Kara Sears
The Christian Law Association (CLA) is a legal organization that exists to preserve Christian liberty. While the exact number of cases handled by the CLA is unclear, it is known that they receive over 100,000 phone calls annually and thousands of pieces of correspondence from individuals facing legal difficulties for following Biblical commandments. The CLA provides free legal services to Christians facing various legal issues, such as arrests for witnessing in public, students being denied the right to read the Bible in school, churches facing exclusion, and individuals being fired for expressing their faith at work. The CLA is committed to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that Christians can live according to their faith without facing legal repercussions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of phone calls received annually | 100,000+ |
| Number of pieces of correspondence received annually | Thousands |
| Number of legal discrimination cases | 50+ |
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What You'll Learn
Christians facing legal difficulties for following Bible commandments
The Christian Law Association (CLA) exists to preserve Christian liberty and receives in excess of 100,000 phone calls annually, in addition to thousands of pieces of correspondence, from those facing legal difficulties for following Bible commandments.
These cases include Christians being arrested for witnessing to others in public, public school students being told they cannot read their Bibles at school, churches being excluded from communities, and Christians being fired for sharing their faith at work.
The CLA provides free legal services to those facing such legal difficulties. It has been helping churches, pastors, and Christians for over 40 years, with attorneys, legal assistants, and other ministry workers joining the team of "legal missionaries."
The Christian Legal Society (CLS) is another organization that offers legal assistance to those in need through its network of Christian Legal Aid clinics and Christian Attorneys' directories. CLS's Center for Law & Religious Freedom addresses issues related to the infringement of religious freedom. CLS has been active for over 60 years, cultivating a community of Christian legal professionals and helping those who lack resources gain greater access to justice.
While Christians do not follow all the laws and commandments in the Bible, they do recognize that some are still relevant and binding today. For example, the Ten Commandments, which include "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not commit adultery," "Thou shalt not steal," and "Thou shalt not bear false witness," are considered a different set of moral ordinances that spring from the nature of God, who hasn't changed. Christians also follow the commandment to "love your neighbor," which is expressed in the Bible as, "love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
However, not all Biblical laws are considered binding on Christians today. The Old Testament laws, for instance, were given to the ancient nation of Israel and were meant to govern their specific community and way of life. While Christians can learn from these laws, they are not obligated to follow them in the same way.
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Religious freedom in schools
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been involved in several cases, advocating for the separation of church and state and the protection of religious freedom in schools. They have opposed state laws requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, arguing that this violates the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses. The ACLU has also challenged religious schools participating in tuition programs, arguing that they must comply with eligibility requirements, including prohibitions on discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
In Oklahoma, a group of residents and a nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit to prevent the state from sponsoring and funding the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the nation's first religious public charter school. The plaintiffs objected to their tax dollars supporting a school that would discriminate based on religion and LGBTQ+ status and fail to serve students with disabilities adequately.
The Christian Legal Society (CLS), a religious student group, has sued law schools that denied them official recognition due to their leadership policy requiring agreement with "unbiblical behaviors." The Supreme Court ruled against CLS, upholding nondiscrimination policies as constitutional as long as they are viewpoint-neutral and fairly applied.
The role of religion in public schools remains a contentious issue, with ongoing debates about school-sponsored prayer, religious expression, and the rights of religious organizations to access meeting spaces and resources. The courts have ruled that public schools can regulate teacher religious expression during instructional hours but cannot extend this control into non-instructional hours, infringing on teachers' religious freedom.
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Churches being excluded from communities
The Christian Law Association (CLA) exists to preserve Christian liberty, and it handles a wide range of cases involving the infringement of religious freedom. One such issue is the exclusion of churches from communities. While there is no specific number mentioned for how many cases of this nature the CLA handles, it is one of several issues that contribute to the over 100,000 phone calls they receive annually.
The exclusion of churches from communities can take various forms, ranging from legal restrictions to social ostracism.
Legal Exclusion
In some cases, churches may face legal challenges or restrictions that hinder their ability to operate freely within a community. For example, the Johnson Amendment in the United States bars churches and other nonprofits from endorsing political candidates. While this amendment aims to maintain the separation of church and state, some churches have sought to lift this restriction, arguing for their right to engage in political discourse.
Social Exclusion
On the social front, churches may struggle with internal exclusionary practices that create divisions within their congregations. This can manifest as cliques or "in crowds" that marginalize certain members, such as those who abstain from alcohol in a drinking culture. Such exclusion goes against the very essence of community, which is a fundamental aspect of church life.
Additionally, churches as a whole can contribute to exclusion on a larger scale by buying into discriminatory narratives that scapegoat certain communities, such as the LGBT+ community. This type of exclusion not only pushes people away from the church but also furthers societal divisions and perpetuates "dark forces" that are contrary to the teachings of God.
To address these issues, churches must extend grace, welcome, and unconditional love to all, fostering true inclusion and creating communities of radical embrace.
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Christians fired for sharing faith at work
The Christian Law Association (CLA) exists to preserve Christian liberty for children and grandchildren. The CLA receives over 100,000 phone calls a year, in addition to thousands of pieces of correspondence, from individuals facing legal difficulties for following the Bible's teachings. Some of these cases involve Christians being fired for sharing their faith at work. The CLA provides free legal services, supported by the generosity of its donors.
While there is no exact number of cases mentioned, it can be inferred from the volume of calls and correspondence that the CLA handles a significant number of cases related to Christians being fired for sharing their faith at work.
Christians and other religious individuals may face legal challenges when sharing their faith in the workplace. In some cases, this may result in termination from their jobs. While freedom of religion is generally protected in many parts of the world, the interpretation and application of this freedom can vary across different countries and contexts.
In the United States, for example, the First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of religion, which includes the freedom to express and practise one's religious beliefs. However, in the workplace, employers may have policies or guidelines in place that regulate how employees can express their religious beliefs, particularly when interacting with customers, patients, or clients. Some individuals on online forums have shared their opinions and experiences regarding Christians being fired for sharing their faith at work, indicating that this is a topic that generates diverse perspectives and discussions.
When Christians feel that their religious freedom has been infringed upon in the workplace, they may seek legal assistance from organisations like the CLA or the Christian Legal Society (CLS). These organisations provide legal resources and support to help individuals navigate their rights and seek resolution or redress for any perceived wrongdoing.
It is important to note that not all cases of Christians sharing their faith at work will result in termination. The outcome of each case will depend on various factors, including the specific circumstances, the organisation's policies, and the legal framework governing religious expression in the relevant country or region.
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Religious liberty and marriage, family, and human sexuality
Marriage, family, and human sexuality are integral aspects of religious liberty. The relationship between marriage equality and religious liberty has been a topic of discussion, specifically concerning the Respect for Marriage Act and its implications for religious institutions. The Act, which aims to protect marriage equality, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, has sparked debates about religious freedom and the potential conflict between civil and religious institutions' definitions of marriage.
Religious institutions, such as the Christian Law Association, may handle cases involving religious liberty and human sexuality. For example, they might address the concerns of religious organizations or individuals who object to same-sex marriage on theological grounds. These cases would centre around reconciling religious beliefs with the legal recognition and protection of LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality.
Liberty University, for instance, offers a course on human sexuality that explores the topic from a Christian worldview. The course requires students to research and write about healthy sexual development, the healing of sexual wounds, and their personal theology of sexuality. It emphasizes the importance of understanding human sexuality's impact on families and couples, reflecting the intersection of marriage, family, and sexuality within the context of religious liberty.
The complex interplay between religious liberty and marriage, family, and human sexuality is further highlighted in the discussions surrounding the Respect for Marriage Act. The Act's passage in the Senate and its expected approval by the House and the President signify a shift towards protecting marriage equality. However, the act has also brought attention to the need to respect religious liberty and navigate potential conflicts between civil and religious definitions of marriage.
In conclusion, the topic of religious liberty and its intersection with marriage, family, and human sexuality is a multifaceted issue. It involves navigating between protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and respecting the religious beliefs and freedoms of individuals and institutions. The ongoing dialogue and legislative efforts, such as the Respect for Marriage Act, aim to strike a balance between these important aspects of society.
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Frequently asked questions
The Christian Law Association (CLA) receives over 100,000 phone calls annually, not counting the thousands of pieces of correspondence from those facing legal difficulties for following the Bible's commands. The CLA provides free legal services to those in need.
Cases handled by the CLA include Christians being arrested for witnessing to others in public, public school students being told they cannot read their Bibles at school, churches being excluded from communities, and Christians being fired for sharing their faith at work.
The Christian Law Association exists to preserve Christian liberty for future generations. It was founded by Dr. David C. Gibbs, Jr., who was astonished to see a church being sued by the state for operating its ministry. Since then, the ministry has grown substantially over the last 40 years, with attorneys, legal assistants, and other ministry workers joining the team.
