You must be blind and deaf not to know about what’s going on in the Supreme Court today. Well, perhaps you’re just not plugged into the news. At any rate, Hobby Lobby is going before the Supreme Court to argue against the Affordable Care Act’s “Contraceptive Mandate.”
Basically, Hobby Lobby is saying that they are religiously opposed to providing types of contraceptives that work after conception. The government is going to try to force the issue saying that corporations are not individuals and cannot use religious belief to opt out of the government mandate.
The argument brings up a whole host of issues, but one of the primary issues is this: How do Christians behave in the middle of culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian faith and practice?
I concede that not everyone believes the way I do. Some don’t see the contraceptive issue as a religious issue. Ed Stetzer released some data from Lifeway indicating that a majority of Americans believe organizations SHOULD be forced to provide contraceptives even when it goes against religious beliefs.
We’re all waiting to see how the Supreme Court will rule and what impact the ruling will have for “Christian” organizations and individuals.
In the meantime, let’s consider the example of Peter and John in the Bible. When they were called before the Jewish leaders and told to stop preaching or teaching in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered:
Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. (Acts 4:19)
As Christians our ultimate accountability is to God, not to civil government. When we truly feel God calling us to do something, heaven help us if we ignore the call and yield to man. The Apostle Paul writes:
Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)
When we understand where we belong and where our ultimate loyalty lies, sometimes we will stand against civil government and say, “I will not yield on this point.”
Here’s the kicker.
It will mean that we endure hardships here. It may not be possible to have our cake and eat it, too. When Christian businesses take a stand on faith, they may be forced to pay penalties and fines or even be forced out of business. This is the cost of being a believer in a broken and sinful world.
While I would like to see the Supreme Court rule in favor of Hobby Lobby, I will not be surprised if doesn’t happen. Then the real test comes. Will Hobby Lobby remain loyal to the faith they now proclaim or will they yield to the rule of man?
Like Jesus said:
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)
Chris Linzey 
What you say is what I believe as well. However, there is another issue that we tend to forget. If Hobby Lobby was a fully owned company in which the owner is entirely liable for everything, then yes, the argument would be completely valid. But the whole idea behind incorporating businesses is to limit the liability of the owners/shareholders. The incorporated company is, legally, an entity all its own. So this brings up the issue whether we can have our cake and eat it too. The majority owner may be a good Christian, but can we honestly make that same claim for the legal entity known as Hobby Lobby? Something to at least consider.
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Good point. Thx for sharing
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One of your best blogs. Crisp, concise, and valid points, Chris.
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Thx 🙂
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Reblogged this on thexiansatirist.
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