Christians Facing Serious Crisis in California (Greg Davidson)

The California Statehouse certainly has the reputation of passing legislation that is extreme and activist against Christians and their Biblical worldview. Recently the Supreme Court struck down AB775, a law passed by the California Assembly and Senate and signed into law by the Governor, that would have forced pro-life clinics to post notices, and tell mothers they can abort their babies and have California taxpayers foot the bill via the state’s Medi-Cal program. 

Now we are facing what might be the most dangerous piece of legislation yet. AB2943, a bill backed and supported by the LBGTQ, has passed the California Assembly and is poised to be voted on by the Senate. AB2943, if it becomes law, would jail pastors or teachers. and impose the severest of fines if a speaker is paid by a church as a conference, seminar, retreat speaker, etc., and they speak on God’s loving redemption and way out of the lifestyle of the sin of homosexuality. Furthermore, if a church sells a book that communicates how the Bible offers God’s freedom from the sin of homosexuality, then prison sentences and the severest of fines could be imposed. If a church counselor is paid by a client for services, and the counselor shares that homosexuality is outside of the plan of God, and God offers them salvation that will deliver them from homosexuality, they will be considered a lawbreaker for practicing what they call “conversion therapy.” The law does not apply to a pastor’s weekly teaching and preaching at his church. These are dangerous days for believers in California.

The California Southern Baptist Convention has rallied believers to stand up to oppose the bill. Russell Moore has sent a letter to our Governor requesting that he not sign the bill as it violates religious liberty. Christians have united from across the state and rallied on the steps of the Sacramento Statehouse. I am an ambassador for the Alliance Defending Freedom, and I have spent hours with their lawyers on the phone discussing this dangerous piece of legislation. They will be filing a lawsuit against the State of California if they pass AB2943, and make it the law of the State of California. The Alliance Defending Freedom has already won three cases at the Supreme Court this year. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ in California, and if you have any influence with any elected official in our state, please help us in this challenging hour that we face

Greg Davidson is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Vacaville, California.