Battle Lines Are Being Drawn!

This past Monday (June 28) there was a ruling in the Supreme Court that slid in under the wire of most media outlets, but it is huge, as it is a violent swing at destroying religious freedoms in America. With a 5-4 decision, it is now required that all Christian campus groups that are on public universities, must accept gay students as members. Lou Engle, the prayer leader and founder of "The Call" prayer movement stated that this may well be the beginning of religious persecution in the United States. He said, "This is the first time in U.S. history where the Supreme Court has actually ruled that gender rights now trump religious rights, which means this is the beginning of the possible coming harassment and persecution of the church because it's going to be clear that the true church will take a stand only on the Word of God. So these campuses will find out who the real Christians are, who is willing to take a stand and risk their status with the school as a club."

California Universities Hastings College had blocked the "Christian Legal Society" funding and and recognition because it would not accept homosexuals as members. Monday's ruling states that campus groups cannot bar any student who wishes to become a member or move into a leadership position, even if that person does not agree with the group's beliefs. Gregory Baylor, attorney with the Alliance Defense fund which represented the CLS said, "The Hasting policy actually requires CLS to allow atheists to lead its Bible studies and the College Democrats to accept the election of Republican officers in order for the groups to be recognized on campus."

This quiet decision could have a sweeping effect all across the nation. The CLS already had the policy of welcoming anyone and everyone to participate in it's meetings and Bible studies, but had a standing policy that voting members and the leadership of the group were required to sign a Statement of Faith that included a line which stated, "unrepentant participation in or advocacy of a sexually immoral lifestyle." This ruling impacts all campus groups, but the impact could be particularly devastating as radical groups can now literally take over a group in order to destroy it.

Keep your eyes on this one. It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out.