February 27, 2014

The following excerpts are from the blog “Wrestling with Arizona” on Joe Dallas’s website: “I’ve been wrestling with the rightness or wrongness of SB 1062 the controversial bill passed by the Arizona Legislature but vetoed by the state’s Governor Jan Brewer which would have granted private businesses protection if they chose not to offer services that violated their religious beliefs.”

“Usually I find myself firmly on the conservative end of controversies like this, but I’m finding it hard to land foursquare for or against this type of legislation which has been, by the way, considered in Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Utah.” …

“But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking discrimination policies for business owners will be the end of the story. I’ve no doubt that the gay rights movement fully intends to pressure the Christian Church into either adopting a pro-homosexual viewpoint, or remaining silent on the issue altogether. Either through the revocation of tax exempt status for churches who don’t toe the politically correct line, or through lawsuits, or hate crime legislation, we will surely see Christian churches and organizations either cave to or resist the pressure to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol or face the fire.”

“That’s when there’ll be no room for wrestling, no question about the rightness or wrongness involved, no place for indecision. Because when the Church chooses to preach what the world approves, rather than face the world’s wrath, then there’s no longer a discernible reason for Her existence. So God help us to be wise and discerning while asking ourselves which battles to fight, but to be unmovable when the answer is clear, compelling and non-negotiable.”