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Silent, Tolerant,
It’s too close for comfort. Forty-four senators are supporting Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass) plans to push a bill (S.1145) through the upper house of Congress that would make it a hate crime to speak out against sexual orientation or gender issues (including homosexuality, transsexuals and cross-dressers). Barrell Duke, Vice President of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission denounced the Senates recent attempts to attach it to an unrelated bill. “The goal of all of their attempts is to one day criminalize speech that denounces homosexuality, including religious speech.”[1] Recently, Time Magazine (Oct. 10, 2005) promoted “Gay Teens” in a cover story. John Cloud, a homosexual activist wrote the report. Using his own research data he positively portrayed the growing phenomenon of ever-younger children, identifying themselves with the gay lifestyle. He praised the massive proliferation of Gay Straight Alliance Clubs springing up in public schools across the nation. Cloud showcased scholarship funds available from the Point Foundation for “youngsters” who believe they are gay. He blanketed with guilt psychological and religious efforts to change, treat or moralize such behavior. Joseph Farah of World Net Daily blasted Time Magazine for promoting “gay teens.”[2] The homosexual movement began in February 1988, when 175 brilliant activists met in Warrenton, Virginia, to map out the movement’s future. Their sinister tactics called for victimization, propaganda, skillful marketing, invasion of the public school system and public projection of guilt against any opposition. In their powerful manipulative plans they knew the greatest opposition was the “silent” majority – the Christians who didn’t speak out. They banked on that quiet support. Their pressure techniques were already proven from the annals of social and political history: “We can change what people actually think and feel by breaking their current negative associations with our cause and replacing them with positive associations.” They referred to the “gay rights” agenda as “war.” That’s how the apostle Peter referred to it also: “... abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” I Peter 2:11. And that raises a question – quite serious actually – “Are you or your church silent, tolerant, numb or lax over this issue?” Kirk and Madson, with the whole gay movement, are using “desensitizing” techniques to create either silence, tolerance, numbness, or laxness among religious opposition. Their organization admits that the gay movement is using “psychological terrorism.” They want everyone to “warmly regard” homosexuality “whether they like it or not.” Perhaps the most sinister and devilish gay activists admit that they get a mysterious fiendish excitement when they “initiate” an innocent person into their lifestyle. And therein is the growing threat in schools to our children. That covert hate smacks of the very tactics Satan uses. He subverts the will through carelessness, inattention and sensuous feelings. Ultimately, what was abhorrent becomes acceptable – sin tolerated. Kirk and Madison don’t lack for adherents to label Christians who resist. Gay activism is racking up success on all fronts, including within Christian churches: from gay pastors and parishioners to gay unions, adopting children, civil acceptance of such “families.” The debate has moved away from ethical standards – God’s counsel – to social norms. “What should we do to keep peace in the communities?” Shouldn’t children be able to express themselves in a beautiful loving way? What about the Bible and its standards? Do pastors even care anymore what God thinks? Do churches exist to champion spiritual virtues or social trends? Or do we have silence, tolerance, numbness or laxness? The gay movement goes forward, championing “love” as the reason for its intimate lifestyle. Jesus urges His followers to love activists enough to speak out against such behavior. An intimate friendship with Him should be our driving force. Has “love” become so secularized that the merits of church has shrunk to only community. Every conflict has a seed of redemption. God’s great redemptive plan was designed that way. That is why loyal adherents to our Savior have an obligation to resist this abhorrent lifestyle. Denial of such problems robs man of healing. Silence causes others to think we condone. Tolerance encourages continued immoral behavior. Numbness mocks the power of the restorative gospel. Laxness admits a paltry relationship with Jesus. Defending evil brings eternal peril. No, we are not to hate the sinner. But if we defend their sin, it is no different. God never invites His church to be enablers of wrong. He wants those representing Him to firmly reveal the excitement of being His follower, apart from sin. Maybe, just maybe, that is our biggest challenge. How long has it been since you saw someone excited about Jesus? When was the last time you discovered a church that was emotionally thrilled over truth? Homosexuality is a sin. It’s deeply at variance with God and His order. And there’s another problem: When is the last time you heard from the pulpit about sin? With daring theology invading our churches, it is often claimed that the cross makes it unnecessary to address sin anymore! Unless we identify with God and His law, we will never know we have sin. Unless the redemptive value of the cross is recognized, man will continue to morally regress. The solution to sin comes first by recognizing what it is and taking responsibility for it. There is no confession without that. Celestial pleas reverberate to rediscover what God stands for. His lofty ideals transcend all earthliness. He wants us to join His army and His war to fight against such degrading sin.
When, from the ethos, we must
move in wars against our souls, God says, “Don’t worry, I’ll give you the
power to fight (I Corinthians Who will respond? Not the Silent, Tolerant, the Numb or the Lax. There must be someone excited about Jesus – somewhere.
References: 1. www.bpnews.net/printerfradly.asp?10=29919 2. www.worldnetdaily.com 3. Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madson: “After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the ‘90’s.”
Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; EndTime Issues... of
Prophecy Research Initiative |