Liberty Minute September 17 2014

 Blasphemy is a grave sin. It is not, however, an offense that falls within government's jurisdiction.

 A young man in Pennsylvania faces prosecution and the prospect of a prison term after photographing himself pantomiming an obscene act with a statue of Jesus. If he hadn't published the photograph via social media it's likely nobody would have taken notice of his act. Now, however, he has been arrested and charged with public desecration of a venerated object. If found guilty, he may spend up to two years in prison.

 A ?venerated object? is more properly referred to as an idol. Criminalizing offensive gestures toward such object isn't an act of Christian piety; it is an act of state-enforced idolatry.

 Over the past decade, Americans and westerners have condemned efforts by Muslim regimes to punish supposed acts of blasphemy, such as attempts by cartoonists and other artists to depict Mohammed. It isn't obvious to the unprejudiced mind how that Islamic practice differs in principle from the effort to punish the uncouth Pennsylvania man's admittedly offensive gesture.

 Though hateful and repulsive, that man's vile gesture isn't a legitimate crime. Those seeking to imprison him might well be acting out of zeal for God, but as the Apostle Paul might conclude, their zeal is not according to sound knowledge.

 Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.