By Jason Georges, Executive Director of The Bible Nation Society

(see Gallup Poll video at bottom of article)

Soon U.S. legislators will again consider the inclusion of “gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation” into current hate crime legislation.  This legislation while inconsequential to many Americans has the potential to affect large societal change.  According to a recent Gallup Poll the majority of Americans including self-identified Bible supporters are in favor of expanding current hate crimes legislation to now include “gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”  The inclusion of these terms creates new social groups in America on par with those identified by race, ethnicity, or sex.  Should voluntary lifestyle choices be placed on the same status as identifiers in which the individual has no choice?

Behavior a mark of character not genetics

The founders of this nation went to great lengths to protect the God given rights of “created individuals.”  The declaration of independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  The founder’s intent was to insure that all men regardless of what physical characteristics they were created with would have opportunity to enjoy these rights.  A man should not be limited by his genetics, but be afforded opportunity to prosper based on his own actions.  The equality of the races and sexes has been a great hallmark of this country that was initiated at its founding.

However, while protecting the rights of the created man the founders also left that man free to live with the consequence of his behavior.  His behavior would determine his success and standing in society.  The ingenious hard-worker would thrive and the sluggard would starve.  Behavior is not the result of genetics but of willful choices made by an individual.  Did the founders intend to protect behavior or the created man?

Crime judged on action not motivation

The legal system specifies consequences for certain behaviors by an individual.  For instance if an individual commits the behavior of murder he is tried by his peers and sentenced according to his actions.  The law, particularly in the case of murder, does distinguish between behaviors committed in passion or pre-meditated, but if justice is truly blind should she concern herself with motive once it has been determined a crime has been committed?  Some might argue that a noble motive might warrant a lesser punishment, but if an action was warranted then it should not be seen as a crime, therefore not punished.  Why then is harming an individual because of there sexual orientation any different than any other reason people harm each other.  Crime is crime and should be punished for the action without prejudice of motive.

Equality ends where behavior begins

The founder’s belief that all men are created equal is a Biblical principle.  “….God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34b-35 This explains that God judges the behaviors of a person not their genetic make-up.  At the heart of hate crime legislation is the attempt to force what many believe as unacceptable behaviors into the category of created equality.  It removes from society the ability to determine what is moral or immoral.  This issue begs the continual question of upon what foundation should a society build itself.  It is the Bible supporter that understands that a society built upon the principles of the Bible affords the most opportunity and protection to all, believer or non-believer.  Freedom is lost when government prevents society to pass it own moral judgment. 

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjZuJQ6XPhI;rel=0 285 234]