WHAT DON'T YOU GET!

June 9, 2015

On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 while sitting on the subway en route to work, I attempted to read an email message that was forwarded to me as I fought to hold back the emotions starting to erupt within my SPIRIT.  Not able to get beyond the controversial headlines which read “Report: Obama Forcing Faith-Based Organizations to Hire Homosexuals and Transsexuals,” I was cautioned by God to keep an open mind.  I could feel my heart start to race as I struggled to quiet down my breathing and wondered about what was to come next.  Listening intently, I heard “WHAT DON’T YOU GET!” and waited for God to give me clarity.

We, unfortunately, fail too often to know God’s heart and disregard His most important commandments.  Matthew 22:37-39 states, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as theyself.  We allow religiosity and tradition to cloud our judgment.  We fail to study the WORD OF GOD to incorporate it into our hearts.  We fail to note the motives of the world when God has clearly stated not to conform to the ways of the world and to be mindful that although we are in the world, we should not be of the world.  And much too often, we lean towards our own understanding and quickly take the side of others outside of the WILL OF GOD to know the truth which is ironically completely void of the truth.  God is love and His truth should be our truth!  To do that, we need to work towards transforming how we think by renewing our mind to resemble the mind of Christ.  For example, we need to think like He does and resist the temptation and the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11) to get out of God’s way to surrender completely to Him.

Discrimination of any kind is a sign of prejudice behavior.  Prejudices breed hatred!  And hatred is the opposite of love.  People can agree to disagree while still respecting each other.  Respect is about treating people with kindness, politeness and courtesy.  Respect does not constitute judging, name calling, patronizing, demeaning, belittling, putting others down regardless of your dislikes, indifferences or unwillingness to see eye to eye.  Equality is treating people the same no matter their race, religion, gender, size, age, sexuality or country of origin.   Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.  Failure to hire someone on the basis of discrimination in accordance to their sexual orientation is a violation of that person’s civil rights and constitutes unlawful employment practices.

PREJUDICE:

1. An unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc.
2. A feeling of like or dislike for someone or something especially when it is not reasonable or logical
3. An unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
4. Any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
5. Unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an ethnic, racial, social, or religious group.

Do you even remember when and why the faith based initiative was set-up?  What was the motive or the political reasoning behind it?  Do you not view it as a double standard?  We, unfortunately, have too many double standards floating around that are being passed off as acceptable bargaining chips in the name of law and order.  We have been so careless with the law that many people are confused about what is right or wrong.  Refusing to hire someone on the basis of their sexual orientation is not only a violation of their civil rights, it is a grave disregard of enforceable EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) laws.  If we, as citizens of the United States who proclaim to be followers of Christ, condone any form of discrimination, what does that say about us?  Are we really truly demonstrating God’s idea or concept of love or man’s hatred and inability to be humane?  Are you willing and ready to turn the clock in going backwards?  If so, then get ready for setting a precedent for removing and eliminating all civil rights’ laws of protection! 

TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED BY THE LAWS ENFORCED BY EEOC:

1. Age - The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) only forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40, although some states do have laws that protect younger workers from age discrimination.
2.  Disability - Federal employees and applicants are covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, instead of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The protections are mostly the same.  Disability discrimination occurs when an employer or other entity covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, or the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, treats a qualified individual with a disability who is an employee or applicant unfavorably because she has a disability.
3. Equal Pay/Compensation - Title VII also makes it illegal to discriminate based on sex in pay and benefits. Therefore, someone who has an Equal Pay Act claim may also have a claim under Title VII.  The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. The jobs need not be identical, but they must be substantially equal.
4. Genetic Information (family medical history) – Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits genetic information discrimination in employment, took effect on November 21, 2009.
5. Harassment - Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).
6. National Origin - It is unlawful to harass a person because of his or her national origin. Harassment can include, for example, offensive or derogatory remarks about a person’s national origin, accent or ethnicity.  National origin discrimination involves treating people (applicants or employees) unfavorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world, because of ethnicity or accent, or because they appear to be of a certain ethnic background (even if they are not).
7. Pregnancy - It is unlawful to harass a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth.
   
   
   
   Harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).
8. Race/Color - Race discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features). Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin color complexion.  Race/color discrimination also can involve treating someone unfavorably because the person is married to (or associated with) a person of a certain race or color or because of a person’s connection with a race-based organization or group, or an organization or group that is generally associated with people of a certain color.
9. Religion - Religious discrimination involves treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. The law protects not only people who belong to traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, but also others who have sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs.  Unless it would be an undue hardship on the employer's operation of its business, an employer must reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices.
10. Retaliation - The law forbids retaliation when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.
11. Sex and Sexual Orientation - Sex discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person's sex.  Sex discrimination also can involve treating someone less favorably because of his or her connection with an organization or group that is generally associated with people of a certain sex.  Discrimination against an individual because that person is transgender is discrimination because of sex in violation of Title VII.  This is also known as gender identity discrimination.  In addition, lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals may bring sex discrimination claims.  These may include, for example, allegations of sexual harassment or other kinds of sex discrimination, such as adverse actions taken because of the person's non-conformance with sex-stereotypes.
12. Sexual Harassment - It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

If the Federal government has enacted laws to protect the civil rights of people or individuals being targeted and discriminated against, then why shouldn’t those laws be enforced?  Why should I or anyone else be required to pay Federal taxes which are being redirected or paid to organizations and programs (in the form of Federal funding) which deny us all the right to benefit just the same?  No, I am not a homosexual, bi-sexual or transsexual.  I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God who understands the importance of love and equality … not hatred.  God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11)!  Yes, HE does frown upon disobedience to HIS Word, but HE approaches it from the standpoint of love – always.  Are you not familiar with the Samaritan woman at the well?  John 4 states, Jews did not associate with Samaritans and yet Jesus took the time to speak and to be cordial to the woman while winning her over to the Father. 

Faith based organizations are not necessarily religious or spiritual in nature.  To be spiritual in nature is to know the Father and his expectations.  In fact, many of us who proclaim to be Christians do not know the Father or His expectations.  Woe unto you who lead God’s sheep astray with your influence on the basis of tax exemptions or for any other reason outside of the WILL OF GOD for that matter!  Have you done your homework to determine the difference between a religious non-profit 501(c)(3) and a faith based organization?  Do you know when, how and why the faith based initiative came about?  Do you even know the politics behind it?  Under former President George W. Bush’s plan in 2002, religious groups could receive federal funding to implement programs usually carried out by secular non-profit organizations.  He suggested that the government should not discriminate against faith-based programs, but they should be encouraged to flourish.  Shouldn’t all people have the right not to be discriminated against for any reason and be allowed to flourish?  Then how can you be a religious organization seeking a dual status as a faith based organization or be in agreement with faith based organizations who engage in discrimination practices?  Does that not contradict God’s principles?  What cause are you fighting?  We have to be very careful about what we co-sign! 

On another note, do you remember when the Senate Finance Committee under the leadership of Charles Grassley (Ranking Member) targeted various religious leaders, but not all?  If one person, individual or group, meaning citizens of the United States without political ties or power, is scrutinized (audited) by the Internal Revenue Service, then why shouldn’t EVERYONE be challenged by the same probing (treatment)?  Why not target all religious, non-profit and faith-based organizations?  Why not make and enforce rules, regulations, policies or laws that impact all and not a select few? 

REFERENCES: 

• http://www.charismanews.com/us/49922-report-obama-forcing-faith-based-organizations-to-hire-homosexuals-and-transsexuals
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-george-w-bush-announces-plan-for-faith-based-initiatives
• http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf
• http://www.rockinst.org/pdf/faith-based_social_services/2002-12-government_partnerships_with_faith-based_service_providers_state_of_the_law.pdf
• http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-panel-probes-6-top-televangelists/
• www.christianpost.com/news/grassley-concludes-senate-probe-of-prosperity-televangelists-48383/
• http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=cfbnppracgde2014.pdf
• http://www.finance.senate.gov/newsroom/ranking/release/?id=baa4251a-ee70-48af-a324-79801cd07f18

WHAT DON’T YOU GET!
ANN GWEN MACK