In new polling data from George Barna, a large number of American adults agreed with the statement that “religious liberty is a smokescreen used to discriminate against gay people.” 42% of people surveyed said it is, 44% said it is not. 42% of Americans have forgotten that religious freedom is literally the first line of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It’s not a recent innovation, and it’s certainly not just a “smokescreen” for intolerance. But it’s certainly worrisome that so many people believe it is. Some folks in that 42% are likely to be school board members, elected officials, and judges. If pressed, will they uphold the Constitutional protections for religious belief? It seems to be an open question.

In summarizing the data, the pollsters lay out what this data point and others say about Americans’ views of religious freedom and discrimination: "While Americans have a notable distaste for anything that smacks of overt discrimination, they also want to be sure that religious organizations get treated fairly in SOGI [Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity] actions. There is a discernible unease about how to address and handle what appear to be some of the irreconcilable differences regarding SOGI decisions."

They continue: "For the moment, traditional points of view have a slight edge in the minds of most people, but most people seem incapable of providing a strong argument for those traditional views in the face of aggressive arguments in favor of alternative sexual perspectives. The national mindset regarding SOGI is clearly shifting – quickly – and peoples’ current faith experiences and perspectives appear incapable of giving them answers to what they believe and why they believe it regarding human sexuality and relationships."

Barna’s polling data shows two problems for Christians and others who believe in a God who ordained marriage as a lifelong state between one man and one woman, and who believe all people are born in the right body and should not seek to change their “gender identity.”

1. The national mindset is shifting. This is obvious if you haven’t been living under a rock. Thirty or forty years ago, gay marriage was unthinkable. Now, not only is it the law of the land, but religious people who hold to biblical views of marriage are increasingly marginalized.

2. People are incapable of giving answers to what they believe and why. Even among Christians who see biblical marriage as true, good, and beautiful--as the only way to create whole and healthy families--there is a reluctance, or an inability, to explain exactly what we believe about marriage and sexuality and why.

This reluctance is tied to the great transvaluation of values by which “tolerance” has overthrown “moralism” and indeed taken its title. One man/one woman marriage used to be the center of cultural morality, in addition to religious teaching. But now that center has been replaced by the glorification of sexual minorities. In an earlier age, it was culturally praiseworthy to say “I believe men and women should find a spouse and stay married, and raise their children to do the same” and be within cultural norms. Now a more normative phrase would be “I believe people of all ages and gender identities should explore their sexuality in whatever way seems best to them, and anyone who thinks differently is a bigot.”

This new sexual ethic has been almost completely successful outside of the Christian church, and in many quarters within it as well. In an earlier age, the church fought against adultery and fornication just as vigorously as it does now, but it was aided by a widespread, almost innate, belief that these things were wrong and not to be celebrated. How different that is from today!

Those of us who hold to the biblical view of marriage are treated to aggression from our opponents, and many "appear incapable" of giving answers as to what we believe and why. Outside of church circles, it is very gauche to say "I believe homosexuality is not what God intended for human flourishing," but it needs to be said. All Christians who believe that God’s revelation in the Bible is true, sufficient, and without error can agree on this.

This cultural climate is why True North Legal, Minnesota Family Council’s newest initiative, is so important. Our legal protections under the First Amendment don’t waver in the wind, and we need to fight in the courts for robust protections for people of faith in the weeks and years to come.

With your support, that’s exactly what we’ll continue to do. Thank you for partnering with Minnesota Family Council.