AUSTIN TX.—Some conservatives are worried that the liberal Left and some upcoming Texas state bills may try “to ban Christianity in Texas.”
Erick Erickson, a conservative blogger and radio host, writes in The Resurgent, that some half a dozen bills will ban Christianity “in all but name.”
This continues a long line of thought first advocated by the Obama Administration, which sought to restrict the 'free exercise' clause of the First Amendment to a 'freedom of worship' standard. In other words, “Be a Christian in church on Sunday or Sabbath, but nowhere else.”
“Christianity is not a religion of the church pew, but of the town square. Texas progressives are trying to ban it from anywhere outside the church,” he added in his column.
Erickson was referring to Texas bills, including HB 224, HB 254, HB 850 and SB 151, all which would prohibit the discrimination of sexual orientation or gender identity by businesses, including Christian-owned ones. Previously, Christian businesses have claimed they have the right to refuse service based on their religious beliefs.
Two other bills are also being considered. HB 517 would require Christian counselors to affirm transgenderism and SB 154 would force doctors to create birth certificates retroactively for patients who gender transition.
These bill would also force people to "support" someone undergoing a gender transition, force businesses and owners who believe marriage is between one man and one woman to participate in and celebrate same-sex weddings (as in the case of Jack Phillips), force government contractors to endorse LGBT stances that may violate their consciences, force religious shelters, colleges, and universities to allow biological men in women's shelters or dorms, and force people to give biological men access to women's showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms, and vice versa.
Dave Welch, president of the Texas Pastors Council, also said the bills could mean less rights for Christians.
"The mad dash by some Democrat House and Senate members to push false narratives that sexual behavior is the same as skin color and that mental illness deserves the same honored status as religious belief is ominous evidence that the criminalization of religious faith and common sense are on the horizon,” he said.
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“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:30).