The ad ran all over California on Election Day—and surely sets a record for anti-religious bigotry. Two clean-cut young men knock at the door of a lesbian couple. The men identify themselves as Mormon missionaries. “We’re here to take away your rights,” they announce.
They snatch the women’s wedding rings off their fingers and ransack their home. When they find the couple’s marriage license, they rip it in half. “Say no to a church taking over your government,” the voiceover says. “Vote ‘no’ on Proposition 8.”
Despite such vicious attacks, California’s Proposition 8, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman, passed. But the assaults on churches have just begun.
Two days after the election, 2,000 homosexual protesters surrounded a Mormon temple in Los Angeles chanting “Mormon scum.” Protesters picketed Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, holding signs reading “Purpose-Driven Hate.” Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills was spray painted. Church members’ cars have been vandalized, and at least two Christians were assaulted. Protesters even hurled racial epithets at African-Americans because African-Americans voted overwhelmingly in favor of traditional marriage.
This is an outrage. What hypocrisy from those who spend all of their time preaching tolerance to the rest of us! How dare they threaten and attack political opponents? We live a democratic country, not a banana republic ruled by thugs.
Clearly, Christians need to redouble their efforts to help people understand what marriage is all about. In Los Angeles, when protesters gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, they chanted, “What Would Jesus say?”
That’s a good question, and the Church should not hesitate to answer it. What would Jesus say about same-sex “marriage?”
To get to the answer, let’s first understand the meaning and purpose of marriage. In his book The Clash of Orthodoxies, Princeton philosopher Robert George writes that matrimonial law reflects a moral judgment—that marriage is inherently heterosexual, monogamous, and permanent—a union of one man and one woman.
This view reflects the biblical and natural law understanding that marriage is a two-in-one-flesh communion of persons. This communion is consummated by sexual acts that are reproductive in nature. They unite the spouses as a single procreative unit—an organic unity achieved even by infertile couples. Only a mated pair can be a complete organism capable of human procreation.
Since homosexual acts have no relationship to procreation and cannot unite persons organically, these acts cannot be marital—which means relationships integrated around them cannot be marriages.
We’ve got a winsome case, but we’ve got to get better equipped to explain it to our neighbors. You could start by reading The Clash of Orthodoxies and other material available on our website. And then, start discussing these issues in your small groups, Sunday school classes, and youth groups.
By protecting traditional marriage, we aren’t taking away anybody’s rights. We are simply upholding the framework of society’s most basic institution, the loss of which would irreparably damage our families and our society.
From BreakPoint®, November 13, 2008, Copyright 2008, Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with the permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or distributed without the express written permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. “BreakPoint®” and “Prison Fellowship Ministries®” are registered trademarks of Prison Fellowship
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Most of you are so ignorant about the Bible its pathetic. Quit taking texts out of context and trying to bifurcate Scripture to prove your point. Why don't you take at least a year or more and read the entire Bible, examine it and search it before you continue to spew your ignorance.
Have you ever studied science and the basic purpose of mating...its to reproduce. From mammals to insects, species inherently know that in order for life to exist, mating for reproduction is necessary for survival. Where are all the Darwinian Evolutionists right now? Darwinian Evolution and Homosexuality contradict one another.
mike22685, my misread on the doctoring and once again I do totally agree with you on your response, believer
Didn't mean to imply it was doctored.
mike22685, I'm in total agreement with your last post, although I can't speak to the film clip being doctored.
I think mob mentality took over there. Martin Luther King preached peaceful protests an unfortunately that didn't always happen, but what was even more unfortunate was when people started saying "How can we give blacks civil rights when they act that way" when it fact it was an isolated incident. The same thing is already happening with that movie clip, and it simply is not indicative of the entire gay community. We are frustrated, we are angry, but by and large we are peaceful and focused.
mike22685, first of all I totally agree there are hotheads on both sides and there are some opposed to same-sex marriage who don't act Christian because they aren't Christians, but the video I saw showed her arriving at the protest and she was immediately confronted as I shared and it did not appear that she said anything because she didn't have time to.
Right, and I wonder what was happening immediately before the video started. Again, I have seen some Christians treat gays in less than Christian ways, young and old alike. It doesn't make what they did right, as our community is calling for civil disobedience, but it is very wrong of DP to assert that the entire community is driven by what these protesters did in an isolated occurrence which no doubt will be fanaticized and blown out of proportion.
mike22685, apparently you have not watched the video or you would see that she was verbally assaulted by the one protestor and her cross was knocked out of her hand and stomped on by several other protestors.
DP, for one that is not assault, and I wonder what kinds of things she said to him to infuriate him. I have been to gay marriage rallies and there are quite a few "Christians" young and old alike who act anything but. I also like how you ignored the fact that many gay activists have been assaulted for merely protesting what they believe is unjust and unfair.
Also, the Mormon church overstepped their bounds as a tax exempt non profit. There are rigid guidelines which they broke, and in being willing to do so, they should also be willing to face the legal ramifications. This is not intolerance, it is the law of the land.
"and our intimacy is just as 'organic' as any straight couple's. "
Medically...no. The exchange of bodily fluid between a man and a woman is different than that between two men or two women. It's simple body chemistry.
As for the story, I'm sure the pro-homosexual agenda people don't like the story as it shows the intolerance and hate that spews from that camp on a daily basis throughout the USA.
I saw footage of a gay man assaulting an elderly woman during a protest by knocking a cross out of her hand. The footage was on Fox News. It is this type of hate and intolerance that is the real motivator behind the homosexual agenda.
As I have paid significant interest in the passing of Proposition 8, I have become deeply disturbed about the attacks on religious freedom. Yes, sadly, I am afraid that if people of faith do not stand up for a Moral Issue such as this, their rights will be taken away, and it most certainly affects our children. Attacks on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a.k.a. the Mormons, are clear examples of intolerance and discrimination. If churches cannot preach the consequences of indifference toward God's commandments without having their tax-status exemption challenged, then our most basic rights, freedom of religion, are lost.
To believe: yes, the statement, "If we as Christians cannot hate sin, then how can we honestly love the sinner," are my own words, although the idea, of course, is what we as Christians believe. Feel free to share it with anyone. I hope the whole world hears it!
As I have paid significant interest in the passing of Proposition 8 I have become deeply disturbed about the attacks on religious freedom. Yes, sadly, I am afraid that if people of faith do not stand up for a Moral Issue such as this, their rights will be taken away, and it most certainly affects our children. Attacks on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a.k.a. the Mormons, are clear examples of intolerance and discrimination. If churches cannot preach the fear of indifference toward keeping Godâ
Mr. Colson has a shotty argument at best. Marriage most certainly can be granted to gay couples, and our intimacy is just as "organic" as any straight couple's. To deny marriage to us because we cannot procreate would lead to the question: what about couples who cannot or choose not to procreate through their marriage? Is it any less valid?
in terms of protests outside Mormon churches, they severely overstepped their bounds. Mr. Colson wants to talk about vicious attacks? How about warping gay marriage to make it sound like an attack on children and play on fear tactics? Those very ads were funded and produced by the Mormon church which is in direct opposition to its 501(c) 3 status. We have every right to protest, and the Christian community would most certainly do the exact same thing had Prop H8 not passed. We are protesting peacefully, and its sad that many in the gay community are being attacked for voicing their objection calmly.
haz, having been the target of bullies and perverts while growing up I can empathize with your struggle, but what does that have to do with this issue?
In grade school and junior high, I was a bully-magnet due to my inherent and ultimately un-hide-able femininity. Until 6th grade, I ran from confrontations, but I was caught and teased-tortured-terrorized-beaten anyway.
One rainy day, I couldn't avoid the bully clique as they walked by me in the crowded hall during recess. As each passed, they would sneak-punch me hard. The clique's low man on the ladder got 'brave', and began wailing on me openly. I lost it and, in a focused rage, turned him from aggressor to aggressed. It took two teachers to pull me off him.
For two years, I did not back down from fights. I avoided them if possible, but if the opponent 'insited', I obliged. I won at least two thirds of the fights.
Those I lost, the 'winner' paid for with some sort of mark. "The p***y gave you a fat lip!" "But I gave him a black eye..." "But the p***y GAVE YOU A FAT LIP!!!!
(ha ha ha...)"
I received a spanking from the principal for each fight. It taught me that the principal was a hypocrite. I also learned that I could not trust the other adults to protect me, or even take my side in the altercations. I believe some secretly felt that an effeminate boy 'deserved' the attention, and were secretly hoping it would 'beat the gay out' of me.
After two years, the fights and challenges finally ended. So did the name-calling, and a majority of people actually showed me respect. Those that thought otherwise knew to keep it to themselves.
When we advanced from junior high to high school, I appeared instantly on the radars of the bullies from the other junior high schools, and experienced three weeks of probing from them.
But the probing fell off and disappeared during the fourth week. A friend told me years later the bullies from my school had told the new bullies about my performance in junior high, and the new bullies decided I wasn't worth it.
jfair, is the statement you used which says, "If we as Christians cannot hate sin, then how can we honestly love the sinner." original to you, because that is an such an awesome truth and if you don't mind I may use it in a sermon or two, be blessed as you serve Him, believer
Well,this all seems just like the "Roman Empire" pt 2 as I understand it, Immorality was rampant in that era also and in Scripture it was proclaimed that right would become wrong,..true would become false,righteous would become sinful,..etc. etc etc.,in the "end of days" but anyhow, I take Charles Colsons editorials a blessing that I was lucky enough to stumble across,not that I agree on every point, but isn't that the beauty of the whole thing?
deppy, since your post is identical to the one you posted on Prop #8 being challenged I hope you'll check out my response to it there.
jfair, your 1:15 post was outstanding and truly hit the nail on the head with regards to God's Truth always taking supremacy over the ways and truths and even laws of man.
You can't pick and choose from the bible.
If you're going to declare that gay marriage is a "sin" then you also need to take the following stances: Sell your daughter into slavery (Exsodus 21:7), Posess slaves (Lev. 25:44), Kill those who work on Sunday (Lev. 11:10), Stop cutting your hair around the temples (Lev 19:27), Stop touching the skin of pigs (Lev. 11:6-8), Stop Eating Shellfish (Lev. 11:10), Stop Wearing clothing made of 2 different kinds of thread (Lev. 19:19).
The Christians pick and choose the parts of the bible they want to, for political gain. Your agenda is transparent and nothing more then desperate attempts at controling others. Stop being hypocrites. If you're not going to follow the bible completely, then stop being hate mongering bigots.
I am a Christian and believe in this policy, "hate the sin and love the sinner." The Bible teaches so plainly that homosexuality is wrong and sinful. Therefore the thought that Christ would sanction same-sex arriages is utterly absurd. Didn't Christ say, "not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Faither which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Homosexuality is an adjective or behavior. The scriptures reject it as a noun (Romans 1: 27, 29-32). Marriage between man and woman has always been ordained of God. Yes, ask yourself what Christ would do. Christ came to earth to save us FROM our sins, not IN our sins. Alexander Pope said it so descriptively: "Vice is a monster of so frightful mein, as, to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." Someone else said, "Social acceptace does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality...the practce would still be a deep dark sin." I reject the position of gay activists who proclaim, "I am, therefore I act." Out of LOVE I support Proposition 8 and seek to reclaim all those who desire repentance. If we as Christians cannot hate the sin, then how can we honestly love the sinner? Proposition 8 is truly about LOVE.
feet, one incident, have you not watched the news? What about that elderly woman who had a styrofoam cross taken out of her hands and stomped on by same-sex marriage proponents? And what about the reported attacks on some churches prior to the vote?
blue, when all else fails shoot the messenger and especially when the message rings so true. I'm still waiting on your cheese order?
I am a Christian and believe in this policy, â
this guy is such a bad writer, worse philosopher.
Chuck Colson claims to have found "God" in prison, which is the environment where one who has such anti-gay views might find such a chauvanistic "God". Chuck doesn't merely ignore the Golden Rule, he goes even further - as a matter of habit - in defaming lesbians and gays by bearing false witness against them and being, in general, a bad neighbor. Perhaps, like many persecutors who wrap themselves in the cloth, this long campaign aimed at dividing families is simply a money-making scam that targets peoples worst fears and prejudices. Nixon and his crew were great at manufacturing enemies - and it's no wonder that Chuck hasn't repented from this lifestyle of hate. Now he's pitting African Americans against "homosexuals" - as if there are no gay black people and as if white conservatives like Colson actually care about racial minorities. And it's interesting to note that for the most part Evangelicals like Colson believe Mormons and Catholics are the agents of Satan, but they don't seem to mind using the Mormon ATM. For all of their talk, the supporters of keeping lesbians and gays as second-class citizens aren't actually protecting marriage. Evangelicals themselves have a higher divorce rate than Atheists! Yet when they, and when people like Chuck, involve God in justifying their prejudices, they are committing yet another ugly sin: they are taking His name in vain. And worse than that, they are meddling in the affairs of the heart and attempting to break a covenant by same-sex couples made before God (yes, gays are Christians, too). We know how Jesus felt about divorce. Wonder what he would say about forced divorces carried out against same-sex couples by so-called Christians? I think it's clear: read Matthew 7: 21-23.
Chuck Colson claims to have found "God" in prison, which is the environment where one who has such anti-gay views might find such a chauvanistic "God". Chuck doesn't merely ignore the Golden Rule, he goes even further - as a matter of habit - in defaming lesbians and gays by bearing false witness against them and being, in general, a bad neighbor. Perhaps, like many persecutors who wrap themselves in the cloth, this long campaign aimed at dividing families is simply a money-making scam that targets peoples worst fears and prejudices. Nixon and his crew were great at manufacturing enemies - and it's no wonder that Chuck hasn't repented from this lifestyle of hate. Now he's pitting African Americans against "homosexuals" - as if there are no gay black people and as if white conservatives like Colson actually care about racial minorities. And it's interesting to note that for the most part Evangelicals like Colson believe Mormons and Catholics are the agents of Satan, but they don't seem to mind using the Mormon ATM. For all of their talk, the supporters of keeping lesbians and gays as second-class citizens are actually protecting marriage. Evangelicals themselves have a higher divorce rate than Atheists! Yet when they, and when people like Chuck, involve God in justifying their prejudices, they are committing yet another ugly sin: they are taking His name in vain. And worse than that, they are meddling in the affairs of the heart and attempting to break a covenant by a same-sex couple made before God (yes, gays are Christians, too). We know how Jesus felt about divorce. Wonder what he would say about forced divorces carried out against same-sex couples by so-called Christians? I think it's clear: read Matthew 7: 21-23.
colson is taking a single negative incident, embellishing it, and then attempting use it characterize an entire movement. a characterization that engenders fear, division, and alienation.
i know colson is a beleiver. possibly he should consider rereading gal5, romans12, and 1john4
regarding colson is it possible that you can take man out of politics, but you cannot take politics out of the man. when i refer to politics, i refer to the methods of the late lee atwater , (which he renounced) of promoting anything political
it took 50 years, the passing of 2 generations for the women to get the right to vote. the reason being that women were credited by believers as being responsible for the fall of man.
it will merely take the passing of one generation before gays are given the right to marry...............but surely, given the trends, it will definitely happen.
but what concerns me is the damage it is doing to the faith, for believers to be against it. if christ is about loving ones neighbor as oneself, then surely the church should be the one, leading to allow marriage , rather than the reverse.
if loving ones neighbor as oneself is the summmation of the law, then under the new covenant the essence of every law is this summation.