A Truly Compassionate and Christian Response to Kim Davis "fear" of Issuing Marriage Licenses to Gay and Lesbian Couples

Much of what drives modern American Politics is fear - fear of people who do not look like you; fear of people who do not sound like you; fear of people who do not love like you. And fear has been used to control Americans since America was "founded" - afterall, how many runaway slaves were turned over to slave hunters by poor whites out of fear they would see their own farms burned? 

Yet I would argue politely that part of the loving and compassionate response to Kentucky Clerk of Court Kim Davis’ fear that issuing marriage licenses to gay couples is a "heaven or hell" decision, is that Christ - whom she said she must follow since she is a "Christian" - was very clear that we should both render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and turn the other cheek to those who would smite us. Like it or not that means she has a choice - a choice to do her public duty as an elected official, or to leave her job. 

What she cannot do is commit the second biggest sin Christians are called to avoid, for when Christ was asked what where God's greatest Commandments, He responded that 1) you should love God with all your heart, mind, and strength and 2) love your neighbor as yourself. These gay couples are her neighbors, seeking to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (i.e. obtain a secular marriage license from a secular state office).  If indeed Christian Scripture is right, she will be judged more harshly by Christ for refusing to love them as she does herself by denying them the secular state license to which they are legally entitled, then she will be for following that same law as written in this matter – since Christ’s teaching are absolutely silent on whom God will consider married.

The Free Press and The Security State: no, reporters aren't generally spies

Driving to work today, NPR was running coverage of the latest arrests of reporters covering Turkey's fighting with the Kurdish PKK. Seems the Turks are using the "reporters siding with our enemy by writing about them" argument to suppress potentially unfavorable coverage.

During the discussion, the NPR host made note of a recent document released by the Pentagon which says that journalists often take actions similar to spies, and thus can be treated like belligerents in certain circumstances. 

And it's true - journalists write stuff down, take furtive pictures, and sometimes try to hide their identities. But that's where any similarity ends. Spies do this to collect information to be used secretly by one nation to do harm to another. Journalists do it to collect information that will become public so that all people can be informed about why is happening and why in a given place at a given time. One if these is a direct threat to national security - and the other is not unless you fear the truth will embarrass you and show how you have broken your own laws and/or mistreated your own people.

Which is EXACTLY what the Security State fears.