I am writing this letter to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to stand united for Christ. Not doing so will perpetuate the problems that House Bill 1523 was passed to help prevent.

I am proud of Gov. Phil Bryant and the state legislature for passing House Bill 1523. I’ve seen the letters from people responding negatively to House Bill 1523. This bill is not about discrimination. This bill is a protection against the government from forcing anyone to act in ways that are against their religious belief or moral conviction. As a Christian, I know God is the creator of all. Jesus is my Lord and personal savior. The Holy Spirit guides me during my Christian life.

We were created by God as man and woman. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. Anything else goes against the Bible and against my belief. I am thankful for a bill that will not allow the government to force me or any Christian to go against what the Bible teaches on this topic or any other. This nation was founded with basic Christian values and God in mind. Historically, people have come here to escape religious persecution.

Forcing anyone to go against their religious belief is religious persecution. Think about just a few things that have happened since we stopped standing up for Christ. Teen pregnancy rates skyrocketed, sexually transmitted diseases rampant, the family unit broken, violent crime out of control, drug abuse and drug related deaths is uncontrollable and death due to abortions increasing daily. This letter is not to judge. God is the only judge that counts. I urge my Christian brothers and sisters not to remain silent. Speak up. Pray for this nation’s people. God will respond and will provide.

For those that don’t know Christ, I want you to know you have a choice to make. You have an invitation from Christ to be saved through the blood of Jesus. You can ask Jesus to save you, repent of sin and ask forgiveness for your sins and enjoy a joyful Christian life and then walk the streets of gold in heaven. There is a heaven and there is a hell. You can choose to live in one or the other for eternity (forever). I’m proud to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I am not ashamed of the gospel. I will be praying for the people of this nation. I will pray all come to know Jesus before it is too late. The choice is yours.

Mark Yarbrough

Oxford