Gay Marriage or Civil Union is That The Issue?

What follows is based on my opinion and my belief that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God. Should gays be allowed by law to marry or to join in a civil union? (Semantics?) Has this anything to do with civil rights? Are these the real issues? Gays can and do live together and they can legalize their relationship. It is as illegal to commit a crime or discriminate against a gay person as it is against a heterosexual. Should society legalize this relationship; approve and call it acceptable (right), teach our children it is acceptable (right), and call it intolerant and illegal when contrary opinions are expressed? Should the Bible be outlawed as a hate book because it speaks out against homosexuality? Legally, we can do whatever the laws of man allow us to do. Man cannot make enough laws to control all the possibilities and when he tries “experts” called lawyers can find loopholes and judges can reinterpret what was intended. Of greater importance is the standard by which man makes laws. Hitler made laws, Saddam Hussein made laws – just because something is legal is it therefore right? Does might make right? Each of us has been given the freedom to choose – not by the government but by the Creator, and with each choice we are responsible for the consequences, not only to ourselves but also to others. (“Am I my brother’s keeper?”). The real issue is not the right of gays to marry or civil liberties. The real issue is one of righteousness, values and morality. At one time our nation outlawed abortion and called it murder, discouraged divorce and made it difficult, outlawed sodomy and called it a crime; prostitution was a crime in Nevada, gambling was unconstitutional in New York and Civil Unions were unheard of in Vermont. Man’s laws have changed that.. Today we are to believe that truth is relative, freedom of choice is more important than responsibility and the meanings of words may be changed to justify our desires. There is no standard; each man (nation) does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; Proverbs 16:2). When the laws of man are contrary to the laws of God a choice has to be made by some (Acts 4:18-20). Sadly, I believe we are “weeping and will weep for what we are sowing”. It is not my job (thank God) to force people to believe as I do, or to “bash” anyone. However, as a follower of Jesus Christ, He is my Lord and Savior, I have a responsibility to proclaim the truth of the Gospel in love. I do not hate anyone. I have many gay friends, how they live is their choice. I believe that the greatest commandment is, to love God and to love my neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). The Bible has some pretty intolerant statements in it. If you have a problem with what it says check with the author. There are a number of Bible verses that speak about homosexuality. Consider these Biblical responses to some arguments for the approval of homosexuality. (Ref. www.wheregraceabounds.org) God made me gay; for me being gay is not unnatural. God made us male and female with the intention of people of the opposite gender relating to each other sexually. (Genesis 1:26,27 & 2:18-25). Our "natural" way of being is in direct contrast with God's plan for our lives (Romans 6:19-20, 7:5). It may feel natural and normal to be intimate with the same gender but that does not make it right. The Bible doesn't prohibit homosexual sex. The Bible specifically prohibits homosexual behavior in both the Old Testament (Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13) and the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:9, Jude 7, 1 Timothy 1:10, 2 Peter 2:6-8). When Paul listed homosexuality as a sin in his letters he was just borrowing a "vice list" from the culture that he was in. Homosexuality is in this list because the culture of the time prohibited gay relationships, not because God sees it as a sin. In Romans 1:26-27, homosexual behavior (both male and female) is clearly pictured as a sin. This letter was written to the Romans who at least condoned, if not openly accepted, homosexuality; they had no cultural prohibition against gay relationships. In this verse, homosexuality is presented as a form of idolatry that Paul is admonishing the believers from engaging in. Finally, each of us makes his own choices – a gift from our Creator. Just because the Bible says something does not mean you have to do it. Many things are legal in the world that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. However, we may want to consider our choices in light of the three great truths: (1) the longer you live the older you get; (2) if you live long enough you will not get out of this alive; and (3) the death rate among humans regardless of race, nationality, color, sex sexual orientation, religion, education, wealth, etc. is 100%."For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”. (John 3:16-18) Consider the ministry given to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:16-21). What if the Bible is true? Now you have heard it you are responsible! The choice is yours.

Morals? Or No Morals?

MORALS OR NO MORALS

Oral arguments of four same-sex marriage appeals were argued on May 31st before the State of New York Court of Appeals. Deputy Solicitor General Peter Schiff argued that it's up to the state Legislature, not the courts, to determine whether marriage should be extended to same-sex couples. When asked by the Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, “We can’t make choices on moral or religious grounds?” He responded, “Absolutely not!” (The webcast can be viewed at http://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/ -1hr 42min into the webcast)
Apparently some of our law makers believe in Ethical relativism - that when two individuals or two cultures disagree on their moral views of an act, both can be right. The post-modern ethic which teaches “there are no absolute truths” and “there is no right or wrong” is upon us. “In those days...; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
In the words of Alan Charles Raul in, “How legalizing gay marriage undermines society's morals” (http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1209/p11s02-coop.html)
“We must recognize that what the Massachusetts court has done is not preserve liberty but merely substitute its own moral code for that of the people. This damage is not merely inflicted on government, trampling as it does the so-called "separation of powers." It does much worse, for when judges erode the power of the people's representatives to set society's moral compass, they likewise undercut the authority of parents, schools, and other community groups to set the standards they would like to see their children and fellow citizens live by. Indeed, it is a frontal assault on community values writ large.”
On June 5^th the US Senate considered the Marriage Protection Amendment (S.J. Res. 1) which states: “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.” Apparently our law makers did not consider "marriage" important enough to approve this amendment and let the people decide. Contact your representatives and express your opinion and desires. (www.citizenlink.org click on “Action Center”) You choose – Morals? Or No Morals? What if the Bible is true?

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Wake Up Church!

What I have written below may be considered by some to be extreme or provocative. If you are offended I ask your forgiveness but I feel that the time is short - that we must decide very soon whom we will serve - The Lord God or Baal.
I am requesting that you give your church leaders a copy of this. I pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and provide a window of opportunity!
Please do not be offended. As I sit here I feel so strongly that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ have been playing games for to long inside the walls of our comfortable churches. We are commanded by scripture to be light and salt to the world - yet all around us perversion is happening (homosexuality, gambling, abortion, indoctrination of our youth, violence, child abuse, etc) and we seem to be silent and non committal (like an ostrich with its head in the sand) - are we afraid of losing our IRS status or how others may react? Are we so concerned with our "religion and our own earthly welfare and our denominations and our "church building" and with pleasing of man and our own selfish ambition that we have come to the place where we are no longer effective as light and salt. Are we serving God or man? Body of Christ wake up! Casino gambling and the lottery is about to take over our country, Christian Schools are struggling to survive, drugs are all around us, homosexuality is rampant, child abuse, abortion and pornography are everywhere. We need to preach the gospel of salvation and repentance with the love of Christ to the LOST - we will not be judged for whether or not they listen and we have not been called to force anyone - but we must SHOUT the message and warn them! Yet, to my knowledge, very few in the Body of Christ seem to care - no letters to the editor, no ads, no unity to combat evil - Brothers and sisters, WE ARE IT! WE HAVE BEEN CALLED! WE ARE TO BE THE LIGHT AND THE SALT! WE ARE THE "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD"! HIS WITNESSES! THE PEOPLE CALLED BY HIS NAME! I have been studying Jeremiah - take a look at Chapter 1 and 7 and ask yourself - has God changed - will He somehow wink His eye as we play church? I fear that we will be held responsible - for we are the called out ones! I sense so urgently that it is imperative that we stand up for righteousness NOW or we and all around us will "weep what we have sown!" If any of you have the same feelings please let me know. Perhaps we can become part of John 17:23! If not us who? If not now when?
Jesus did not start a denomination or a church – He said we should follow Him. Are we?