I'll admit I'd never heard of Rowan County, Ky., until a couple of weeks ago when the now (in)famous - depending on your perspective - county clerk, Kim Davis, decided to contest the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling by withholding marriage certificates from local same-sex couples.
By citing her religious beliefs and declining to bestow the state's matrimonial blessing on homosexual couples, Kim Davis made Rowan County ground zero in the ongoing religious liberty debate. Now, for better or worse, it seems everyone's heard of the once-sleepy Appalachian community an hour east of Lexington.
The Davis saga reached peak insanity last week when a federal judge ordered her to jail for refusing to do her job. Instantly, a martyr was born - and correspondingly, a handful of new marriages.
After spending a long Labor Day weekend behind bars, Davis walked out of the jailhouse on Tuesday to a throng of cheering supporters, including two presidential candidates (Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz), all celebrating her as a defender of "religious liberty."
But is she really?
Not even close. Though she stood resolutely on the principles of her faith - a commendable act in a sense - she also violated the responsibilities that come with her elected office. And while she certainly didn't deserve to go to jail, she also doesn't deserve her job anymore.
"But that's a violation of her religious freedoms, David!" No. No it's not.
Kim Davis is free to practice her religion as best she sees fit. That's one of the glories of this country. Taking it further, she can rest easily at night knowing that a future employer cannot discriminate against her simply because of her chosen faith.
However, if her faith prohibits her from fulfilling the fundamental duties that her job requires, her employer should have the latitude to decide whether she keeps that position. After all, the work has to be done regardless of her convictions.
Of course, Davis' situation has some added nuance since her ultimate boss is the Rowan County electorate, but think about it, should Walgreens pharmacists be able to refuse dispensing birth control if their faith is opposed? Or what if an NFL running back decides to start strictly observing the Sabbath?
"Sorry, coach, I can only do Monday night games now."
Mike Huckabee will tell you what we're experiencing is an assault against the Christian foundations of our country. He's wrong. Just ask Charee Stanley, a Muslim flight attendant who recently lost her job with ExpressJet - subsequently filing an EEOC complaint - because she refused, on religious grounds, to serve alcoholic beverages to passengers.
She wasn't fired for how she looks, what she wears, or who she prays to. Her employment was terminated because she wouldn't perform the necessary functions of her job.
For what it's worth, if you've ever been on an ExpressJet flight, then you're well aware of the dire necessity of a good rum and Coke or two.
One of the beautiful things about America is that we, her citizens, get to freely choose what God we worship. We also have the freedom to find a job that jibes best with our religious convictions.
Unfortunately for Kim Davis, she likely won't find another gig in Rowan County that pays anywhere near her reported $80,000 taxpayer-funded salary. But hey, won't the Lord reward her sacrifice?
I'm actually being half serious with that question.
Unlike the bakers who should have the right to decide who they make wedding cakes for (yes, there's a difference), Kim Davis is a government employee, working for a government whose highest court - whether she likes it or not - issued a ruling that directly affects the responsibilities that come with her job.
If she doesn't like the new job description, she's free to find a new one.
David Allen Martin is a syndicated columnist who writes from Chattanooga. Email him at davidallenmartin423@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @DMart423.