Jackboots
Bill of Rights: “Article the third” contains the text later ratified as the First Amendment. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID Identified 1408042).
The Washington Examiner recently ran an article recapping the latest infringements on freedom of religion as protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution [1]:
- Walter Reed National Medical Center has terminated its arrangement with the Franciscans who ministered to veterans there for nearly two decades. The secular defense contractor, Mack Global — unable to provide spiritual services — has been substituted.
- The Dept. of Health and Human Services has reintroduced a proposal previously struck down by the courts to require that religious hospitals and physicians perform abortions and gender reassignment surgery [2].
- The Dept. of Education has proposed revisions to Title IX which would ban discrimination on the basis of so called “gender identity” rather than biological sex [3].
- The Dept. of Education has, also, proposed revising the Religious Freedom Rule which currently bans colleges from denying faith based student groups the same benefits afforded secular groups [4].
- Pres. Joseph “Joe” Biden in June of 2022 signed the Executive Order Advancing Equality for LGBTQI+ Individuals [5]. The fear is that an Equality Act paralleling its provisions will pass in Congress, forcing Christian organizations to hire those with lifestyles viewed by the Bible as immoral.
This is the sound of distant jackboots. This is the sound of approaching menace. It does not bode well, either for Christians or the nation.
“…henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart...” (Eph. 4: 17-18).
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[1] Washington Examiner, “First Amendment protections for religion are stuck in a political tug of war” by Nicholas Rowan, 4/28/23, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/first-amendment-protections-for-religion-are-stuck-in-a-political-tug-of-war.
[2] Reuters, “US can’t punish Christian hospitals for refusing to do abortions, gender surgery” by Brendan Pierson, 8/29/22, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-cant-punish-christian-hospitals-refusing-do-abortions-gender-surgery-2022-08-29/.
[3] US Dept. of Education, “The US Department of Education Releases Proposed Changes to Title IX Regulations, Invites Public Comment”, 6/23/22, https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-proposed-changes-title-ix-regulations-invites-public-comment.
[4] Inside Higher Education (IHE), “Biden Administration to Rescind Part of Religious Freedom Rule” by Katherine Knott, 2/22/23, https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/02/23/biden-administration-rescind-part-trumps-free-inquiry-rule.
[5] The White House, “Fact Sheet: President Biden to Sign Historic Executive Order Advancing LGBTQI+ Equality During Pride Month”, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/15/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-sign-historic-executive-order-advancing-lgbtqi-equality-during-pride-month/.
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A Lawyer's Prayers 
I’ve just read a British journalist’s book ‘Across the Frontiers.’ Fascinating facts from all over Europe, penned by Philip Gibbs in the 30’s. It was published in 1938. Even though visiting with many Germans across the board, he somehow never heard the sound of jackboots… Of course, a year later, the sound was evident to the whole world. I guess history repeats itself.
Praise God for many standing up for the cause of Christ’s kingdom in our world at war, in more ways than one. BTW, Gibbs’s last words on the last page were, ‘Let’s prepare for peace, not war…’ Hmmm…. Thanks, Anna.
Thank you, Erroll. I found “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, also, to be informative. I had a friend who recalled learning in high school that all democracies eventually come to an end. “But,” he said, “I never thought I’d see it happen in my lifetime.” That statement haunts me.
What a wake-up call at the end of your response… The Book of Revelation reminds me (I’m reading it slowly at the moment) that God-in-Christ is still in control of all, no matter what, and therefore his own, sealed by him, do not have to fear. That gives me hope.
Like you, I lean on Christ as these days darken, Erroll. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3: 18).
Your title sadly says it all…
My heart is breaking, Rob.