Freedom to Believe

                The topic of discussion for this Freedom Friday concerns the freedom of Americans to believe as we choose. It seems that governments at all levels are encroaching on our rights to worship.

                The Iowa Civil Rights Commission published a brochure containing information about how the state plans to protect “sexual orientation and gender identity.” The brochure explains “how the law applies to places of public accommodation – and included churches among places such as restaurants and hotels.” The state interpreted the Iowa Civil Rights Act in the brochure as applying to “churches anytime that they hold worship services that are open to the public, as all worship services are.”

                As reported by The Daily Signal, the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, through the Alliance Defending Freedom, filed a federal lawsuit on July 4, 2016. The suit names the city of Des Moines, the attorney general of Iowa, and the officials at the Iowa Civil Rights Commission as defendants. The legal battle between the church and the state government is “over what the congregation considers censorship of biblical teaching on human sexuality.”

                This situation in Des Moines is just one example of how government officials at all levels want to control what Americans believe and what churches are allowed to teach. We are in a battle with our own governments to retain our freedom to worship as we choose.