“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10
A Missouri woman named Jean Finney, who identifies as a lesbian, claims she was fired by the Missouri Department of Corrections because she “presents masculinity.” Finney has taken legal action to fight her termination claiming she was wrongfully discriminated against because of her sexual orientation.
Finney’s attorney questioned potential jurors to see if any of them attended a “conservative Christian church” where “it was taught that people who are homosexual shouldn’t have the same rights as everyone else,” because “what they did” was “a sin?” Two of the potential jurors voiced that they adhere to Biblical Christianity which teaches that homosexuality is a sin just like “gossiping” and more.
They also said, “We are Christians, we have some sincerely held Christian beliefs, but can follow the law… Christians are able to follow the law just like anybody else.” Unfortunately, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the barring of the Christians from Jury Duty.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case, Justice Alito in a rare occasion commented on the situation. He wrote that this situation is the playing out of his concerns that would follow the Obergefell decision that was made nine years ago.
Alito wrote, “In this case, the court below reasoned that a person who still holds traditional religious views on questions of sexual morality is presumptively unfit to serve on a jury in a case involving a party who is a lesbian… That holding exemplifies the danger that I anticipated in Obergefell v. Hodges, … namely, that Americans who do not hide their adherence to traditional religious beliefs about homosexual conduct will be labeled as bigots and treated as such by the government.”
This situation is one that should concern American Christians as the only people being discriminated against here are faithful followers of Christ.
LET US PRAY…
Father, we pray that You will greatly bless the two Christians who publicly stood for Your truth regardless of the discrimination that they were facing. Lord, may our nation never become one that sees Biblical Christianity in a false light as bigoted and discriminatory. Father, give us the strength that we need to always stand for Your truth in our culture. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
