Bible Preaching to Be Criminalized Under Obama?

Might the Barack Obama approve a bill that could criminalize Bible preaching? That seems to be the contention of Vision America’s Rick Scarborough:

BIBLICAL PREACHING ABOUT TO BE CRIMINALIZED…

Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee confirmed that she reintroduced a federal Hate Crimes Bill, H.R 256, to Congress this past week. We have to stop this from happening! This legislation is an immediate threat to our First Amendment right to free speech! We already have hate crime legislation. This legislation is designed to add homosexuals to existing legislation.

The tragic consequence of this legislation is that it forces law enforcement to assess motivation to a crime. Add to that the fact that Lady Justice is no longer blindfolded, meeting out justice to the criminals. Hate Crimes legislation forces Lady Justice to raise her blindfold to see if the person meets a certain criteria before justice is administered.

For example, if your Grandmother is mugged the criminal may get 6 months probation, but if the victim is a homosexual, the crime immediately becomes more serious and the criminal may face 5 years or more, depending upon the mandated sentences affixed to the crime by the legislation.

A similar bill was passed in Canada in 1971 making it a federal crime to criticize homosexuality quoting the Bible from the pulpit or over the airwaves. Pastors in Canada face a $5,000 fine for the first offense and a fine plus prison time for every offense thereafter.

This bill is titled the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. It is a more condensed version of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1592, which did not gain final Congressional approval last year, thanks to the threat of a Presidential veto. Rep. Jackson-Lee also submitted a companion bill, H.R. 262, which is known as the David Ray Richardson Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. This bill will allow the federal government not only to get involved in states’ efforts to “prevent” hate crimes but also to assist hate crimes victims. These bills are fully supported by President-elect Obama and are expected to pass the Democrat-dominated Congress swiftly unless we make our voices heard!

Truthtellers.org made a compelling video called “Hate Bill Lies: Exposed.” It highlights three lies that are being used to push the “necessity” for these bills. We have added the fourth.

LIE #1 – There is an urgent need for Hate Crimes Legislation.

Truth – The FBI reported that out of 13 million crimes reported annually only 7,500 could be considered “hate crimes.” This is only 1/15^th of 1%!!!! This shows that our current legal system is working to punish crime, regardless of the motivation.

LIE #2 – Only hate crimes will be punished; free speech will not be taken away.

Truth – An Anti-Hate Law was passed in Canada in 1971. This soon progressed to protect homosexuals from “verbal violence” as well. Now it is illegal to even quote Scripture against that lifestyle without fear of punishment.

Lie #3 – The Federal Hate Crimes Bill contains no language that threatens free speech.

Truth – The current bills are patterned after the 1968 Federal Hate Law, which states “whoever commits an offense against the U.S., or aids, abets, COUNSELS, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principle.” – U.S. Code, Title 18, Sec. 2

Lie #4 – This bill will protect homosexuals

Truth – This legislation will stifle Biblical preaching and thus prevent Pastors from sharing with their congregations and homosexuals that homosexuality is wrong and that those who practice such sin without repentance will not only suffer the consequences in this life, but in the life to come. (See I Corinthians 6:9ff)

The small print is clear – you could be indicted if someone simply overhears you speaking out against homosexuality, or any other group protected by the law, and commits an act of violence as a result.

There are two main groups that want this passed: the homosexual lobbyists and the Anti-Defamation League. This is a Jewish organization that wants to make it a hate crime to criticize Israel or the Jews in any way. They are responsible for the Hate Crimes laws in Canada, England, Western Europe and Australia. They have already succeeded in limiting free speech in those countries and are intent on doing the same here.

If we value our First Amendment right to free speech we will not let this pass without a fight. You can call your representative…

While I do not agree that the implication that the current legal system is actually working properly and that congress members are our real representatives, there were some interesting points above.

Perhaps I should mention that Rick Scarborough has been a Baptist pastor and his Vision America website states that Tim LaHaye (of the Left Behind series of fiction and other “misleading” books) is also on the board of his Vision America.

As one who is engaged with writing on biblical topics, I will add that the events in Canada (where two people were fined for an advertising that basically quoted scriptures condemning homosexual behaviors), as well as events in the USA under the current Bush administration, have indicated to me that there is much less freedom of religion and press in the USA than the framers of the US Constitution intended.

While I doubt that all Bible preaching will ever be criminalized, the idea that parts will be is already true in many parts of the world. And the idea that more and more parts of the Bible will increasingly be frowned upon by governmental authorities is sadly expected (see Persecutions by Church and State ). This does impact the ability of the true Church to get our message out as governments sometime remove our telecasts/radio broadcasts from the airways, interfere with our literature distribution, and take other such actions to interfere with fulfilling the great commission Jesus gave in Matthew 28:18-20. However, the job will be accomplished as Jesus stated in Matthew 24:14.

However, recall that God inspired the prophet Amos to write:

13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13)

Hopefully, President-elect Obama will not directly or inadvertently help fulfill that prophecy by making it prudent to be silent on more matters of biblical importance.

All Bible-believing Christians should pray for president-elect Obama and his staff. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

And while Vision America seems to place much of its faith in democracy, the end is coming and true Christians need to pray to their real representative–God in heaven.

Some articles that may be of interest could include:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament?