A recently passed law in Massachusets that would require churches to abide by transgender discrimination rules for public events may have its fate determined via voter referendum.
In another clear assault on religious liberty, LGBT radicals on the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination have released their version of the Iowa law . . . and it’s much worse.
[See Fulcrum7's article on the Iowa law.]
Similar to the guidelines in Iowa, the Massachusetts commission considers all churches to be places of public accommodation, saying that so-called “secular” events held in church buildings are “open to the public” and must conform to gender identity pronouns. In addition, churches are prohibited from challenging or speaking against gender identity. And it goes on to say that “places of public accommodation may not discriminate against, or restrict a person from, services because of that person’s gender identity.” In other words, the sexually-confused man or boy must be allowed to attend the women’s conference.
Contrary to their claims stating otherwise, these new standards are not just a list of “guidelines.” Churches that don’t comply will be subject to punishment in the form of fines or imprisonment, or both. Violators will also be liable for damages to aggrieved persons. In other words, churches will be slapped with frivolous lawsuits.
As if the law’s prohibition against the church’s right to speak out against the LGBT agenda wasn’t bad enough, the Massachusetts version would make an organization liable for statements made by congregants. According to the commission, critical remarks against transgendered individuals would be seen as creating a “hostile environment,” and therefore “harassment.” To quote one news source: Pastors could face jail over this anti-discrimination law.
Following the unconstitutional decision on same-sex marriage, the politicians and the Supreme Court assured churches that their right to oppose the LGBT agenda was protected within the church walls. Besides the fact that this “charitable” assurance is, in itself, a violation of our First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and speech, it turns out that it was an untruth meant to kick the can down the road.
So now the question remains. Will the Christian church stand against these unbiblical measures? Or will it surrender to this relentless agenda?
When the Lord said "Be ye glad and rejoice over that which I create" (Isaiah 65:18) He wasn't referring to GLAD. Even a blind person can see that God exclusively created male & female as the perfect mutually compatible expression of His image. It "was good" and it is good. Rebellion against this created order will have its part in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Jude 5-11).
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:27-28).