By: Norm Pawlewski, Christian Coalition of Iowa Lobbyist
Well maybe not Jedi, but combatants nonetheless. The Legislature reconvenes on Monday, January 9th. They will use words, ideas, votes and parliamentary maneuvers instead of light sabers; but the conflict between good and evil will be just as real. Non-believers and mainline church “religious” folks may take issue with my categorizing the battle over cultural and/or family values issues as one “between good and evil”, but that’s how I see it. Abortion is evil. Destroying the institution of marriage is evil. Ignoring and/or denying the existence of God and His sovereignty in the affairs of man are evil. In her December 14, 2005 column, Reka Basu wrote, “Imagine what a magnet Iowa could become by passing forward-looking laws permitting medicinal marijuana, the right to die, (embryonic) stem cell research or same sex marriage.” That kind of evil thinking goes on at the Iowa Capitol every session..
So how do we respond? Second Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verses 11 –25 gives this instruction. “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you brethren that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it to pass. Brethren, pray for us.”
I have, at some time in a past Bible study, been instructed that these verses apply to teachers and pastors. But I believe they apply equally as well to believers who toil at the Capitol. Christian legislators, state employees, lobbyists and citizens who come to the rotunda to talk to their Representatives and Senators or come to pray for just laws are all covered by this passage. We ask that you meditate on this passage and apply its instruction during this legislative session.
Although there will be a number of issues that will require our attention during this next session, one in particular will be an early priority. The Marriage Amendment HJR-1, which passed the Iowa House of Representatives on a 54 to 44 vote last session, will need to pass the Senate this session if it is to have any chance of coming to a vote of the people by 2007. (Go to Iowachristian.com or call me at 515-287-1291 or e-mail me at rmpaw@msn.com if you want a copy of the resolution.)
HJR-1 defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and prohibits government at any level from creating a legal entity that grants the same rights and privileges of a marriage, thereby engaging in semantics to get around the constitutionally established definition. Legislators in both the House and Senate who declined to support the Marriage Amendment most often cited the existence of an Iowa law that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Many of these legislators said they voted for the law and saw no reason to amend the Iowa Constitution. Our retort was that the law can be challenged and a judge can arbitrarily decide the issue, ignoring the will of the people. A lawsuit to do just that has been filed by an east coast gay rights organization, Lambda Legal, on behalf of six Iowa same gender couples who wish to marry. According to a staff attorney of Lambda Legal, “There are thousands of couples in Iowa who are eager for the protections and security that come with marriage.” The attorney, Camilla Taylor, said that Iowa is the fifth lawsuit that Lambda Legal has filed around the country. The others are in New York, New Jersey, California and Washington State. You might take notice that all of these states were blue (Democrat) in the last Presidential race. Iowa, a recent convert to red (Republican) designation, seems out of place. Why did Lambda Legal choose Iowa in which to challenge the defense of marriage? They say it is because they think “Iowans are fair-minded” and that they “will be treated with respect and that Iowans are going to be open to what [they] have to say.” We believe that as well and that is why we want Iowans to have the opportunity to express their opinion in the only poll that has meaning – the ballot box. That vote of the people is essentially what this constitutional amendment process is all about. The Legislature’s only role is to grant or deny Iowa voters the opportunity to make their wishes known.