A major topic of discussion among public policy experts at the recent National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Nashville was how religious liberty relates to culture in the nation.
Janet Parshall, host of a radio talk show moderated a panel discussing including Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, Pastor Rafael Cruz, father of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Todd Starnes of Fox News, and National Religious Broadcasters Sr. VP and Chief Legal Counsel Craig Parshall.
The panelists say there is concern over the Hobby Lobby case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Christian craft store is seeking relief from a federal mandate that all new health plans cover contraception, sterilization, and certain abortion-inducing drugs. Under the Obama administration guidelines if the company does not include such coverage it could face federal fines of $1.3 million per day.
One issue discussed is the concern that some federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Communications Commission have violated boundaries during investigations of some conservative groups.
The Christian Post reports that in 2013, evidence was uncovered that IRS employees in the Cincinnati, Ohio office violated boundaries in investigating and delaying the granting of non-profit status to groups associated with the Tea Party movement. The Christian Post also reports the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been investigating how media outlets report news.
Jay Sekulow is a convert to Christianity from Judaism. He is also the founder and Chief Legal Counsel of the ACLJ. He says a primary purpose of his work is to make a case that government overreach is not warranted in the nation.
Asked about the IRS and FCC issues, he stated “the government targeting anyone is wrong. He went on to say: “the Department of Justice investigating the IRS is a meaningless exercise.”
Pastor Rafael Cruz is a Cuban immigrant who came to the US in 1957. His son is now a U.S. Senator.
Pastor Cruz commented “If I can blame anyone for our loss of religious liberty in America, I blame our pastors,” said Cruz. He says he is concerned the pastors “are hiding behind their pulpits and 501(c)(3)’s.”
Pastor Cruz said he is also concerned that too many pastors think they are forbidden from discussing or promoting civic and government issues simply because they have a non-profit status.
He says churches and pastors should concentrate on becoming biblically correct, instead of politically correct.”
Cruz’s comments came in reference to pastors and churches who seemingly relent to political pressure from outside groups – and at times their own members – who believe that pastors and churches are prohibited from discussing or promoting civic and government issues from the pulpit simply because they have a non-profit status.
“It’s about time we become biblically correct instead of being politically correct,” added Cruz. “I would rather go to jail than violate what God is telling me to do.”
The panel ended the hour and a half session by offering words of encouragement and strategies to those who believe Christians are losing on the issues.
“If there is going to be a change in America, it must begin in our pulpits,” said Starnes.
The elder Cruz agreed and challenged pastors to make preaching the gospel a top-priority.
‘What I tell the pastors is they need to be faithful to the gospel,” Cruz said. “We have too many churches in American who have diluted the gospel to fit the world. And when the world comes to them they see nothing different. Life is worthless unless you point it to doctrine.”
The NRB event was attended by an estimated 300 people.
Sekulow stated that the power of prayer was most important
“Praying for those in authority is easier to say than do. He added: “You can fundamentally disagree with 99 percent of policies of our leaders and it’s still okay for Christians to give thanks to God.”
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