It is not a hate crime to stand against transgender people using restrooms different than their biologically assigned gender, says Perry Noble.
The pastor of NewSpring Church took to social media to give five reasons why North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill” is not discrimination, much less a hate crime:
1. “To call this a hate crime is an insult to actual victims of hate crimes in the past. People who were murdered because of their race or sexual orientation has always turned the stomach of the majority of people in America—however, being told to go to the restroom that matches your biological gender is far from what people experienced in the Civil Rights movement or even the Holocaust.”
2. “Labeling this as a hate crime because someone is being told the way they feel is inaccurate does not carry out logically. For example, let’s say I wake up tomorrow and I feel like Taylor Swift. I can play guitar, sing her songs and mimic her movements. And let’s say I go to her next concert, show up early and tell them they need to allow me to perform because I feel like I am Taylor Swift. No one is going to stand with me and say because I feel like Taylor that I am Taylor. No one is going to label the people who stop me at the gate as ‘haters and intolerant.’ No one is going to label me as a victim of a hate crime, but merely someone who was offended because someone had the courage to tell me the truth.”
3. “Allowing people to choose which restroom they want to use puts the safety of women and children at risk. At this point, I do not care about popular opinion—I can honestly say that if I am standing outside a restroom and my wife and little girl are inside and a man approaches the door and attempts to go in—let’s just say it ain’t happening. Why? Because I hate a certain group of people? No way! Because I want people to feel discriminated against and shamed? Nope! It simply comes down to the safety of my wife and daughter. And it would be insanity to think that there are men out there who would not abuse this. I am in complete favor of separate restrooms, individual places where a guy or girl can go in alone and do their business. However, I must take a strong stand here and say there is absolutely no reason for a man to go into a woman’s bathroom.”
4. “If you do not disagree with the NC law, then you are automatically labeled a ‘hater.’ Anyone who has had the courage to speak out in favor of this law has been attacked, marginalized and experienced overwhelming public shame. Because of this I believe many people who should be contributing to the conversation have decided to stay hidden in the shadows rather than expose themselves to the slander of those who are against the law. My question is this: I do not hate anyone, but I agree with the premise of the law, so what is the position I am allowed to have? Can I not disagree without being a ‘hater,’ or could it be that those in opposition to the law are using the ‘hater’ tag to scare people into silence?”
5. “I am a Christian who believes God’s Word, and Scripture says in Genesis 1:27, ‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ The Bible is clear that God made man and God made woman. Even the way He created them was different. It’s not just the Scriptures that compel me to believe the law has merit, but science as well. One would have to commit intellectual dishonesty to claim that there is not a glaring scientific difference between a male and a female, the female having two X chromosomes while the male has an X & Y. DNA screams there are differences that I am afraid feelings cannot do away with.”
Since North Carolina passed the bill, corporations like Target have issued statements saying transgender people are welcome to use the restroom of their choice.
This move inspired the American Family Association to issue a pledge for Christians to boycott the chain, which has now been signed more than 850,000 times.
For Christians worried about their families and how to deal with culture, Noble offered the following three tips:
1. “Do not be silent—but do not be hateful. One of the main reasons evangelicals are labeled as ‘hateful’ is because we have been for so many years. It is your right as an American to have an opinion (even if it is not the politically correct one).”
2. “Pray for those who have been impacted by this—that they will cease to scream ‘condemnation’ for those who disagree and be willing to at least have a conversation about possible solutions (like single bathroom units.)”
3. “Understand that no matter how out of control things seem to be—God is still in control and really will, according to Ecclesiastes 3:11, make everything beautiful in His time.”
Do you agree with Noble? Sound off!
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