Lonnie Wilkey
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Everyone knows the analogy of the frog in the kettle. Put a frog in a kettle of water and it is happy as can be. Slowly but surely turn the temperature up and before the frog knows it the kettle is boiling and the frog is cooked.
Christians, the kettle is not only boiling, it has boiled over.
If you don’t believe it, consider the case of former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran.
In the Dec. 31 issue, the B&R reported that Cochran had been suspended from his position because he wrote a pro-family book (Who Told You That You Are Naked?) that upholds the biblical view of sexuality. To make a long story short, in the book Cochran dared say, among other things, that homosexuality is immoral.
And that apparently made Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed uncomfortable.
Last week on Jan. 6, Cochran was fired as the city’s fire chief. It just happened to be the same day he was supposed to report back to work after serving a 30-day suspension, according to Fox News.
In essence, Chief Cochran lost his job because of his Christian faith.
In a Baptist Press article released Jan. 7, Cochran noted that an investigation produced no evidence of wrongdoing and that allegations of discrimination against homosexuals were “completely unfounded.”
Mayor Reed has told media that Cochran was fired because of bad judgement. “Despite my respect for Chief Cochran’s service, I believe his actions and decision-making undermine his ability to manage our fire department,” Reed said at his press conference.
Talk about hypocrisy.
Mayor Reed could write his own book about poor judgment and bad decisions.
The mayor caved to pressure applied by Atlanta’s gay and lesbian community. Plain and simple.
Cochran was terminated because he dared stand for his Christian beliefs and convictions. He dared say that homosexual behavior is immoral.
In today’s culture, that is not the “in” thing to say. Christians today are expected to accept the homosexual lifestyle and “keep our mouths shut.”
Unfortunately, too many Christians are doing just that. Kudos to Chief Cochran for standing up for his convictions.
Chief Cochran had every right to state his beliefs on how he feels about homosexuality (or any other topic for that matter) as long as he did not discriminate against people who believe otherwise.
As of now, there has been no proof or even accusations that Cochran used his position to discriminate against homosexuals.
The mayor played the “what if” game saying the city could be liable in potential antidiscrimination lawsuits. The key word is potential.
If this doesn’t wake up Christians nothing will.
A high profile African American (he served as the U.S. Fire Administrator under President Obama from 2009-10) lost his job because he took a stand on biblical principles and values.
If that can happen to him, how long will it be before I am told I cannot editorialize about homosexuality or anything else that goes against popular opinion.
How long will it be before pastors are monitored for what they are saying in pulpits. Wait, that already has happened in Houston.
The danger of Americans losing religious freedom and liberty is real and Christians must take a stand before it’s entirely too late.
Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, which has supported Cochran through this ordeal (Cochran is an active member of a GBC church), summed it up well.
“It’s a frightening day in the United States when a person cannot express their faith without fears of persecution following. It’s persecution when a godly fire chief loses his job over expressing his Christian faith.”
It is a frightening day when a relatively small minority is setting the moral agenda of our nation.
In checking various sources, it appears less than 5 percent of American adults identify as gay or lesbian. So, why do they set the agenda? Christians have stood by and let it happen.
And now, people like Kelvin Cochran are paying “for our sins.”
