One of the biggest issues in the news this past week has been the Indiana Religious Freedom Law. Oh how people were super pissed off! Now, the point is sorta moot. The Indiana governor signed a "fix" for the law yesterday prohibiting businesses from using the religious freedom law as a defense in court for refusing "to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing" to any customers based on "race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service."
Problem solved. There's almost nothing to blog about, but I'll find a way...
I'm not a very political person, so I'm sure there is more going on to this than meets the eye. I assumed that the purpose of the law was to protect people who didn't want to do something that was "against their religion." That is a way too simple view, so I read a few articles on the subject so as not to be misinformed. The best one (imo), that just seemed to talk about "the facts," was this NPR piece.
I got the idea for this blog this morning after reading this CNN article about a Christian-owned pizzeria that came under fire after saying they would refuse to cater a gay wedding. Basically, they would refuse because that would be against their religion.
--PAUSE--I don't know if they already have refused, or if they're just thinking prospectively...but I initially found it hard to believe that any one (much less a gay couple) would have pizza at their wedding! I just couldn't envision it. But after perusing some online pictures of pizza-catered weddings I see that it can be sort of nice!--UNPAUSE--
So this morning, when I read today's verses, it got me thinking about the whole Indiana Religious Freedom Law situation:
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
- James 4:6-12
You may be thinking: what do those verses have to do with anything?
And you're right, I would never have gone down this path reading those verses alone; however, that scripture starts with the word "but," and so I had to go back a few verses to this gem:
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
- James 4:4
I read that, and I thought: OH. It's against my religion to be your friend. If I cater your wedding (I'm not a caterer), if I make you a floral arrangement (I'm not a florist)...then I'm in violation of God. Perhaps a more fitting analogy for me is if I prepare your first jointly-filed tax return? THEN, I'm an enemy of God. And I simply can't risk that.
...I thought about it for a couple of minutes. Thinking: is that what this means? Is that where we're getting this from?
able to force clergy to officiate your wedding. Or you can't force churches to serve as your venue. With emphasis on the word "force." If clergy/churches want to do that on their own accord...that's their right. We almost unilaterally have a right to assent (for any reason). But the right to refuse is highly governed. Too highly governed? Not governed enough? Governed in a way that infringes on religious freedom? That's where I have to throw up my hands. Like I said, I'm not political, but I try to be biblical.
And I've decided:
James 4:4 doesn't mean I can't be your friend.
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is
hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God.
- James 4:1-4
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| God didn't consent to share you |
See that weird flow? How there's no mention of unbelievers? James is talking to people in the church about having a strong emotional attachment to the world system and the strife it is causing. It's about professing Christians who still have a deep and intimate longing for the things of the world. It goes back to "you can't serve two masters." You either want God or everything the world has to offer. But, we're so naturally greedy we try to have both. We want polyamory between us, God, and the world system. And so, James calls you a "cheater" (adulteress).
Honestly though, I haven't heard anyone quoting James 4:4 in defense of snubbing people who don't share our religious convictions. In fact, I haven't heard any scriptures whatsoever. But I would like to! If I'm in error, I'd like to know. But for now, I'll just follow my example:
Who ate meals with the scorned and disenfranchised.
Who pardoned a "caught-in-the-act" prostitute who was thrown at his feet.
Who didn't take a poll of what type of sinners where in the crowd of 5,000 before he broke the fish and bread.
But I'm yet open to correction...
Because I don't want to do anything that's against my religion.
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