Equal Employment Opportunity & Civ~425

Relationships Between Equal Employment Opportunity & Civil Rights Acts and Biblical Values part 2 EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974: The Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 created government protection of pensions for all employees with company pension plans and regulated vesting rights. The Bible states that we should exhort our elders as if they were our parents and provide for them in their old age. As stated earlier, we have a Christian requirement to help others who are less fortunate. The Bible states the following: Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out grain," and "the worker deserves his wages." People often find it easy to dismiss the opinions of the elderly and avoid taking time to visit with them. The fact that God commanded the Israelites to honor the elderly shows how seriously we should take the responsibility of respecting those older than we. Their wisdom gained from experience can save us from many pitfalls. CHAPTER TITLE VII OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT: The Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act made it unlawful for an employer to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin with respect to employment. The Bible states that God does not show favoritism toward any nation or person who accepts Christ as his or her Savior. ‘Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."' Jesus stated the following: You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The Apostle Paul stated the following: Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good — no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. CHAPTER CONCLUSION: The EEO and Civil Rights movement are supported by Biblical guidance with exception to the areas of homosexuality and abortion. However, there has been an unfortunate and dramatic increase in the need for support of things such as; single parent families, sexually transmitted diseases, protection from violent crime, and drug abuse. It is extremely important that we tailor our programs in the previous areas so we don't encourage ungodly behavior and social acceptance. I feel that the increase in the above-mentioned areas is a result of our Nation's declining sense of Biblical values. There has been a legal shift in our Country's laws away from the intent of its original foundation and from the expectations of our founding fathers. The result has been a less effective EEO and Civil Rights movement, due to a lack of continued and consistent guidance of Biblical values in our Government's decisions. John Adams, our second President said, "Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the Government of any other." We cannot effectively police proper behavior, to be effective as a Nation. We must be united with a baseline of unwavering moral values. This will create a Nation of individuals who have a desire to police themselves and guide themselves based on the greatest Commandments: Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." I leave you with this thought. The Bible provides us with prophecies concerning the Last Days which include; extreme materialism, increase in speed and knowledge, departure from the Christian faith, widespread violence, and rapid advances in technology. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. REFERENCES CITED Barton, David. America's Godly Heritage. Aledo: Wall Builders, 1992. Dessler, Gary. Human Resource Management. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 1997. Dornan Hot Issue. Affirmative Action. July 1998. [On-Line]. Available Internet: http://www.bobdornan.com/issues/affactio.html. Dornan Hot Issue. The Right to Life Act. July 1998. [On-Line]. Available Internet: http://www.bobdornan.com/issues/rttolife.html. Freedom To Marry. Baehr v. Miike: History of the Law Suit. July 1998. [On-Line]. Available Internet: http://www.ftm.org/overview/history.html. Kennedy, James. What if the Bible Had Never Been Written?. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998. Martin, W. & Hanegraaff, H. The Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1997. Minnery, Tom. "The Relationship Between Church, Family and Government." Focus On The Family July 1998, 10-12. Riddiough, C. Employment Non-Discrimination Act. July 1998. [On-Line]. Available Internet: http://www.igc.org/lbg/enda.html. The Bible Promise Book. New International Version. Westwood: Barbour, 1990. The Life Application Bible. New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991. Walk Thru The Promises. King James Version. Dallas: C&D International, 1988. Willmington, H.L. The Complete Book of Bible Lists. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1987.