“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” – Acts 5:29
Subscribe On: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube | iHeartRadio
Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law the highly concerning AB 1803. It was passed by the Democratic supermajority in both chambers of the California state legislature. This measure requires employers with five or more employees to add “hate speech” training to the existing California harassment-training laws.
The training is meant to confront workplace speech that “vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred” against people based on characteristics that the state has labeled protected. The state has already deemed that protected characteristics include the full LGBTQ array – including sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. To be clear, according to this definition, what the Bible says about marriage, sexuality, and gender, would be considered hate-speech to the state of California.
The question now for Christians and churches in California is this: will churches, Christian employers, and Christian ministries be judged unlawful if they do not hold these trainings that go against their Biblical convictions? It is highly concerning that the law never mentions protecting the First Amendment rights of churches or religious nonprofits. That intentional ambiguity should concern everyone who values religious liberty.
This is the disturbing reality for churches in California right now: the government is trying to define morality apart from God, and because of that, they’re trying to force churches to celebrate immorality.
But the truth is, God is the One who defines morality, and He has revealed that morality in His Word. The church then, since it has the Word of God, is supposed to instruct the government on morality. May the California church remain strong and courageously follow Peter’s advice to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
LET US PRAY…
Father, empower Your church in America to be strong and courageous, and to always obey You rather than men. Lord, please protect Christians and churches in California, and may they have their First Amendments protected to live out their Biblical convictions faithfully. Father, strengthen us to always stand for You no matter the consequences. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.