After today this column will be a Kim–Davis–free zone, but first lets look at one more facet of the controversy. Although I admire the courage of the Kentucky clerk, I disagree with her refusal as a government official to follow the law. Civil disobedience is confined to civilians. If Davis’ strong Christian faith prevented her from issuing homosexual marriage licenses then she should have made a very public announcement and resigned her post.
What’s admirable about Davis is her refusal to compromise her faith. This unknown, unassuming woman was thrust into the harsh glare of an unbelieving media and hostile culture and she didn’t back down.
In my book “A Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times: (Now With Added Humor!)” I devoted a chapter to conservative pacifists in the culture war. These are people who could be strong examples for everyday believers, like Kim Davis, but when weighed in the balance of negative publicity, prove wanting.
First was Chick–fil–A President Dan Cathy. A mere two days after Christian Americans set a sales record for him, Cathy canceled all public appearances, because homosexual heresy detectors found an interview in the Baptist Press that didn’t toe the line on faux marriage.
Cathy was joined by Rev. Louie Giglio who was scheduled to give the benediction at the 2nd Obama inauguration, until same–sex archeologists unearthed a sermon he gave 20 years ago supporting the Bible’s prohibition on homosexual conduct. Rather than reaffirm the truth, Giglio retreated from the public eye. Kim Davis had six days in jail, while Giglio couldn’t endure a six–hour ceremony.
The newest name on the list is Hobby Lobby President Steve Green.
Green is the Evangelical force behind the Museum of the Bible, located so close to the National Mall you could sail an offering plate and hit a lobbyist.
The museum’s original concept inspired confidence in believers and despair at the Washington Post. It’s mission statement was to “bring to life the living word of God ... to inspire confidence in the absolute authority” of the Bible’s words.” That caused critics to feverishly examine building plans to discover if there was a woodpile for burning heretics or plans to sell snakes in the gift shop.
The secular world is feeling much better now that the museum “will be dedicated to a scholarly approach to the history, narrative and impact of the Bible.” Green says he now supports a museum approach that is “nonsectarian and non-proselytizing.”
Meaning Green has “grown” as a museum founder. He even uses the term “evolution” to describe how his position shifted. “It’s more of a high-level discussion of, ‘Here’s this book, what is its history and impact, and what is its story?’”
Big deal. You could ask the same questions in a museum built around the Koran or Moby Dick.
Instead of a museum that forthrightly proclaims the truth of the Bible, we’re going to have a slightly apologetic, don’t–offend–the–seculars institution. Paul addressed past and current concerns of the secular world in 1 Corinthians 1:22–23: “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks [Gentiles] search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.”
People with hardened hearts aren’t ever going to approve of a Bible museum that believes in the authority of the Bible.
Out of 79 million evangelicals in the U.S., Green couldn’t find one to curate the collection. Instead he hired David Trobisch, a man who doesn’t believe Luke wrote the book of Acts, formerly edited the secular humanist magazine Free Inquiry and is a member of a church that permits homosexual clergy.
Green has placed funding in a 501(c)(3) organization and Trobisch says, “Steve Green does not take any active role in the day-to-day business.” Great. Eventually the museum, like the Ford Foundation and the Reagan Library, will be run by lefty world citizens who are vaguely embarrassed about the origin of their paycheck but working to put the establishment on the “right side of history.”
Trobisch’s believes, “The idea that there’s one Bible and a canon that everyone agreed on is just wrong.” He invites museum visitors to choose an audio guide to the collection from one of “five religious belief systems,” which I assume means either Christian, Orthodox, Jewish, Moslem or Joel Osteen.
Green fought the Obama administration all the way to the Supreme Court over an Obamacare mandate to cover abortion for Hobby Lobby employees. Too bad he couldn’t take a cue from Kim Davis and fight the culture equally hard.
Michael Shannon is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of “A Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times.” He can be reached at mandate.mmpr@gmail.com