"Almighty God Hath Created the Mind Free"

There's been a whirlwind of discussion the past few days, surrounding Tuesday's oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Sebelius v. Conestoga Wood.  Well, more like a whirlwind the past 3 years as dozens of similar cases have been going through the courts.

I braved the freezing temps and snow to speak up for religious freedom while the cases were being argued! 

While Hobby Lobby's Green Family has been much more outspoken, I think this quote from Conestoga Wood's CEO Steve Hahn sums it up perfectly.  He begins, "We didn't pick this fight."

As I've been reading through commentary on the cases and the issue, I came across this article from a recently discovered website called, "Think Christian" - "Hobby Lobby's High Horse."

This particular statement prompted me to respond:

"By seeking to deny its employees the opportunity to exercise their own religious freedom, Hobby Lobby’s owners are elevating their personal beliefs (Scripturally tenuous ones, I might add) above a “moral good” for society at large. In a pluralistic setting, that’s sitting on an awfully high horse."

I've cut and paste my comments below:

Josh, I appreciate that your being thoughtful about this and willing to dialogue but I am getting frustrated by the Christian voices who are essentially making fun of Hobby Lobby and accusing them of being on a "high horse" You in fact, call their views "Scripturally tenuous ones". Look, I am a 20 something female, and I don't oppose most types of contraception. However, I cannot ignore science - that life begins at conception (check out the Endowment for Human Development) and that certain drugs and devices (the 4 that the Hahns and Greens object to) can cause early abortions: (Side note - less and less late term abortions are happening (praise God) and the real debate on abortion will be with chemical abortions that are happening at earlier and early stages, so this dialogue is going to continue.)

I would LOVE to start my own business one day - so do you really mean to tell me that if I'm able to do that, I should participate in/pay for/encourage something that I believe absolutely contradicts my conscience (murder of unborn babies)?  I think everyone keeps missing the point too, that the government has to show "compelling interest" that Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood must comply with this mandate. For instance, if they were making claims of religious liberty to not provide health care at all, or not hire women, or insert another ridiculous example, of course that wouldn't fly and would violate various anti-discrimination laws. However, when these drugs can be picked up at Wal Mart, CVS, Walgreen, etc it doesn't quite seem as much like a "violation of women's rights" for the company to not provide it, does it?

I also was going to point out that Hobby Lobby pays much more than the minimum wage, but I see someone else did.  Now maybe we can continue to disagree on this particular issue, but can't we agree that believers, and people in general, must answer to their own conscience?

One other thing I'd like to add - while this case has the specifics of an Evangelical and Mennonite family and their religious faith - it is about conscience.  Do not all CEO's have some sort of belief system or conscience?

What if the government in the future amended the ACA, that every health plan must include a diet of red meat because the population needs more protein.  Would not a Vegan-owned business object to that? (I just googled Vegan businesses, and apparently there are many! ) Would not those employees be able to get their meat intake elsewhere, easily? So why can't the Vegan business owner be allowed to "obey his conscience."  He or she should be able to! 

That's why the Pilgrims came to the "new world!"  I recently visited the Jefferson Memorial and was struck by one the author of the Declaration of Independence's quotes: "Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion...No man...shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."

Everything about these families faith has informed how they started their business - if I am blessed with that opportunity in the future, it will be the same for me.  You say, "By seeking to deny its employees the opportunity to exercise their own religious freedom, Hobby Lobby’s owners are elevating their personal beliefs above a “moral good” for society at large."  Hobby Lobby has given their employees jobs!  God bless them for creating jobs and giving men and women the ability to work, have dignity, and provide for their families!  A job is not a divine right, nor is a health plan that covers a drug that will kill a baby.

Now all we can do is pray as the judges decide and deliberate.  For a good summary, check out the wise words from the ladies at Women Speak for Themselves.

Like Teacher, Like Follower

It can be funny and frustrating how children grow up and begin to exhibit the traits of their parents.  We of course want our children to pick up our best traits, and can be horrified when they start to demonstrate the bad ones!  Rodney Atkins song, "Watching You," portrays this perfectly.  On the one hand, the little boy bows his head to pray - because that's what he sees his daddy do!  On the other hand, he utters a "four-letter-word" - because that's what he heard his daddy do, of course! 

The chorus, from the little boy's perspective goes: "He said, I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?  I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you..." A simple and sweet song, "Watching You" describes how we emulate who teaches us. 

As a follower of Christ, how am I emulating my Maker, my Savior, my Lord?  That's what Francis Chan's Multiply challenges believers to examine.  I'm so blessed to attend a Church that takes this mission seriously - because being a disciple of our Savior - making Him Lord of every aspect of our life is what it's all about.  My small group embarks upon an 8 week study to test ourselves and encourage one another to more closely follow Him, with our crosses, each day, in everything. 

Ephesians 2 so beautifully describes the gift of salvation we've been given - because of God's grace.  We're praying that our Church, and the church, would embrace the full responsibilities of citizenship of His Kingdom - emulating, and being "like Christ" in all we do, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that others will see HIM through US.  That's how we "multiply."  Lord, may our hearts "want to be like you."

^{Ephesians 2:17} He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

In Praise of Podcasts

The combination of getting out of work "early" (6:00!), my new PINK exercise shirt, and beautiful evening for a run, made my night just lovely!  My workouts have been transformed by the discovery of the podcast.  I've downloaded tons of sermons from R.C. Sproul and our very own Lon Solomon and I can be infused with God's word and the wisdom of great leaders while I get my body in shape...LOVE technology in this case!

Tonight, as I ran past the Capitol, wondering what the fate is for our beloved country, wondering how much longer I'll be working there, and even why God gave me this job in the first place, the Lord, through Pastor Lon was speaking to me - about His omniscience.  It's always a good thing to be reminded that our God is omniscient: "having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things."  Taking that to heart is freeing on so many levels!  I don't have to worry about the future of America - he's got the whole world in his hands.  No need to fret about future employment - he's preparing me and my path for that.  And I can take heart in the face of a difficult situation - God had it planned before my birth and its for a purpose.  I just need to be obedient in trusting Him to show me His way.

Okay, so I may not have had the most hard core work-out b/c I was so focused on the good word I was hearing, but oh well!  Edification is good for the soul.  And at least I had my pink shirt on :)

Let's cling to Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Trust and Obey, There is No Other Way

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an absolutely incredible portrait of trust and obedience. It was awesome to dig down deep into her character and life over December and January as we celebrated the birth of our Savior. Mary DECIDED to obey God when she willingly accepted the role as Mom to Jesus, despite having to deal with the stigma of being an unwed mother, and all the trials that would go along with his life. And yes, it was a conscious decision she made, but we know that she must have lived a godly lifestyle - what a witness at such a young age! - because she was highly favored by God. WOW. So it was natural inclination to obey.

That's a powerful example to me. I need to be cultivating a life of obedience. What does that mean? Daily prayer and meditation and studying of the Word. And daily DECISIONS to obey - not speaking a bad word about someone at work, not worrying over something silly, offering encouragement to a friend when it's inconvenient for me.

And right along with Mary's obedience, was her steadfast TRUST in GOd. Even when the decision to obey comes naturally, a lot of trust is needed on top of that. I am certain Mary must have experienced fear and doubt when Jesus was turned on by his own people and sent to the Cross. But she trusted that when God told her he was the Messiah, that he was true to that.

I know the promises of God's Word, I just need to trust more! Ultimately, I know that nothing can every separate me from his love, and that he is directing my paths. Perhaps I should memorize the words of that great hymn, Trust and Obey, there is no other way and sing it to the Lord when those daily trials arise!