian’s idea of “Christian” witness doesn’t align with that of Jesus.
There’s at least one more characteristic that ‘Liberals’ have in addition to those you have mentioned, Jan.
They serve more than they judge.
I simply believe Christians who discriminate against GLB folk in any way whatsoever are not practicing the principles that Jesus gave us all to live out.
The state of Indiana just took a step backward for humanity. SAD!
I see now that Arkansas is trying to do the same thing. SADDER yet!
Apparently discrimination by Christians is contagious.