The Role Faith Must Play in America’s Future
National Religious Freedom Day will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 16. (Photo: iStock Photos)
Does faith matter anymore in America? Should it?
That probably depends on who you ask, but what is becoming increasingly evident is a growing hostility among some segments of society and culture.
Last month, much of our nation celebrated the birth of Christ—called Christmas, short for Christ’s Mass—yet, the idea of any public display for a clearly religious holiday is somehow considered insensitive, discriminating, or criminal.
One begins to wonder if even saying “God Bless you” after a sneeze might somehow generate formal complaints and a lawsuit to stop such egregious behavior. Sounds like nonsense, doesn’t it?
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Sadly, it’s not.
Religious expression in the marketplace of ideas is not an automatic religious endorsement by the government, though this remains a loud, but hollow, cry among many who would deny those rights if given the power to do so.
When our nation was established, the idea of “self-government under God” was a prevailing theme. Today, it feels more like an increasingly intrusive government without God.
Teachers, football coaches, counselors, city and county officials, our men and women in uniform, chaplains, students, and even government officials are being reprimanded for acknowledging God or Jesus Christ in almost any public forum.
Business owners—photographers, bakers, florists, and others—are being sued, some even closing their doors, for simply adhering to their values, beliefs, and their rights of conscience in an honorable fashion.
Millions of citizens are rising up to say “enough” and declare that they still want to “keep faith in America.”
Millions of people in this country continue to pray and place a heartfelt trust in God. This simple act of humble faith has given America strength in wartime, dignity and compassion toward those less fortunate, and confidence in the face of unprecedented challenges.
For so many, faith matters, faith makes a difference, faith brings with it a renewed sense of hope for a better future. Thankfully, this certainty is finding its way back into the hearts, conversations, and actions of everyday Americans.
Throughout U.S. history, prayers of petition and thanksgiving have been lifted up by state and national leaders—to embrace our grief and sorrow, for our troops and first responders in harm’s way, in times of uncertainty and chaos, during global crises, for protection, provision, guidance, and the acknowledgement that in and of ourselves, we are wholly insufficient.
These cherished values are derived from principles deeply woven into the very fabric of our founding documents—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—and through the legacy and dedication of the men and women who helped build and shape this country.
The only way to preserve their sacrifice is to boldly move forward with courage and determination, and to walk out what we know to be true.
This legacy also speaks to why millions more have immigrated to our shores over the past three centuries and why countless others have risked everything to preserve our Judeo-Christian heritage.
Are these realities only because the United States is viewed as a “land of opportunity,” a global superpower, a place where dreams can come true? Or is it as the Pledge of Allegiance acknowledges, that we are “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”?
Americans have long viewed freedom as a core longing given by the creator in his design of man and a primary reason that religious liberty was established as a leading principle in our nation’s founding.
The freedom to choose what and who you believe in, as well as matters of conscience, is among the most basic and fundamental rights afforded to every citizen. Faith and freedom may not have been born together, but their marriage built America, and divorcing the two would ultimately lead to its demise.
Unfortunately, the fabric of this wonderful tapestry is fraying, and in many places is now being torn apart. Religious leaders across America have been concerned about the moral and spiritual decline we are seeing in the country, including the lack of respect and civility that exists in our national discourse.
Polarized and entrenched positions, angry rhetoric, and other signs of acrimony reveal the growing loss of decency and tolerance on all sides. And yet, faith still matters. It still has a role to play in the days ahead. We must keep faith in America.
On Jan. 16, National Religious Freedom Day, thousands of people from all walks of life will join together in a powerful show of unity to raise their voices and launch the “Keep Faith in America” movement.
They will be joined by numerous federal and state legislators, governors, celebrities, and faith leaders who are uniting to help ensure that prayer, God, faith, and the Bible continue to represent an important guiding influence in America’s future—a movement dedicated to promoting freedom and civility, and to reduce the bitter animosity infecting nearly every part of our national psyche.
Things will kick off on the 16th at events across the United States and in 30 state capitols nationwide. Interested individuals can be part of the initial launch through a first-of-its-kind nationally broadcasted Facebook Live event that could potentially reach millions of people throughout the world.
In the following months, there will be a focus on other critically important segments of society, including churches and clergy members, colleges and universities, local governments, and school boards. Some of the most recognized and respected faith leaders in America are uniting to make a difference and reach into every sphere of influence in today’s culture.
Now, more than ever, there is a need to affirm that faith and trust in the creator remain vital to our national well-being. He was understood as the God of the Bible, which was given to help guide our decision-making, our governance as a people, to protect religious liberty, and to live before others with humility and Christian love.
Believers should be leading the way when it comes to engaging society and culture with greater civility, focusing their efforts to reduce harmful divisions. Faith is the key in the days ahead, and it must move beyond a well-crafted sermon and become faith in action.
The Keep Faith in America movement is a renewal of hope. People can register to attend the Facebook Live event on Jan. 16 by visiting either of the following links: Keep Faith in America Facebook or www.KeepFaithInAmerica.com.
The goal is to first stand together, then pray together, and finally, to move forward together.
Stand. Pray. Move. This is about a renewed hope, a strengthened resolve, a sharpened focus, a bold declaration, and an energized movement. http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/12/role-faith-must-play-americas-future/
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“On Jan. 16, National Religious Freedom Day, thousands of people from all walks of life will join together in a powerful show of unity to raise their voices and launch the “Keep Faith in America” movement.
They will be joined by numerous federal and state legislators, governors, celebrities, and faith leaders who are uniting to help ensure that prayer, God, faith, and the Bible continue to represent an important guiding influence in America’s future—a movement dedicated to promoting freedom and civility, and to reduce the bitter animosity infecting nearly every part of our national psyche.
Things will kick off on the 16th at events across the United States and in 30 state capitols nationwide. Interested individuals can be part of the initial launch through a first-of-its-kind nationally broadcasted Facebook Live event that could potentially reach millions of people throughout the world.
In the following months, there will be a focus on other critically important segments of society, including churches and clergy members, colleges and universities, local governments, and school boards. Some of the most recognized and respected faith leaders in America are uniting to make a difference and reach into every sphere of influence in today’s culture.
Now, more than ever, there is a need to affirm that faith and trust in the creator remain vital to our national well-being. He was understood as the God of the Bible, which was given to help guide our decision-making, our governance as a people, to protect religious liberty, and to live before others with humility and Christian love.”
The threat to religious liberty is far worse than what your article makes it out to be.......for example business owners who are racist traditional Southern Baptists (and have a faithful belief that the god of the bible required the races to remain separate and white folks to be in charge) are no longer allowed to deny service to Negros at their whites-only businesses.
What ever happened to "We reserve the right to deny service to anyone"?
In fact such faithfully racist Christians aren't even allowed to have whites-only businesses anymore, not even in the confederate states. They're forced to run their whites-only establishment as a members-only private club, like the whites-only country club of which Rush Limbaugh is a member. How unfair is that?
Set the example, here on NT. Good luck!
What a steaming pile of hypocrisy this article represents.
While the poster of the article has a right to their opinion, I have yet to see them post an article where they aren't playing the victim. They have freedom of religion, but clearly that's not enough. [eye roll]
The Reichstag burns and a crucifixion takes place every day.
Skirting the CoC [ph]
Nothing like a little Mourning Bromance to start your Sunday
The free excercise thereof of religious beliefs is what is endangered and being fought to be preserved. There are believers facing persecution over their free excercise not really being free. Freedom of religion is not limited to belief.
That's nice. prove it!
Typical Christian persecution complex.
Wrong! There are legal limits to religious exercise. Exercise is not a valid reason to violate secular law. The SCOTUS was quite clear about that.
Freedom of religion is limited to your right to believe and worship as you choose. You do not have the right to force others to live by your religious beliefs, or for the government to legislate your beliefs because others have the same religious rights to live as they choose.
You do not have the right to deny service in a public business because of your religious beliefs.
You have yet to explain what the definition of the separation of church and state that you support is. I wonder why that could be?
And when required to provide service, they scream persecution.
Or the "degree" of this support.
Because he has nothing!
His separation of church and state is probably a farce. He likely believes that the state cannot be permitted to regulate the chuch in any way, but the chuch has free reign to use the power of the state to enforce its docterine on all people, despite the free exercise of religion for the people.
Those supposed situations usually devolve into which Christian chuch is the domionat one and can subvert the beliefs of others sects. That situation is precisely why there must be a complete separation of chuch and state so all people have the same level of religious freedom and that the country isn't a theocracy.
Possibly. After all, he still hasn't explained what his idea of separation, or the "degree" thereof, actually is.
In other words, separation is one way. Which isn't really separation. But rather, a pseudo theocracy.
The degree is to probably allow other religions to exist in the US in a token capacity, without the religious freedoms currently enjoyed by the dominant religion. In a nutshell, this article basically states that members of a specific fringe segment of xtianity are the only ones with the moral compass to lead America. And to that I say, no fucking way. Dominionists need to keep their self righteous bullshit out of my face.
tell me about it.
Where? What laws have been passed limiting your freedom of religion? List them. You have been asked this question over and over again and every single time, you have no answer. So tell us, HOW IS YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM being ATTACKED?
It's not. The whole "attack" on religious freedom is just hyperbolic nonsense.
He thinks that prohibiting his chosen religion from being about to trample the secular and religious rights of others is an attack on the free exercise of his religious freedom. These people want a defacto conservative Christian theocracy and those of us who will not permit that to happen are prosecuting him in their opinion.
Which faith in which god?
I have faith, but I don't believe it is the kind of faith you want or think will save this country.
“faith and trust in the creator remain vital to our national well-being. He was understood as the God of the Bible, which was given to help guide our decision-making, our governance as a people, to protect religious liberty, and to live before others with humility and Christian love”
So why don't you re-title the article The Role Christianity must play? Why not be straightforward about it?
Shiva is both the creator and destroyer, as is the god of Genesis, what if Shiva is the true god?
My feeling is that these faith meetings will be rather closed affairs.
So you are endorsing a Christian version of Sharia?
No, just a return to the original intent of the founding fathers based on both their words and actions.
You mean Deism? The majority were not Christian the way you want to think of it.
Based on your statement, you are endorsing the christian version of sharia law. Plain and simple. With that being said, it's NOT what the founders of this country had in mind. Just because you see "creator" in the constitution does NOT mean that it's the one in the bible. That is an assumption that christians are making. And you use that assumption in an attempt to bully everybody else who have a different creator in mind to bend to your will. And when we don't bend, you cry that you and your belief are victims of persecution.
As far as what the founders thought; see #4 by Pat Wilson below.
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Oh, you mean the separation of church and state? Yes, that is a good intention.
You have the right to believe in god/gods and to worship as you choose to do, but you do not and never had the rights to force others to believe as you do or to obey your religious beliefs when enforced by the state. When your religious beliefs involve another person they must give their consent to be involved. If they do not consent to be involved in your religious belief, you do not have the right to have them take part in that religious belief or action.
Thank you for supporting the separation of church and state. Jefferson wrote this letter just after he was elected POTUS.
He also wrote this,
Is this the Christian love that you are referring to?
The founding fathers were not Christians, they were Deists.
Which one? Christian, Catholic, LDS, Mormon, Baptist, Pentecostal, Protestant.....etc.. So many bibles, so many religions, all the same God. Seems weird that ONE God would issue so many different versions of the same message.
Have you read some of the posts from Christians on this site? "Love"? Some of the most hateful comments I have ever read on NT and NV came from hate filled Christians.
I have never said that I want to impose any of my particular religious beliefs on another person. I have a belief system and advocate for it but not by political means. I’ve always supported the establishment clause preventing government from establishing a state religion or favoring one over another and preventing any church from having controlling powers over matters of conscience through government. I support a degree of separation of church and state. I don’t support the FFRF version of it. Religious speech is just as protected in the public square and government spaces as any other free speech. As to social issues, I believe that life begins at conception and can use science and technology rather than religion to advocate for it. The same with gay marriage and its effects on society and families. There are non religion based objections there too.
Then why are you insisting that faith mist play a role in America's future? You do realize that you are contradicting yourself here, correct?
A "degree?" What is a "degree?" Separation of church and state must be and should be total and absolute. Otherwise, it doesn't work.
What is their version of it exactly?
no one ever said it wasn't.
What relevance is that to social issues? Especially in matters pertaining to abortion?
How does gay marriage effect society or families? It has absolutely zero effect on me or anyone else I know.
Such as? I have yet to hear a logical or valid non-religious based objection, either before or after the legalization of SSM. The only objections to SSM have been religiously based. I suppose that's why opponents of SSM have lost on the issue nearly every time it's been reviewed buy the courts.
You statement in #2.1 says otherwise. And, for the sake of argument, you personally don't want that. There are many among your fellow believers that do want that. They want it so bad that people have been killed over it. Christianity, like Islam WAS spread at the tip of a sword. And there are places today where Christians still enforce 2 Chronicles 15:12-13:
Aww gee whiz.
It's in plain English.
Good point. They think that all the mosaic law from when Israel was coming out of Egypt and all the ceremonies leading up to The Cross are still binding on us today. It seems that the original atheists here and the ones that came over from the place that shall not be named are coordinating a gang bang of every single seed that has any kind of social conservative/ values/ religious content.
Don't you mean "abrahamic" law ?
LOL.
.
Funny that your ilk has never been able to cite even one legitimate secular reason to deny gay couples the same right to marry which all other couples enjoy. That's probably why your ilk lost in court, just like the racist bible-babblers lost in 1967 on the mixed-race marriage issue.
From what I can tell "social conservative" is synonymous with "greedy bigot", someone who wants special rights for themselves which they want denied to the minorities whom their superstitious cult teaches them to hate.
I'm still waiting for an explanation as to what "degree" means.
No
whats an Ilk?
It's an itty bitty at some applications almost imperceptible break in the continuum to the point it can be ignored.
It is amusing that the version of the bible that is adored by Protestant Christians was created by a closeted gay Scottish king
Bull Shit!
The few hundred people who keep urging for the creation of the State of Jefferson?
Are you calling me a liar?
Eventually yes, however it's important to point out that initially Christianity wasn't spread by the sword.
The majority of them, yes, but not all.
Would false witness be better?
Is that supposed to make me forget the violence and slaughter they are responsible for?
Hell the slaughter began soon after the religion became "legal".
No, it's being precise, failure to be so often points to bias.
It's a matter of temporal power, before it achieved said the Christian church was relatively harmless.
In the last 100 years or so the Western Christianity has once again become relatively harmless.
Does this excuse the intervening period? No, so please don't try and use emotive language, it simply doesn't work with me.
I am being precise. Christianity was spread by the sword. Much the same way you claim Islam is.
Until it became "legal". And I provided for examples of what happened in the span of about 40 years.
Again, it doesn't make me forget the violence that predicated that.
My "emotive" language is simply fact. Millions have been slaughtered by christians so they can get their "message" across and gain a following.
I am being precise. Christianity was spread by the sword.
After 323, that's being precise, ignoring the preceding 280 years or so speaks of bias.
Much the same way you claim Islam is.
Islam was spread in part by the sword. Mohammad, the founder of Islam forced two Jewish tribes from Medina, and had a third slaughtered. Mohammad the founder of Islam took Mecca at the head of an army, and according to Islamic sources destroyed the other idols.
Until it became "legal". And I provided for examples of what happened in the span of about 40 years.
You obviously don't understand what temporal power means, I'm agreeing with your position here.
Again, it doesn't make me forget the violence that predicated that.
I'm not asking you to, nothing in most post even suggest this, so why would you keep making this meaningless point?
My "emotive" language is simply fact. Millions have been slaughtered by christians so they can get their "message" across and gain a following.
I don't think it is. I think it's to avoid accepting my point, at least that's what I find emotive language is usually used for.
For it's first 280 years or so Christianity was by and large harmless, after it achieved temporal authority, this altered.
I'll be nice and merely say that you're intellectually dishonest.
How can you possibly claim that you support the sepertion of church and state and agree with the premise that the Christian faith must play a part in the American country? The entire premise of the OP is the creation of a government based on Christian belifs, which is in direct opposition to the strict seperation of church and state.
He supports a "degree" of separation. Although, he has yet to elaborate on what that means exactly.
You do like personal attacks.
That's the relevant point, isn't it? Religious cults are relatively harmless until they gain power.....and they're quite brutal when there's no real separation of church and state. We know that not just from US history with its vile Christian sharia laws but from the early history of the Christian Roman empire. Immediately after Christianity was made the religion of the empire there were events like the massacre of Thessalonica in 390 CE.
No, not interested in what all those democrats advocate for.
Christianity has a 600 year head start over Islam.
Perhaps the radical Muslims will evolve to a "harmless" state eventually?
Is this an example of what you consider to be the separation of church and state?
It was almost the point I was making, there is slightly more, see the bottom section of this post.
and they're quite brutal when there's no real separation of church and state.
In Britain our Head of State is also the head of the Church of England, so your statement doesn't really hold up in the modern Western world.
We know that not just from US history with its vile Christian sharia laws but from the early history of the Christian Roman empire.
US history, remind me.
Was there separation between Church and State in the US when they carried out their atrocities against the Native population?
Was there separation between Church and State in the US when they practiced slavery?
The answer to both questions is yes.
The relevant point is power corrupts, and whilst the various churches are no stranger to this, neither are secular Governments.
They all have the same problem, they're run by people, and they are what power corrupts.
Finally, do I think faith can have a role to play in America's future, on a social/personal level why not.
Salem witch trials...for one. And in the late 1300's, Christians round up Jews in Europe and executed ~90% of them because they thought the Jews were spreading the plague. Christians have a very dark past and their present isn't great either.
Don't forget the American attempt to wipe out the native tribes or force them to convert to Christinaity as part of the white European idea of manifest destiny. Those cultures lost 90% of their former memebers and almost all of their ancestral land.
aren't those wonderful examples of this "Christian Love" that they keep telling everyone about ?
That's all he ever seems to have.
Current examples include wanting to deny gays the right to marry and limiting or prohibiting a woman's right to choose.
For the better part of the preceding 280 years the stories of Jesus and his message were spread via oral stories. With some serious embellishment. Then comes the bible and it's many, many changes. What started out as a typical version of the game Telephone, now continues in written form.
Now where have I heard similar accounts...Oh that's right. Christians did the same thing.
Apparently, he doesn't mind when the R.A. deletes his posts.
When did the Klan convert from being conservative Protestant Christians who hated immigrants, minorities, and Catholics?
How many Klan members voted for Obama, Bernie Sanders or Hillary?
He thinks it's "biased moderation." He even wrote an article complaining about it several days ago. He even thinks NT is becoming like NV.
For the better part of the preceding 280 years the stories of Jesus and his message were spread via oral stories.
This isn't the issue is it?
I would point out there was a loose organisational system in place quite early, but as I've stated this isn't the issue.
Now where have I heard similar accounts...Oh that's right. Christians did the same thing.
Really, so Paul/Saul led his converts to conquer a city did he?
No, the Christian violence began later, once it had achieved temporal power, something Islam achieved much earlier.
But we've already covered this.
You've phrased the above as if it's some telling point, have you not read my posts?
I'd like to know just what you think you've proven by this
I wrote something but then I deleted it because my thought is likely not permitted by the CoC.
Perhaps you can word it...diplomatically? Give it a little sugar coating?
I doubt that even Shakespeare could sugar coat a hand grenade.
I have to do this with 90% of my replies
I'm diabetic
O...k...moving on now.
Actually the answer is no. Despite the Establishment clause first being applied to the states in 1947 (technically in 1868 when the 14th Amendment was adopted, but more practically in 1961 ), the reality is that secular government is an ongoing effort since Establishment violations are an ongoing problem......heck, DOMA was passed by Congress in 1996, and Mississippi just passed another law which blatantly violates the Establishment clause.
And despite the federal government being subject to the Establishment clause since 1789, it was the federal BIA which imposed Christianity on the native American children who were forced into boarding schools in order to "assimilate" them.
FSM is not pleased by your lack of faith. Either repent or eat store brand peanut butter for the remainder of your days.
I love store brand peanut butter!
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Secular society, secular laws. A GOVERNMENT employee should not be performing their jobs based on their religious beliefs. PERIOD.
Love others as one would love themselves?
For the life of me although it has been some time, I do not remember any exceptions to this. Has the notion been revised?
Today is National Religious Freedom Day. Let’s celebrate 🎊🎈🎉 it!
Comment removed for ToS and CoC violation [ph]
I could spend the evening bringing the combined good news of both Baphomet and FSM to Christians.
Enjoy your spaghetti 🍝 and meatballs meal.
I made chicken marsala with fettucini.
The more fringe-cult religious ideologies contradict the Constitution, the less influence they will have in the future direction of America. Thumpers think they have their twisted version of Jesus' proxy vote and would govern that way if ever given the opportunity. Every encroachment of the Constitution by religious extremists must be repelled by all legal means available.
Exactly....No Christian Sharia here in the US...EVER!!!
There is no such thing as a Christian ⛪️ Sharia.
Trying to legislate or to enforce any Christian religious beliefs with the power of the government at any level is Christian sharia. Keep your religious views to yourself because we all have equal religious rights and our rights and beliefs are not subservient to yours, despite what you may believe.
Sure there is. All the anti-LGBT laws like Mississippi's HB 1523 are a good example, as were DOMA and DADT and the 129 other anti-LGBT bills introduced in state legislatures last year . Another example is what Der Fuhrer is currently trying to do with HHS to allow health care providers to cite superstition when they deny service.
In fact Christian sharia law has always been the # 1 threat to liberty and civil rights here ever since the colonial era. The funny part is that Christian extremists always seem to need the state to prop up their cult. Moderate Christians don't have that kind of frail superstition and thus don't need state endorsement.
You realize that liberal mainline Protestant churches have been involved in politics for decades or centuries. From temperance to abolition to civil rights to anti war and green efforts, the old mainlines have been legislating morality and getting involved politically.
Morality is subjective and cannot be legislated. And if a church is politically involved, it should lose its tax exempt status, per IRS rules.
So all churches involved in the anti war effort or the civil rights movement should have lost their tax exemption for it?
Was my previous reply not clear enough? Or are you only trying to create an obvious emotionally compelling spin?
Do you really think that the civil rights movement would have had the success it did had churches not gotten involved over fear of their tax status? Would you have turned the IRS loose against Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his church for mixing religion with politics in his efforts? Maybe if you had your way, one of the greatest most awesome speeches ever given by anyone, “I have a dream” would never have happened. How many other African American clergy leading the civil rights movement would you have gone after?
Spare me your hyperbole because it's nothing more than a smokescreen and doesn't change my previous points, which are also factual.
There is nothing hyperbole about what I said. The fact remains that the social change I mentioned above came about because of religion and that it wouldn’t have happened or it would have at a much slower pace if you had your way and punished churches and pastors for getting involved.
Pure conjecture. it also doesn't change the fact that churches/religions are not supposed to inject themselves with or play politics! It's called the separation of church and state for a reason.
Opposing war and treating others as equals did not require people of other religions to forfeit their religious beliefs and adopt yours, unlike the state sponsor shop of conservative Christianity. I am an atheist and I support both of those former ideas and I don't have to change my religious views to do so.
Jesus was opposed to war and taught his followers to treated others as they would treat Jesus and that they have an obligation to care for the poor and sick.
And the abolitionists before the civil war and before income taxes were constitutional via amendment? Should churches have not led the effort to end slavery or work toward ending child labor later in the 19th century? How did government punish churches for being involved in social issues that touched on political issues before the income tax was introduced via constitutional amendment?
It's amusing how you keep trying to move the goal posts in some attempt to have a point. None of which actually refutes mine. Perhaps you should quit before you embarrass yourself further!
Your atheist friend here disagrees with you about not punishing churches for being involved in political social issues you agree with.
It's called the separation of church and state for a reason. And there are repercussions when a church crosses that line. Losing tax exempt status is one example. Just simple fact.
I disagree with you, and I agree with Gordy. The separation of church and state must be absolute at all levels of the government and taxpayer money. Churches should also lose their tax exemption on everything except aid that they can prove goes to help others. This doesn't include missionary work, legal fees, education or political activities.
yes, if they crossed the line
Teen stands strong in the face of hate
The world hated me first (John 15:18)A pastor in West Virginia says his stand for biblical values has resulted in a sexual assault on his teenage daughter.
Pastor Rich Penkoski has been noticed and targeted by homosexual activists before. He and his team had to clean about 900,000 "gay emojis" from their Facebook page after a gay blogger took note of his biblical stance on marriage. He tells OneNewsNow that he receives death threats almost daily, his car has been keyed, and he gets gay porn anonymously sent to his home.
It's all part of preaching the whole counsel of scripture, he says – until this recent incident: some middle school boys confronted his 13-year-old daughter about her father's beliefs on marriage. The teen explains what happened.
"And I said I don't support that either, I support traditional marriage," she shares. "And then they were calling me 'gay' and a 'gay Christian' – and I said You can't be both, and they said Yes, you can."
She continues: "And then they were saying I was transgender – and when I wasn't paying attention, he put the music stand between my legs and said, Oh, look, she's a boy now. She's transgender."
Ask anyone in the #MeToo movement – that's sexual assault. Both the school and the local sheriff's office confirmed to OneNewsNow that they're looking into the incident.
That confrontation, along with all the other abuse, has made her dad a little angry.
"It's not a fight that I asked for," the pastor says. "But you know what? It was laid at my doorstep and I'm going to defend myself. I'm going to defend God just like David did. You can't sit here and just let this happen anymore."
Penkoski says he and his wife try to teach their children to be strong in their faith. "We teach our children to fear God. We fear God before we fear men. [We tell them] Stick to your beliefs. Don't back down. Don't be afraid just because someone says whatever. That's not who we are."
It appears to be a lesson his teenage daughter has picked up: "[When that boy did that] I pushed him and slapped him in the face and he started laughing – and I told him he laughed like a chipmunk."
Still, Penkoski says he's pulling his kids out of public school and will start homeschooling them. https://www.onenewsnow.com/culture/2018/01/19/teen-stands-strong-in-the-face-of-hate
What exactly is a gay emoji?
a REALLY Happy One !
Most of those are pretty lame. Are you afraid of cartoons, glitter, and rainbows?
I have emojis on my Photobucket account that have gotten me banned.
Jeepers, Loki and I have worse on our lunch boxes
right Loki ?
Are you telling me you are of the female persuasion ?
call me old fashioned then
Something that those who abused his daughter seemed to like.
So not only has that nutty pastor taught his kids to hate LGBT folks but he's even teaching them to be true cowards and be frightened of an imaginary bogie man in the sky. That sounds like psychological abuse and very controlling behavior.
How long before we learn that this pastor has been diddling his daughter?
Really? This girl gets physically and sexually assaulted by pro homosexual peers and not one comment about what the attackers did being wrong.
I'd like to see the police report of this supposed sexual assault with a music stand? Certainly, that would have been a headline on Fox News if it had happened.
It did happen.
Then where is the police report? Certainly, they have a suspect in such a high profile case..............
I doubt that Bob Jones U was fighting for civil rights when their tax exempt status was revoked due to their ban on interracial dating and interracial marriage.
President Donald Trump is garnering praise this week for his decision to declare January 16 as the National Day of Religious Freedom.
Nate Lance, advocacy manager for International Christian Concern, says the proclamation is a critical message that demonstrates solidarity with those being persecuted for their beliefs.
To that end, he hopes the U.S. Senate will follow the administration's lead by swiftly confirming Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.
"We've never seen someone as high profile as Governor Brownback appointed to this position,” he explains, “which is something I think is to commend the White House for."
Lance says Brownback’s leadership in the religious freedom office of the U.S. State Department will be an important asset in furthering the work of “the spear of our diplomatic core in terms of religious freedom” as it works with foreign governments to bring accountability to foreign governments that persecute religious minorities.
Also welcoming President Trump's Religious Freedom Day proclamation was David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, who says it's a reminder that "more often than not, people in other countries do not have the same freedoms we do here in the U.S." https://www.onenewsnow.com/persecution/2018/01/19/trump-praised-for-recognizing-religious-freedom-day
I hope Brownstain does to religious freedom what he did to the state of Kansas.
There, there now. The weather will soon be warm enough to cruise a hog up and down 385 south of Channing looking for strays to alleviate that stress.
The only role faith should play is to get out of the way
Get out of the way of what exactly? We will defend religious liberty come what may.
out of the way of those who don't want to be bothered by it. we have religious liberty too
No one is forced to believe in anything. We are all free to have any religious belief or none at all. No one though is free to silence the free expression of their chosen belief or lack there of or to restrict the free excercise there of of religious beliefs ones religious belief or lack there of.
No one is forced to believe in anything.
Correct, they are just expected to accept that certain people are not allowed to be married, that certain people don’t have the right to birth control benefits, or that women have no right to control their bodies.
huh? Ranch dressing okay?
Helpful hint - Thereof is actually a word, excercise is not.
When has religious liberty ever been threatened? People are free to believe whatever they want or do not want or belong to whatever religion they want or do not want.
Then you agree we have religious liberty and it is not being threatened?
There are legal limits to religious expression, but not to religious belief. See the difference?
National Religious What Ever Day on Jan. 16th. Darn, must have missed it.
Ah well. Billionaires got their payoff. Another step closer to forced child birth. Walking through the door of, "My gawd is offended because I don't like this or that or what ever"
Should Gorsuch be proclaimed Supreme Leader?
Jan. 16 every year is National Day of Of Religious Freedom.
Happy birtherday.
That will occur next January 16. This year’s event was the first of an event that will happen annually forever more until the 2nd coming.
Revelations referred to the fall of the Roman Empire. There is no literal second coming of Jesus.
Jesus came back as a Muslim named Amir in 1996. He grew up in a refugee camp, in a nation that we no longer accept immigrants from, so his immigration visa was cancelled. He's pretty fucking pissed off now.
I'll be sure to forget and/or not care.
I disgaree,