Before God and Man: Which Oath Will You Honor?

ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION

AMENDMENT [I.] 2 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

On August 7th, 2015, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct informed Judge C. Allen McConnell that the June 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, US Supreme Court (by a slim 5-4 majority) takes precedent over his 1st Amendment Right. It is our protection of the free exercise of our religious convictions. It seems an odd position given that a judge is sworn to uphold the Constitution.

Opinion 2015-1 states that any judge who officiates marriage ceremonies may not refuse to officiate a same-sex marriage ceremony based on their religious or personal convictions. Even if one disagrees with the legality of same-sex marriage, it isn’t difficult to understand that they would reach this conclusion. The opinion, however, did not stop there. It goes on to state that neither can a judge refuse to officiate all marriage ceremonies to avoid performing them.

This leads us to deduce that just about anyone can be forced to embrace the agenda or suffer the consequences. This includes those who wish to serve in government, become an officer of the court or a military chaplain … or those who take pictures, bake wedding cakes, make floral arrangements or cater receptions.

Judge McCullen said he accepts the opinion and the clarification of his responsibility. He says he will abide by the opinion and has apologized to the couple that he refused to marry. Public officials evidently must now forsake their own convictions for the sake of gay rights.

I find it interesting that the Ohio Judicial Oath of Office, pursuant to Revised Code 3.23, concludes with [This I do as I shall answer unto God.]. Apparently taking an oath to God is acceptable–as long as you don’t try to live by it.

Ephesians 6:14  “So stand up and do not be moved. Wear a belt of truth around your body. Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God.” (NLV)

Will you choose to go along to get along? Or will you be sporting your spiritual armour, defending God’s truth?