A U.S. District Judge has ordered former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to pay more than $260,000 in attorney fees and expenses in a case involving her refusal to issue marriage licenses to a same-sex couple. Davis was briefly jailed in 2015 for her stance, and she was later brought to court. She was also ordered to pay $100,000 in damages to the two men she refused to work with.
The case dates back to 2015, when Davis refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her religious beliefs and her belief that she was acting “under God’s authority.” Davis’ stand against same-sex marriage was met with controversy, but it also garnered support from many in the Christian community who saw her as standing up for her religious convictions.
Davis was released from jail after a judge ordered deputies to issue the licenses without her approval. She ran for re-election to the county clerk office in 2018 but lost to the Democrat candidate. Davis argued that she would be able to certify same-sex marriages due to a change in Kentucky law dropping the requirement for licenses to contain the clerk’s signature.
In the aftermath of her defeat, the Christian community rallied around Davis, recognizing her as a symbol of religious freedom and the struggle against a society that they believe is increasingly hostile to their beliefs.
The case of Kim Davis is one of religious freedom and the right to follow one’s conscience. The Bible teaches that Christians are to obey the laws of man, but to prioritize the ways of God first. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God.” However, when there is a conflict between the laws of man and the laws of God, Christians are called to follow God’s ways. Acts 5:29 states, “Peter and the other apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.'”
Many Christians see her actions as an example of following God’s ways first, even when it meant facing consequences from the government. While the legal battle will surely march on with her expected appeal, the debate over religious freedom and the role of conscience in public life also continues.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
