Elisha Vision – Commentary

President Barack Obama regularly bypasses the basic US Constitution intentionally. His record of appointing czars (without seeking congressional confirmation), suing states, questionable executive orders, selling guns to Mexican cartels and of course, Obamacare itself, are not accidental. He is openly fulfilling his stated agenda which is to “fundamentally transform America.”

Now, a new frontal assault on freedom of religion. And, yes, this is written after his “accommodation.”

There is no shred of difference between the two policies. If the religious entity must pay for insurance that includes mandates in direct conflict with its official church faith, it is totally meaningless to suggest that they are not paying directly for the coverage. The insurance company will absolutely include its cost to provide the extra mandate in the overall cost of insurance to the church. There is no option for the church to buy from another provider, because it is mandated that all companies include the “free” coverage.

Also, it makes no difference if we were talking about providing aspirin instead of contraceptives. “It’s the mandate, stupid!” If aspirin was against church faith, the government cannot force them to pay for its provision in insurance. This is why the issue is freedom of religion and not women’s rights. The same mandate issue frames the unconstitutionality of Obamacare.

The original pioneers to America came to escape religious persecution and to find freedom to practice their various faiths without government interference. Have we forgotten that the European world 300 years ago was controlled by state churches? They killed people who did not belong to the state church, or at least made them second class citizens. Freedom of religion must be understood in that context. It means freedom to practice religion without government control (or MANDATES).

It just happens to be the very first clause in the very first amendment:

AMENDMENT I

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.

Mandating coverage, even in the President’s “accommodation,” directly prohibits the free exercise of religion. End of story.

Thank God for the many leaders of several faiths who are awake to the threat and who will resist this cancellation of our basic rights. We are in an ideological war. Wake up and smell the coffee. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists     (READ MORE)