Written by Don Byrd
The fight over rights of conscience dominating today’s religious liberty discussion poses difficult challenges for those of us who believe in free religious exercise in all of its forms, but recognize that religious objections should not amount to a trump card to avoid all government regulation. Here’s the important question, one that I have been thinking a lot about lately: what is a Baptist to do with this conflict?
Fortunately, it is apparently a question also on the mind of Marv Knox. In a must-read column for the Baptist Standard, he discusses this dilemma and the options for a Baptist response to find the right balance. Here is an excerpt:
For 400 years, Baptists have championed religious liberty. Because of our belief in the divine creation of all people and the ultimate sanctity of all consciences, Baptists have fought for religious liberty for all people, not just ourselves.
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Now, however, some Christians are claiming “religious liberty” should enable them to ignore secular laws that govern their secular jobs. They are not asked to condone others’ actions—particularly same-sex marriage—but simply to uphold the law.
So, what is the right response when those secular job duties conflict with one’s religious conscience? Knox lays out four (4) possible ways to proceed. Read the whole thing.
