Accept Us Or Ignore Us Works Both Ways

The plot grows thicker and thicker and strikes closer and closer to home every day.

I’m referring to the latest attack on Christians and the constant erosion of our constitutional religious freedom as prophesied in the Bible. Being criticized, mocked or even sued over taking a Christian stand for something is nothing new – even for those of us who live in the “Bible Belt.” However, it’s now gotten absurd – even locally.

About a month ago, a Greer couple filed a complaint with the Greer Police Department claiming their civil rights had been violated. It seems during a routine traffic stop, a reserve officer spotted a bumper sticker on the vehicle that stated: “It’s a Druid thing.” He apparently inquired about it and then shared his Christian testimony – even inviting them to attend a Bible class at his church.

While I wasn’t present during this “horrendous” incident, there’s no evidence the two officers drug the couple out of their car, shoved a Bible into their hands and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t immediately convert to Christianity. Most likely, the conversation between the foursome was pleasant until the couple realized they were still getting a ticket for the traffic violations. Then it became sour grapes and revenge.

Tony Lee Gainey, 33, was ticketed for an improper license plate and driving under suspension, according to an article published in the Greenville News. His wife, Debra Jan Gainey, 47, was ticketed for “allowing an unauthorized driver.” Mrs. Gainey said her husband was driving because she was having health problems. She also complained the officer, Tony Stewart – an unpaid volunteer – followed up on the Bible class invitation by sending a letter to their home, which “further violated our rights and invaded our privacy.”

According to the article, the matter is under investigation, although Stewart sent the letter from his church while off duty. I find it hard to believe Stewart would have followed up with the invitation if the Gaineys had been hostile during the traffic stop and told him to mind his own business. I suspect they led him on in hopes of getting out of the ticket.

Now the Gaineys are questioning why they were stopped in the first place. Duh! Do they think they are above the law and shouldn’t be held accountable like everyone else for an expired license plate? I’m particularly interested in what’s going to happen when they go to court to pay their tickets and risk spotting something that makes reference to the Bible, the Ten Commandments or anything else that has even a hint of Christianity in it. I suppose they’ll claim they were “subjected” to even more torture from the religious right.

Based on the Gainey’s definition of privacy, my privacy is invaded every day. I’m subjected to all sorts of messages I don’t care to see or hear – whether it’s the TV, radio, U.S. Mail, e-mail or what not. However, I’m not rushing out to file a complaint or lawsuit against the offenders.


But it’s a “separation of church and state” issue, you might say. Not the letter Stewart sent to the Gaineys in the mail – that was a private transaction. Even so, the “state” continues to take away more and more of our personal religious freedoms every day by dictating when and where we can pray, read our Bibles, share our testimony and/or speak out against issues that conflict with our religious values.


As I’ve said in the past, this nation was firmly founded on Christian principals. However, numerous Americans – particularly judges – seem to have conveniently forgotten that. Nearly every fiber of this young nation was established by the stalwart Christian values heralded by the likes of Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, George Washington and on down the line throughout our history, but suddenly it’s unconstitutional to be a Christian, much less make the mistake of letting someone know you have a few moral values.

It won’t be long before being a Christian is against the law. They will be charged with hate crimes because they balk at being subjected to abortion, pornography, the homosexual lifestyle and many other alternative standards that are being crammed down their throats and told to accept it as a “good thing.”

In fact, “separation of church and state” is no longer a factor in many cases today. Take for example the Allstate agent who was recently fired because he wrote a column on his own time using his own home computer to speak out against same-sex marriage. The column appeared in at least two national online newspapers – The Conservative Voice and Men’s News Daily. It’s important to mention that Matt Barber, the columnist, never mentioned he was a manager in Allstate’s Corporate Security Division.

Nonetheless, knowing The Allstate Foundation is a huge financial supporter of homosexual organizations, homosexual advocates took it upon themselves to get Barber fired because he expressed his “personal” Christian beliefs against that kind of lifestyle. As the saying goes, “It isn’t difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill – just add a little dirt.”
Not all Allstate agents are fond of their company’s loyalty to the homosexual agenda. Even so, Allstate has been generous in its support – giving $5,000 to the Indiana University Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Support Services; another $10,000 to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and $15,000 to the Gay & Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. It also advertises extensively on homosexual websites.

Fortunately, Barber has filed a major lawsuit against Allstate and has an excellent shot at winning his case for wrongful termination. As the American Family Association well stated: “Homosexuals can criticize and condemn the Bible’s teaching and they are welcomed, but Christians must remain silent.” It further stated: “While Allstate touts its diversity, that diversity does not include Christian beliefs on homosexuality.”
My suggestion is that if the agnostics don’t like hearing someone give their personal testimony, they shouldn’t flaunt their immoral lifestyles in front of the opposing individuals and their children.

Accept us or ignore us can work both ways, only in the case of the sacrilegious, many flaunt it so flagrantly it’s impossible for religious conservatives to ignore. Then they complain we “offended them,” “invaded their privacy” or “subjected them to our personal testimony” when we speak out against it. Go figure!

Glenn Bridges can be reached at 864-439-0068 or gbridges@hometown-news.com.