“Marriage Equality” Doesn’t Add Up

Although I prayed God would intervene somehow, I wasn’t totally surprised with what happened two days ago. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that homosexual couples have a constitutional right to marry. This decision overrides same-sex marriage bans passed by voters in various states.

What really disturbs me is the rationale some people use to justify homosexuality. A popular slogan used by gay advocates is “love is love.” What does that prove? That’s like saying, “Blue is blue” or “4=4.” Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson tweeted the following statement: “Love is love? So what will we say when the 30yr old loves YOUR 10 year old. When the dad loves HIS 6 year old?”

During the past two years the Human Rights Campaign has encouraged people to use the above symbol to promote “marriage equality.” The Human Rights Campaign should be more accurately named the Homosexual Rights Campaign. Their only focus is helping those who choose to live alternative lifestyles. The HRC has never fought for the rights of any “straight” people such as ministers being imprisoned or tortured for their faith.

It’s totally illogical to compare “gay rights” to civil rights. In 2009 while living in Washington, DC, I attended a rally protesting the DC City Council introducing legislation that paved the way for same-sex marriages to be performed in the nation’s capital. Most of the rally speakers were African-Americans. One of them pointed out, “I’ve never met a former black person in my life.”

Sadly, many gay activists resort to name calling when they come across so-called “bigots” whose convictions differ than theirs. As a Christian, I believe every human being deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect. However, my conscience will never let me condone same-sex marriage. Homosexuality was wrong when the Scriptures were written and it’s still wrong today (see Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Imagine what would happen if a group of homosexuals were placed on a deserted island. Then come back in one hundred years and see how many people are left on the island. This homosexual society would cease to exist. Only heterosexual unions can fulfill God’s commandment to “be fruitful and multiply.” Heterosexuals reproduce but homosexuals can only recruit.

“Marriage equality” doesn’t add up.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 

- 2 Corinthians 6:14

The Same Love

During my teens and early twenties, I was a regular listener of Casey Kasem’s radio show “American Top 40.” That inspired me to subscribe to Billboard magazine whose record charts Casey based his weekly countdown on.

Nowadays I avoid listening to most of today’s hits because of the increased amount of profanity and sexual content in the lyrics. Still, I occasionally log onto Billboard’s website to find out what’s happening with the pop music scene. There's now a song in the Top 20 by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis called “Same Love” that openly endorses same-sex marriage. Some of the song’s lyrics attempt to discredit the Bible’s prohibition of homosexuality…

The right wing conservatives think it's a decision

And you can be cured with some treatment and religion

Man-made rewiring of a predisposition

Playing God, aw nah here we go

God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten

But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five hundred years ago

While other Billboard.com readers wrote positive remarks about the success of this “gay anthem”, I wrote one that wasn’t. As a result, it got me blocked from adding future posts to the website. It’s sad how those who are the loudest to promote “equality” and “tolerance” are very intolerant of those opposing their views. My comments were not hateful. I simply stood up for biblically-based morals this nation was founded upon.

Philippians 2:2 talks about “…having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” The next verse goes on to say, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Same-sex marriage advocates don’t seem to care how their actions are affecting future generations especially parents who want to raise their children “…in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) People who demonstrate true agape love put the needs of others first instead of seeking to fulfill their own lusts.

A featured performer on “Same Love” is a woman named Mary Lambert who considers herself “a gay Christian.” In the chorus she sings, “I can't change even if I tried/even if I wanted to.” She also sings a portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4 (“Love is patient/love is kind.”) It would be helpful for Christians to remind themselves of that Scripture whenever they have the opportunity to minister to homosexuals. We should show the same love to them as to other sinners.

It’s also worth noting Mary was originally raised Pentecostal but then after her parents divorced, she became a lesbian as well as her mother. Let’s pray for laborers to cross the paths of both Mary and her mother so they receive inner healing from past hurts and deliverance from deception.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” - 1 Timothy 4:1

Obamacare vs. Jesuscare

This past Thursday, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often referred to as “Obamacare”) is Constitutional. Unless this law is repealed or modified, virtually all Americans will be required by 2014 to have health insurance or face fines imposed by the IRS. Personally I am disgusted with this legislation because it gives the government more power over individual liberties. Obamacare could also set the stage for the Mark of the Beast being introduced to this country.

No, I don’t believe Barack Obama is the antichrist. But I am grieved that the President professes to be a Christian while continuing to promote policies contrary to Scripture. Obamacare could fit in this category since it encourages people to look to doctors first instead of Jehovah Rapha. It would be advisable for President Obama to read 2 Chronicles 16:12-13, “And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.”

On the other hand, some Christians have the idea that if you go see a doctor, then you lack faith. It’s not wrong to seek medical help when necessary. After all, one of the gospel writers (Luke) was a doctor. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 9:12, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” The Lord can work through doctors and medicine. But physicians are not God and should not be viewed as such. There is only one Great Physician.

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24

Witnessing Is Not Soliciting

Last week I went to Best Buy to return a camcorder purchased two days before. Standing outside the store were four college-aged men. Feeling led to witness to the men, I approached them asking if they would take part in a “survey.” All four were receptive and eventually told me they thought they were going to heaven but for the wrong reasons. Soon I led them all in a prayer to receive salvation.

By this time, the Best Buy manager was standing next to me. She informed me that someone complained because they “felt uncomfortable” with me ministering. I told the manager that I hadn’t witnessed to anyone else there! Whoever complained must have felt conviction by the Holy Spirit while walking by me. (I have since prayed that this person continually feels uncomfortable until he or she becomes born again.)

According to Christian Law Association attorney David Gibbs, Jr., shoppers have the freedom to talk to each other about various subjects. One person might discuss vacations and hand someone a brochure about a vacation destination. So should a Christian be free to share the gospel and hand someone a tract through incidental interactions while shopping. I showed the Best Buy manager my camcorder and receipt to prove I was there for business reasons (but took care of “Kingdom business” first).

The manager then told me, “We don’t allow soliciting here.” I replied by pointing out the U. S. Supreme Court has ruled that one-on-one evangelism in public places is not soliciting as long as you don’t ask for money. Numerous cases related to this issue include…

Lovell v. City of Griffin (1938)

Schneider v. New Jersey (1939)

Jones v. City of Opelika (1942)

Murdock v. Pennsylvania (1943)

Watchtower Society v. Village of Stratton (2002)

I ended the conversation by politely telling the Best Buy manager that these four men received eternal life so they won’t spend eternity in hell and that Jesus loved her also. A few minutes later, I ran into two of the men in the bathroom at a nearby shopping center. That gave me an opportunity to minister to them more without the manager around.

I will continue shopping for souls as the Lord leads. And whenever a store manager or security guard accuses me of soliciting, I will look at it as an opportunity to “solicit” the gospel to them.

“Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.” - Acts 17:17