The Equality Act

[kccd]

You mean like using the law to force a Christian baker to make a cake for a gay marriage?

You run a business, you have to follow the rules governing that business. Or find something else to do for a living. Why should you be excused from following rules your competitors have to follow?

[Cow Poke]

If you want to see gatekeeping in action, check the thread on Biden's memorandum on abortion. I had to change my affiliation from Christian.

I thought you did so with grace, and now you're kvetching about it?

When you signed up with Tweb, you agreed with the rules and conditions. If you don't like them, you can start your own board!

[kccd]

This is true in NY. I was speaking more broadly. There were pastors that were actually put in prison for not following pandemic mandates, though the church did acquiescence for the most part to the wishes of the state, most likely because of the widespread fear and hysteria. I'm sure much of the church will acquiescence to wishes of the state in regards to this policy, but others won't, and I suspect the treatment will be much harsher and consequential than not following pandemic mandates.

Fear and hysteria?
How about sensible restrictions to control a pandemic that has killed a half million Americans and counting?

I don't get the need for in person services. My church does virtual, except for very small in person funerals and baptisms.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/relig...vid-rob-mccoy/

This megachurch with packed non-masked congregants is now experiencing infections and deaths and the pastor says he has no responsibility and plans to continue doing these services. You think he should be allowed to endanger people like this?

[seanD]

Fear and hysteria?
How about sensible restrictions to control a pandemic that has killed a half million Americans and counting?

I don't get the need for in person services. My church does virtual, except for very small in person funerals and baptisms.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/relig...vid-rob-mccoy/

This megachurch with packed non-masked congregants is now experiencing infections and deaths and the pastor says he has no responsibility and plans to continue doing these services. You think he should be allowed to endanger people like this?

They weren't "sensible restrictions," as lockdowns have been proven to be faulty actions, not the least of which causes devastating consequences that are worse than the pandemic, and even mainstream contrarians and scientists have pointed this out. You'd know this if you were actually looking at an array of informational sources objectively instead of living in a political tribal box, and this I believe is detrimental to your Christian faith, particularly in the long term.

[Cow Poke]

...I don't get the need for in person services. My church does virtual, except for very small in person funerals and baptisms....

Somebody who was a serious student of the Bible would realize it's a command that we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and are instructed "as long as it is today" to encourage one another - that's kinda hard to do when you're not face to face. There's a reason Jesus established "the Church". And Paul goes into quite a lot of detail about 'the body' and how we are all parts that make up the whole, and speaks consistently about "the assembly", not individuals out there somewhere.

And might explain why you're such a... um.... 'different' christian (small c).

[seer]

You run a business, you have to follow the rules governing that business. Or find something else to do for a living. Why should you be excused from following rules your competitors have to follow?

Er no, religious freedom is a Constitutional right - there is no Constitutional right to my labor. That is forced labor.

[seer]

You want to allow people to discriminate, using religion as an excuse. When did Jesus do anything like that?

Sure, why should we be forced to be involved with an immoral/sinful act?

[Diogenes]

Sure, why should we be forced to be involved with an immoral/sinful act?

There's nothing about baking a cake that forces an individual to "be involved" in homosexual sexual acts. The Bible interestingly separates religious and civil aspects of divorce and, by extension. marriage. Oddly enough, it was Reagan who first introduced no-fault divorce which would be as unbiblical as same-sex civil marriage.

Should we, as a society, get rid of no-fault divorce?

[kccd]

I thought you did so with grace, and now you're kvetching about it?

When you signed up with Tweb, you agreed with the rules and conditions. If you don't like them, you can start your own board!

Well, thank you for the compliment. I am not kvetching.
I changed my registration for reasons I outlined on that thread, and yes, it was upsetting to have to hide my religious affiliation.
I don't intend to bring this up again.

[kccd]

Somebody who was a serious student of the Bible would realize it's a command that we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and are instructed "as long as it is today" to encourage one another - that's kinda hard to do when you're not face to face. There's a reason Jesus established "the Church". And Paul goes into quite a lot of detail about 'the body' and how we are all parts that make up the whole, and speaks consistently about "the assembly", not individuals out there somewhere.

And might explain why you're such a... um.... 'different' christian (small c).

Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Ensuring the safety of others during a pandemic should take precedence over public prayer services in the opinion of my pastor.

The insult was not necessary.

[kccd]

Er no, religious freedom is a Constitutional right - there is no Constitutional right to my labor. That is forced labor.

All Constitutional freedoms have limitations.
Your right to swing your arm stops where my nose begins.

[kccd]

Sure, why should we be forced to be involved with an immoral/sinful act?

Selling a cake to a gay person or to a divorcee does not "involve" you in any immoral act.
Discrimination is, however, an immoral act.

[Mountain Man]

How do [homosexuals] force you to embrace how they live?

By seeking to enact laws that would make it possible for homosexuals to deny their critics the rights that are otherwise protected by the First Amendment. You know, such as the so-called Equality Act that is the very topic of this thread. Or did you not bother to read the first post?

[Mountain Man]

Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Ensuring the safety of others during a pandemic should take precedence over public prayer services in the opinion of my pastor.

The insult was not necessary.

Context is always important. The first verse of Matthew 6 says, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." Clearly Matthew 6:6 is not denouncing the practice of gathering together for the purposes of fellowship and instruction.

[NorrinRadd]

There's nothing about baking a cake that forces an individual to "be involved" in homosexual sexual acts. The Bible interestingly separates religious and civil aspects of divorce and, by extension. marriage. Oddly enough, it was Reagan who first introduced no-fault divorce which would be as unbiblical as same-sex civil marriage.

Should we, as a society, get rid of no-fault divorce?

You're comparing apples and horseshoes.

If someone comes in and says, "Please bake me a cake," there's no problem.

If someone flounces in and says, "Hey, sailor, bake me a cake," there's still no problem.

If someone comes in and says, "I'd like you to bake me a cake TO CELEBRATE MY COMING-OUT DAY," there can be a problem.

If someone comes in and says, "I'd like you to bake me a cake TO CELEBRATE MY GAY WEDDING," there can be a problem.

"Don't ask, don't tell" would probably be a good policy.