Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Empathy Mining

Home
Progressive Christian
“In the World but Not of the World”: The Church vs. The Equality Act-an Open Letter

“In the World but Not of the World”: The Church vs. The Equality Act-an Open Letter

Last updated on: March 4, 2021 at 2:09 pm by Shane Phipps

“In the World but Not of the World”: The Church vs. The Equality Act-an Open Letter 2021-03-04T14:09:01-04:00 Shane Phipps

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Dear Church of God (Anderson, Indiana Assembly),

Christians often like to use the phrase, “I am in this world, but not of this world.” The implication of the phrase means, supposedly, that while we do live in a broken world, the things of this world are not what we are about. We are here but for a short time and then head to the world that really matters. I haven’t got a problem with that phrase or its implication. But I am left to wonder if the leadership of your Church understands the other implication of that theology.

I started thinking about this the other day when a friend shared with me a link to your official statement on the Equality Act which was published this week by your organization’s leadership. You should know that I was born and raised in your church.

I just want to address a few of the passages from your statement with a different perspective; one which I have come to slowly over my years of evolution as a person of faith.

I’ll start with this segment:

“The very definition of how we view sexual orientation and gender identity will be challenged. In particular, there will be a definition of “equality” which is not consistent with our sincerely held religious and Biblical beliefs. Our beliefs in this area are not based on our personal or societal beliefs, but upon our interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and how we should live. Our concern with the Act is not personal, but Biblical.”

I take issues with just about everything in this statement. First of all, your definition of how you view sexual orientation and gender identity is not being challenged. In fact, there is absolutely no way that you are going to change your mind about any of it, and that’s ok. This isn’t about you. This is about others who are vilified and marginalized because of their definitions of how they view sexual orientation and gender identity. Like it or not, they are out there, and they have the exact same rights provided by the United States Constitution as you do. This is an example of what I mean when I say that some Christians misinterpret the phrase “in the world but not of it.” If you were truly not of the world, then you probably wouldn’t feel so threatened by how others view themselves and by the prospect of treating them as equal citizens in your country.

In your “Call to Action” statement, you lay out three things that you want church members to do to stand against the Equality Act. Let me address them each individually.

PRAY! We consider this to be a time of great consequence in our nation, when all of society will be subject to laws which we consider to be anti-Biblical. Especially affected may be our churches and how they operate. We believe our churches are not places of public accommodation and are not even places of public gatherings, but places of public worship, where we have the right to teach and live out how we view the Bible. It is vital that everyone pray diligently that churches will receive protection from these proposed mandates.

I have nothing against prayer, but what are you actually praying for in this instance? Are you praying to have equal rights of citizenship denied to people who don’t share your world view? Once again, if you are truly “not of the world”, then is this something that should concern you this much? You say that you believe that churches are “not places of public accommodation yet, I’ll wager your parking lots have handicapped spots, and your entrances are wheelchair accessible. There was a time when people who need those accommodations were not protected with equality under the law. What message are you sending to the people seeking equality today?

ACT! We are asking that all of our members and constituents immediately contact their United States Senators regarding the proposed provisions of this Act. We are asking that you demand from your US Senators that any proposed Equality Act passed by Congress include a “religious exemption or exception” to the Act and that there be a specific provision that churches will not be defined as “places of public accommodation.”

This just reads as unseemly for Christians who claim to be in the world but not of it. When I read it as someone who identifies as a heterosexual male, what I take away from it is, we don’t want THOSE people in our churches. If I read it that way, imagine how and LGBTQ person would read it. Maybe I’m being too harsh with my interpretation, but it is what it is.

SHOW KINDNESS, CIVILITY, AND SENSITIVITY. It is not our manner of living or desire to act with hostility toward any particular persons or groups. We desire to show love and concern for all persons, and especially to those who desire to worship God in spirit and in truth. That is our mission. We must always advance these attributes and will continue to do so. We simply believe that the Equality Act is an encroachment upon our right to carry out our mission. This possible encroachment could extend even to the ability of churches to employ persons who adhere to the stated beliefs of the church.

That’s a nice sentiment and good advice. It’s not good form to be outwardly hostile to people. But your hard stance against the Equality Act is kind of hostile even if you smile as you deliver it. You say that the Equality Act is “an encroachment on your ability to carry out your mission.” If I were in your shoes, I’d see it differently. I would see it as a great opportunity to expand your mission. Put a sign up outside your church that says we support equality and see what happens. Perhaps a whole new outreach ministry could be born. Just a thought.

To wrap this up, let me just go back to the beginning. In my view, some of you are missing the point of being in the world but not of it. Take another look at it and pray about this: If you are in the world but not of the world, is it your duty to try to control the laws of that world to make it fit your beliefs, or is it your duty to show the love of Christ to EVERYONE, and allow the Constitution to protect the equality and freedoms for ALL?

God bless.

Multiple Perspectives

Religion

religious freedom

Social Commentary

Church of God (Anderson)

Equality Act

Previous Post

March 2, 2021

Defending My Politics with My Faith Part 4: Immigration

Next Post

March 12, 2021 Defending My Politics with My Faith: Part 5-Abortion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 150 word story 2nd Amendment AARP abortion addiction aging alcoholism Anderson Wigwam Andrew Jackson Appalachia Basketball bias bigotry Black Lives Matter Christianity Christmas, Constitution, Bill of Rights Civil War Clinton cloning confirmation bias Conservation Constitution Controversial Creationism Creepy tales David Bowie depression Dogs Education Election Electoral College Empathy Environmental Evolution exvangelical faith Family Family History Fantasy Genealogy Genesis George Washington Ghetto Global Warming Gun Control health care High School Basketball Hillary History Hockey homosexuality Hoosier Hysteria Hoosiers Hunting immigration income inequality Interview ISTEP Jurassic Park Kaepernick Ken Hamm Kids say the Darndest things LGBTQ Love MAGA Manifest Destiny Merit Pay Mike Pence Muhammad Ali Multiple Perspectives Music Music Review Nashville News media NHL No Child Left Behind NRA Paradox Parenting Pence Perspective Politics POTUS Poverty Predators Race Religion religious freedom Sci Fi Science Secret of Life sexual harrassment Short Stories Slavery Small Town Indiana Smashville Social Commentary social media sports Stress technology Terrorism Thomas Jefferson Trauma Trump Turning 50 Uncategorized war Washington DC White Privilege wooly mammoths words in red Writing Writing Process Writing, Writing Process Young Earth

Select a Month June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who follows the rider of the Pale Horse in Revelation?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Four Winds The Angel Gabriel Hades The Saints

Support this
Column