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Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has, in recent years, distinguished itself by branding Christian ministries as "hate groups" because of their biblical beliefs on marriage, homosexual behavior and other moral issues.
The media, in turn, has elevated SPLC as the "go to"---"quotable" organization to properly evaluate Christian ministries. SPLC has consistently labeled ministries that hold biblical beliefs on marriage, for an example, as a "hate group" on their widely seen and quoted "hate group map."
We learned this week that the D. James Kennedy Ministries has filed a lawsuit against SPLC, the navigation organization GuideStar, and Amazon.
Kennedy Ministries says they are seeking a trial by a jury of peers.
Ultimately, this will be a landmark decision.
Dr. David Wright, CEO of D. James Kennedy Ministries (DJKM) said this week, "We embarked today on a journey to right a terrible wrong. Those who knowingly label Christian ministries as 'hate' groups, solely for subscribing to the historic Christian faith, are either woefully uninformed or willfully deceitful. In the case of Southern Poverty Law Center, our lawsuit alleges the latter."
He went on to say, "These false and illegal characterizations have a chilling effect on the free exercise of religion and on religious free speech for all people of faith. After having given the SPLC an opportunity to retract, we have undertaken this legal action, seeking a trial by a jury of our peers, to preserve our own rights under the law and to defend the religious free speech rights of all Americans."
The suit also alleges that SPLC committed defamation against the ministry by the publication and distribution of false information that libels the ministry's reputation and subjects the ministry to disgrace, ridicule, odium, and contempt in the estimation of the public.
One of the most effective ways SPLC has distributed their information regarding "Hate Groups" is by publication of their "Hate Group Map" that shows where each "hate group" is located, address, phone numbers, etc.
The lawsuit also lays out charges against the navigational company GuideStar and Amazon for distributing this libelous information.
The suit says, "SPLC acted knowingly, intentionally, and with actual malice in publishing the Hate Map that included the ministry..."
Yesterday, the Christian law firm Liberty Counsel published this:
SPLC Should Rename "Hate Map" to "Groups We Hate Map"
August 30, 2017
ORLANDO, FL - The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) admitted its fault and removed a town from its "Hate Map" this week. That map irresponsibly mixes religious organizations with violent hate groups, and this time it included the town of Amana because an unknown source alleged some people who might have been associated with The Daily Stormer met one time in a restaurant for coffee. This is one of many inaccuracies and gross over-characterizations that can be found on SPLC's map. Amana, an innocent town, was then blacklisted by the SPLC. People living there were brought under a cloud a suspicion because of the improper, sweeping accusation of the SPLC. The SPLC makes wide generalizations and then seeks to harm those within its self-proclaimed classification of others. In a similar manner, the SPLC targets anyone who disagrees with them on issues related to the LGBT agenda. Then it claims civil disagreement as "evidence" for falsely classifying a peaceful organization as "hateful." To do so is just as wrong and even more harmful than the SPLC's mischaracterization of the city of Amana.
Liberty Counsel has complied a comprehensive answer to SPLC's false name-calling of its non-profit Christian ministry and its pro bono work in the legal field. The SPLC continually grossly misrepresents and labels Liberty Counsel as a so-called "hate group." However, Liberty Counsel is not a "hate group" and hates no one. In addition to its many ministries, Liberty Counsel has a humanitarian relief program and had been providing help to victims of Hurricane Harvey, regardless of their beliefs, status, background or actions. In direct opposition to the SPLC's false campaign....".
There's more. You get the point.
Star Parker, a conservative Christian, African-American columnist asked the question this week: "Who Defines Hate?"
She references a recent speech by former VP Joe Biden in which he declares that America must become a "hate free" zone---where there is "no place for these hate groups in America."
Biden's speech lays out the far Left vision for America with the government being assigned the mission to sponsor, search, and destroy missions for eliminating hatred.
Star says as sickening as the "alt-right" racist groups may be, "at least we know who they are" and they "make no claim to the higher ground."
"But the 'alt-Left'," she says "is far more insidious."
Then she notes the Southern Poverty Law Center.
They are the self-appointed mission control center for identifying the "haters."
There are currently 917 "hate groups" identified by SPLC. Included are 101 anti-Muslim hate groups, but not a single anti-Christian hate group.
Actually, it is the Christian ministries that SPLC identifies as "hate groups" that are now the hated---eligible for Biden's hate patrol.
There are about 19 Christian organizations identified on the "hate map," including, of course, D. James Kennedy Ministries, Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Research Council, American Family, and a number of others.
You may recall that back in 2012, a young man entered the Family Research Council offices in Washington DC and shot the building manager in his attempt to get to the employees of FRC. Fortunately, no one else was shot, but the FBI investigation revealed that the young man was a volunteer at a pro-homosexual organization, and told the FBI he had used the SPLC hate map to find FRC.
It is becoming more and more common for activists and even government officials to shut down or take down individuals and organizations that are labeled "hate groups."
So back to Parker's question; "Who Defines Hate?"
From the founding of our nation, biblical principles and values have defined what is, and what is not acceptable cultural behavior.
Advocating "tolerance," the secular Left progressives have become the purveyors of intolerance of anything and anyone who holds a view that does not advance their secular worldview.
Advocating "inclusion," they are systematically excluding Christians and others who do not embrace an anti-Christian, anti-biblical view on family, human sexuality, marriage and the sanctity of life.
These folks are seen as Hillary's "basket of deplorables."
While SPLC has done some good work since setting out to fight the Klu Klux Klan in 1971, they have miserably lost their way, but unfortunately, their position toward evangelical Christians and their organizations have raised considerable donations.
Two major corporations---JP Morgan and Apple have recently given substantially (6 figure donations) to SPLC. So has actor George Clooney and some of his friends.
Today, Joe Biden, Obama, Hillary and their far Left progressive minions are defining what is "hate."
This lawsuit will take time, but, I believe, will eventually be a landmark case regarding religious freedom and the exercise of religious freedom in America.
There is a second case working its way to the Supreme Court that will also have a significant influence on religious freedom in our country.
Jack Phillips, for 23 years, has been a baker and owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop. Jack, a biblical Christian, declined to bake a "wedding" cake for a couple of homosexuals, explaining he was a Christian and believes in biblical marriage.
After several years of hate mail, threats and organized boycotts, Jack will have his day in the highest court in the land.
How can Christians regain our place in the culture?
Prayer. And action.
Work as though it all depends on you. Pray as though it all depends on God---because it does.
This is a time to stand, not sit. To speak, not be silent. To pray and believe.