A Response to Mayor Parker's Subpoenas

So the mayor of Houston has issued subpoenas for all sermons preached from the pulpit of (what I would assume are) conservative evangelical churches.  My response to her claims is not the norm; I happen to be excited by this news.  Now, let me take a moment to explain my excitement.  First off, I’m not a pastor in Houston, so I don’t have to fool with this non-sense.  I’m sure that if I were in Houston and had to comply with mayor Annise Parker’s request I would be highly irritated; especially since not complying could render me being held in contempt of court. 

                The second reason why I’m so excited about this turn of events is that I think it is a golden opportunity for lots of us to have fun with it.  First off, I would go well beyond the boundaries of just “sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity, or the city’s first openly lesbian mayor herself”.  I would send in every sermon that I have a manuscript for and just state that the same principle (i.e. the gospel) that was behind those sermons speaking out against these particular sins is the same principle behind all other sermons.  After all, my mother always taught me that it’s better to be over-prepared and give too much information than not enough.  I wouldn’t want to accidentally miss sending something that the mayor could find offensive and be held in contempt.  After all, aren’t we always begging people to really pay attention to and dissect our sermons?  I can think of no better way for the gospel to convict this woman and her associates than by reading some really gospel-centered sermons that had been preached by some really Godly folks.

                Alright…enough picking on Mayor Parker and her foolish ideas.  Ultimately I think that this will turn out, much like Y2K did back nearly 15 years ago, to be much ado about nothing.  Clearly this is an infringement upon the First Amendment rights of the pastors and churches.  The First Amendment states:  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.  One website that I read added: 

“The city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented,” Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement.  “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions.”  ADF, a nationally-known law firm specializing in religious liberty cases, is representing five Houston pastors.  They filed a motion in Harris County court to stop the subpoenas arguing they are “overbroad, unduly burdensome, harassing, and vexatious.” 

                Now regardless of how angry we may get at the mere notion of this subpoena taking place or how laughable we might find all of this, there is a greater message to be taken from all of this.  Later on in the same article referenced earlier (taken from Fox News) we find this statement, “However, ADF attorney Stanley suspects the mayor wants to publicly shame the ministers. He said he anticipates they will hold up their sermons for public scrutiny. In other words – the city is rummaging for evidence to “out” the pastors as anti-gay bigots.”  And there is the ultimate threat that I see in all of this:  the attempt to paint all pastors as anti-gay bigots.  Make no mistake about it, there are attacks out there.  We are constantly in a time of spiritual warfare.

                The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, talks about the Armor of God.  Remember that Paul was no stranger to political and government oppression.  There were even times where his rights as a Roman citizen were completely trampled on and overlooked by those in positions of authority.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)

                One of the things that I have always taken from this text on the Armor of God is to look at the types of weapons that are mentioned.  We have the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Notice that every piece of the Armor of God that is mentioned is a defensive weapon except for the word of God.  Friends, the word of God is the only offense that we have against the dark world that surrounds us and seems to be drawing closer each day.  If the mayor of Houston, the city council, or any other group of people opposed to the Christian message want to invite the word of God into their lives to study it and spend time with it…LET THEM!  I can think of no better way to change the world than by taking the one thing that has the power to change it and placing it in the hands of those who are most in need of it.

                In the meantime, let's all be in prayer for Houston and the rest of our country.  I can promise you that if this is occurring in Texas, it is only a matter of time before it is attempted in other parts of the country.  Pray for your pastors.  Pray that they would have the strength and courage to proclaim the gospel faithfully and truthfully regardless of the legal outcome.