‘This bill adds up to nothing more than another nail in the coffin of our precious right to practice our faith in keeping with our biblical worldview’

November 21, 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Senate is currently considering a bill that could deny religious freedom for individuals and faith-based organizations. The Respect for Marriage Act would redefine marriage as not only between a man and woman. The bill is backed by all Democratic senators, along with 12 Republicans. Senate Democrats are pushing for the bill to move forward while their party still controls the House. While the bill might seem affirming, many are concerned that it will undermine religious freedom by requiring the federal government to recognize any type of marriage that a state has deemed legal.

Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu), warned the country — particularly Christians — to be prepared for the incoming political attacks permeating American culture.

“Ask most constitutional scholars and they will tell you that the most important Amendment in our Bill of Rights is the first,” Ginn commented. “Obviously, the early founders of this nation thought as much because of its numerical order. In addition to that, it embodies seven fundamental human rights bundled together from which are derived the vital freedom of conscience essential to the life of each and every citizen of the United States.

“Of these seven expressed examples of our freedom of conscience, there is no more important freedom than the right to express our faith in God without fear of governmental interference. Unconscionably, over the past few years, there has been no greater attack on a basic freedom as that which has been directed toward freedom of religion. This particularly applies to certain hedonistic sexual practices that are biblically defined as sin but embraced by others in the culture as ‘normal.’”

Ginn continued, “The latest egregious attack on religious freedom came just this past Wednesday, led by 12 Republicans and all the Democratic members of the U.S. Senate as they passed the so-called Equality of Marriage Act. In short, this bill erased the original Defense of Marriage Act passed under the Clinton administration, which held that marriage is between one man and one woman. At the same time, it enshrined the protection of gay marriages by forcing every state to recognize any type of marriage that any other state has deemed legal, except polygamous marriages — which incidentally have already been deemed ‘legal’ by a federal district court judge. What could be next? Maybe legalization of ‘marriage’ between adults and young children, brothers and sisters, or parent and child? How about ‘marriage’ to a favorite pet? Let your imagination run wild down this wormhole because that is exactly what the purveyors of this ‘sexual freedom’ are doing.

“The proponents of the legislation in the Senate claim that they have protected the freedom of those of us in the faith community to denounce these practices as sinful based on our biblical worldviews. However, you would have to be extremely naïve to believe what is being promulgated as ‘protection’ for faith-based individuals and groups. How did that ‘religious exemption’ thing work out for the folks who chose not to take the COVID vaccines based on their closely held beliefs? In reality, this bill adds up to nothing more than another nail in the coffin of our precious right to practice our faith in keeping with our biblical worldview. The real motivation is the insistence on unlimited pursuit of sexual satisfaction, regardless of its deviant nature.

“Southern Evangelical Seminary is holding to the truth found in God’s Holy Word. Congress and the president did not give this precious freedom to us, and they cannot take it away no matter how mighty their sword. Nevertheless, persecution, especially of true Christ followers, is coming with increased haste to main street America. Therefore, be strong, be courageous, be faithful, and stand with us, steadfast in the truth, whatever the cost.”

Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of SES in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. Over the course of his 22-year judicial career, he was privileged to hold court in almost 50% of the county seats in North Carolina. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

SES is proud to announce the upcoming release of “Steadfast: In a World of Confusion, Know Why You Believe.” This new 10-week study for small groups doubles as a seminary primer course and will give every believer game-changing training for living the Christian faith in today’s world. The study will feature exciting sessions from select SES professors. For more information about the upcoming study, click here.

The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and the defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees (along with several for-credit certificates) that uniquely integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview.