Second-Class American Citizenship

With his family by his side, Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States by Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr. in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the presidential inauguration, a tradition dating back to George Washington's 1789 inauguration. VIRIN: 090120-F-3961R-919 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the strictest sense, Biblical Christians first citizenship is that of Heaven. This world is not our home, we are just passing through, as the old song goes. Yet, in today's United States, and even a number of other countries, Christians are also being relegated to a second-class citizenship status. Look at the news stories so far this year regarding Evangelical Christians in the news.

1. Pastor Louie Giglio was scheduled to give the benediction at President Obama's second inauguration. However, gay rights groups quickly found a sermon of his from approximately 20 years ago speaking about the sin of homosexuality. Giglio was subsequently disinvited from the inauguration ceremonies. Incidentally, Giglio was invited for his work with stopping human trafficking. Now, this is a secular event, so something like this should come as no surprise. 
2. New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow was scheduled to speak at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas later this Spring. Keep in mind that this is a church and that Tim Tebow is a Christian, scheduled to speak at a church. There was an outcry from gay rights groups about Tebow, a Christian, speaking at this church, because of statements (misinterpreted and taken out of context statements) made by the pastor of First Baptist, Dr. Robert Jeffress. Tebow turns around and cancels, issuing a statement via Twitter, and Jeffress issues a statement via his church website that Tebow will likely speak at a later date. Tebow is applauded by the "rights" groups and attacked by Christian groups, particularily the American Family Association.

So, what is my point in bringing up these incidents from over the past couple of months? As the Supreme Court hears the case regarding whether or not gay marriage is constitutionally protected or not, Christians are being excluded from the conversation. People from both sides of the aisle are arguing for the constitutional protection. What I am not seeing is any religious exemption being put forth. As well, if one is in the public eye, it is unjust and immoral to take any stand or associate one's self with any group that is "anti-gay." This is all while these groups are supposedly speaking about tolerance while being utterly intolerant of one's beliefs. Christians are being marginialized and set aside in any kind of conversation. What we say does not matter and will not matter in the future. We are officially second-class citizens, being put there by the chief himself, President Barack Obama, even though he, himself, professes to be a Christian. Does this sound bad? Not really. Christ said we would be persecuted and we would have to put up with this. He suffered so much more than the discounting of morality. The world exchanges the truth for a lie and all we can do is stand back, watch, and pray.  We cannot succumb to the world in giving in the immoral lie that homosexuality is okay. Too many "Christians" are doing such a thing. We must continue to fight for truth. America has lost it's moral compass. Let's not lose ours.

Related articles

• My Take: Christians ought to shrug off inaugural pastor rejection
• Tim Tebow Attacked By AFA For Canceling Gig At Mega Hate Church
• Jets QB Tim Tebow To Speak At Increasingly LGBT-Friendly Pepperdine
• Tim Tebow, Robert Jeffress, Queer Media, and The Gospel
• As Job Axe Comes: Tim Tebow Drops Pastor Jeffress Speaking Engagement
• NBC Sports Writer Smears Baptist Church with Tebow Ties