Kentucky’s Rowan County Clerk, Kim Davis, made the decision not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious convictions. She prayed and fasted over her decision. Davis believes in the Constitution and that the first amendment gives her the right to live by her convictions.
Now Davis has testified in federal court after the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two same-sex couples sued her for violating their right to marriage, recently established by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“It wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Davis said. “It was thought out, and I sought God on it.”
Davis is an Apostolic Christian who believes marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman under the Bible. She thought about her policy for months. Issuing licenses would violate her religious beliefs.
The couples live, work, and pay taxes in Rowan County and argued that they should not have to go elsewhere to find a marriage license.
The case exposes the conflict between the gay movement’s agenda and people’s religious convictions. Under pressure from gay activists, Christians are being forced to choose between the government and their God. This was never meant to be in the United States. But it sets a pattern for other violations of conscience that prophecy tells us will arise, such as worship laws that require Sunday observance.
Davis’ lawyers say that her First Amendment liberties protect her decision, even in public office. Yet the U.S. Supreme Court ruling now pits the same government workers against the government.
“This case is not about these plaintiffs’ desires to get married,” said Roger Gannam, a lawyer for Liberty Council that is defending Davis. “The case is about the plaintiffs desire to force Kim Davis to approve and authorize their marriage in violation of her constitutionally protected religious beliefs.”
The change in marriage laws in the United States has impacted the livelihood of county clerks in many places. Some county officials in Southern states have resigned rather than issue licenses to same-sex couples.
But Davis has a different view. “If I resign, I solve nothing. It helps nobody,” she said.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter… And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.” Genesis 19:4, 9
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