13 Jobs Bible-Believing Kentucky Marriage Clerk Probably Shouldn’t Apply For
We saved her the hassle and crossed some options off her list, just in case she starts looking for a new job.
Kim Davis is a Kentucky county clerk who has been refusing to issue marriage licenses to both straight and same-sex couples -- effectively refusing to do the job she's paid for.
Davis had gone all the way to the Supreme Court to protest the enforcement of the justices' decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark case that recognized same-sex couples' right to marry. Davis, an Apostolic Christian, insisted that she had a First Amendment right to deny licenses to lesbian and gay couples who visited the county clerk's office in Rowan County. On Monday night, the Supreme Court refused to intervene.
But Davis isn't budging on the issue and is invoking "God's authority" to prove her point.
Davis certainly has the right not to compromise on her sincerely held religious beliefs.
In a blog for The Huffington Post, the United Church of Christ's Rev. Emily C. Heath described how she faced a similar dilemma. In the end, she decided not to apply for a job with the Federal Bureau of Prisons because she didn't want to be part of a system that still used the death penalty, which went against her religious beliefs.
"Religious liberty is guaranteed in this country. But that does not mean that every job needs to bend to your particular interpretation of your faith," Heath writes. "If you really believe doing your job is violating your faith, then stepping aside would be a small price to pay for the love of the Gospel."
We're not sure how much longer Davis will stay in her position as county clerk. As an elected official, under Kentucky law she will hold her position unless she resigns, is impeached, or voted out of office.
But if Davis' willingness to perform her professional duties hinges on a particularly strict interpretation of the Bible, it might be difficult for her to find jobs that suit her. Just in case, HuffPost Religion has come up with a list of 13 jobs that could be banned by the Bible. She should probably strike these off her list.
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A Deli Clerk
A meatball marinara sub would be fine, but heaven forbid a customer walks into her shop looking for a Black Forest Ham sandwich . . .
"The pig has evenly split hooves but does not chew the cud, so it is unclean. You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses. They are ceremonially unclean for you."
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A Sales Clerk At A Clothing Store
Clothing found in stores today is made from many different materials -- cotton, polyester, silk, wool. There's no telling what kind of profane fabrics she'd be selling to her unsuspecting customers.
"Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."
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A church leader, priest, or deacon
If Davis is thinking about using her newfound fame within conservative Christian circles to become a church leader (or even simply to speak at services), she'd better think twice. Or else, how would she explain this passage?
"Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings."
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A Public School Teacher
Scripture writers seem to be against women teaching boys or men. So unless she's willing to go to an all-girls school, it looks like Davis won't have any luck applying for teaching jobs.
"I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve."
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A men's hairstylist
She'd want to steer clear of potentially breaking this rule.
"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."
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A Jeweler
She'd be better off forswearing any kind of beautifying -- especially those gold or pearl necklaces.
"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes."
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A Tattoo Artist
Not only is tattooing banned by the Bible, who knows what kind of blasphemous designs her customers would ask for?
"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
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A Sunday Night Football Announcer
Even if she wanted to, there's unfortunately no way Davis could be a football announcer (or do any kind of job that requires working on Sundays).
"You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community.You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death."
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A Fisherwoman
The Bible has a ban on shellfish, so things like shrimp, lobster, crabs are off limits.
"Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."
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A Gossip Columnist
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No gossiping about celebrities (or about her neighbors, for that matter) is allowed.
"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people."
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A psychic
There's no room for psychics or horoscopes in Davis' interpretation of the Bible.
"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God."
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A competitive eater
There won't be any hotdog competitions in Davis' future. Proverbs 23 doesn't have a friendly view of gluttons.
"If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat."
And later on, in Proverbs 23:20-21
"Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags."
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A county clerk
Here's the thing -- even if Davis somehow manages to cling on to her job as county clerk, she'd still be in the position to break some Biblical rules. If someone who is divorced comes to her requesting a marriage license, and she grants it, the Bible says she may be helping them commit adultery.
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”
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One more thing . . .
There is one law that the Jesus of the Bible seems to hold far dearer than any other. Here it is, just in case Davis needs a refresher.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
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.”
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