Christians Not Coming Out To Affrim Church Teachings In A Secular World

As the right to display religious symbols in public places in the United States is being curtailed by the government in order to achieve a clear separation of church and state, religious institutions and their affiliates such as schools and charities that believe marriage can only be between a man and a woman will likely be confronted with the choice between accepting gay marriage or losing their tax-exempt status. [1], [2]

Should churches lose their non-taxable status, Christians will see many of their places of worship close their doors due to insolvency since donations to churches may be treated as taxable income (money collected for the purpose of providing religious services) as opposed to non-taxable gifts. Moreover, if churches are no longer tax-exempt, then donations would no longer be tax deductible, in which case, donations would likely shrink as would the survival of a good number of churches likely be in jeopardy.

With many Christians not having a place nearby to worship, they can be considered homeless--spiritually homeless, and like those without shelter, they would be relegated to the fringes of society.  Existing in an inferior status causes shame and embarrassment, so rather than wear visible badges of religious inferiority, Christians would try to hide their spiritual homelessness by finding invisible closets in which they can go into, coming out only to others who are like-minded privately, outside of work places, business conventions and secular gatherings.  Is it not ironic that Christians who disapprove of gay lifestyles and gays who have been subjected to such disapproval seemed to have switched places, with the former group going into and the latter coming out of the closet?

Those who dare to come out as Christians will face reprobation and rejection in a secular world accepting of behaviors and lifestyles that are contrary to Christian beliefs and will do so at the risk of losing their contracts with the government, their jobs in the government and in the private sector with government contracts because the government has to ensure that those who live the gay lifestyle, the innocuous and the abominable, would not be subject to discrimination. [3]  Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that rather than being upfront and talk about their religious beliefs, Christians will not be coming out of their closets to advocate church teachings in a secular world.


[1] http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/02/government-crusade-against-churches-begins-with-removal-of-non-profit-status/
[2] http://goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/spiritual/the_organized_church/501c3.htm
[3] For Christians to practice their religion in the United States, they can do so in private "'behind closed doors'" like in China but not out in the open, in the public square and certainly not while carrying on their businesses in the stream of commerce.  Hopefully that day will not come to pass but the force of law may propel it in the direction of China.