For almost the first 180 years of American history, pastors routinely addressed political issues and candidates from the pulpit. “Until about 1954, churches were free to endorse or oppose particular candidates from the pulpit — and, in fact, churches did that,” says Erik Stanley with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). “Some pastors opposed Thomas Jefferson as being a deist. Other pastors opposed William Howard Taft as a Unitarian. Some pastors opposed Al Smith in the 1928 presidential election — and the list goes on and on.”
But that changed in 1954, says Stanley, when Congress passed a law forbidding churches from endorsing or opposing candidates. The so-called “Johnson Amendment” was passed without any debate or analysis. Stanley says that provision has since been used to keep churches from speaking out when politics intrudes into moral issues addressed by scripture.
“The IRS has been used as a willing accomplice with groups like Americans United [for Separation of Church and State] to silence pastors from speaking biblical values from the pulpit,” alleges the attorney. “[W]e believe that pastors … shouldn’t be intimidated into giving those up.”
That is why ADF is asking pastors to help reclaim that constitutionally protected right. [Read More]
“Statesmen by dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand….The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.”
– John Adams (letter to Zabdiel Adams, 21 June 1776) - Reference: Our Sacred Honor, Bennett, pg. 371.
So, why would someone like me, who normally is not very interested in other people’s sexual behavior, take such a keen interest in the Homosexual Agenda?
Is it because they are just wrong? Is it because God hates sin? Am I a homophobe?
None of the above. I wouldn’t want anyone to be trapped in a homosexual lifestyle, but my main concern is the threat that the Homosexual Political Agenda poses to Liberty. In the guise of trying to promote their own “liberty” the Agenda seems very willing to violate the Liberty of Conscience of others.
I am convinced that these concerns are not irrelevant. A friend asked me years ago “why are you even worried about it” and then implied that Christian Fundamentalists were some how activists against homosexuality.
I spent a long time thinking about what he said. Then I started to realize it. It is the Homosexual Political Agenda that is trying to “ram stuff down everyone’s throat,” not Christians. Christians mostly just want to be able to live their lives and raise their families according to the Ways of God. And yes, they want to maintain the freedom to reach out and love others into the same blessings, if those others choose to be open.
I once read an article by Roland Martin of CNN criticizing Christian Leaders such as James Dobson and Pat Robertson of letting the Heart of Christianity be hijacked by political activism.
I spent some time thinking about that as well. Then I realized it. I know about these guys, and some of the others that Roland Martin mentioned. Anyone who thinks that James Dobson or Pat Robertson, or most other Chirstian leaders spend most of their time on political issues doesn’t know these individuals and has not been following their ministries! James Dobson has spent his life as a family counselor providing resources to strengthen the family. Very little of it has anything to do with politics. He is all about healing marriages and the upbringing of children! Focus on the Family has provided resources and ministries that strengthen the family unit all around the world! Pat Robertson’s ministry is most involved with Christian Television, Preaching the Gospel around the world, and helping the poor and needy around the world.
I have noticed a reactionary movement among Christians (especially young ones) to distance themselves from such great men because of their political views. Some Christians would even retreat from the political arena all together. Sometimes I want to. It seems like a bitter and negative place. The Reactionaries blame Christian leaders for the “politicization of Christianity.”
While I acknowledge that I have personally met and heard Christians that do not well represent Jesus in the communication of their political views, the Media and Educational Elites have done more to misrepresent Christians than Christians have themselves. With a few exceptions, the “right-wing, fundamentalist, bigoted, evangelical, overly politicized Christian who should just go to church and leave everyone alone” is a mythical creation of contemporary attitudes and world views. Many of the Christians that I meet have strong political views, but spend their time running dairys, being businessmen, working as construction workers, helping the poor, and serving in world missions, etc. (i.e. living an all-around normal life).
I have spoken with folks and read many things written by those who agree with the Homosexual Political Agenda, and many that I have spoken to bear a clear hatred of Christianity. Not all. Some try to mold Christianity into something that will “accept” homosexuality. Some even kindly acknowledge the possibility of peaceably agreeing to disagree.
But the Movement itself is, without a doubt, a serious threat to Religious Liberty, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of Conscience!
One of the clearest areas where these consequences manifest is the world of “hate crime” and “hate speech” legislation. I once wrote one of my Senators (Barack Obama) to ask him why he was supporting such legislation. He emailed me back to assure me that my concerns were unfounded.
The fact that he does not see what is happening in the world is one of the reasons he is not qualified to be our next President.
I remember the bitter opposition and accusations of hate that came against a campus ministry that I was a part of when I was in college when we suggested that homosexuality was harmful and sinful. We were not disagreed with or challenged on intellectual grounds. We were accused of “hate.”
“Hate?” Bizarre. I remember being asked whether or not I believed Homosexuality was sin once. I said “yes” and was immediately labeled a “homophobe.” Homophobe? Fear of homosexuals?
I am most convinced of the Homosexual Agendas Threat to Liberty when I read about actual events in nations that have enacted hate-crimes or hate-speech legislation or included “sexual preference” or “orientation” in a category of “special rights.”
Christian Horizons is an evangelical ministry in Ontario that has cared for more than 1,400 people with developmental disabilities in 180 group homes. The group requires all employees to sign a contract agreeing to abstain from all sexual immorality, including homosexuality. When Christian Horizons fired a female employee who became involved with another woman, she complained to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which fined the ministry $23,000 and two years back pay. [Read More]
The Canadian Government shows signs of being seriously deceived and devoid of any knowledge of Liberty in this matter. How can they not see that a Christian Ministry has a right and responsibility before God to hire employees that follow their moral standard? How can anyone not see that they have a right and responsibility to enforce those moral standards with their employees?
This is one of many examples of how serious this threat is.
So how do we as Christians respond?
We need to fight the long-term worldview battle by bringing up our children and all of those given to us by God in the Knowledge and Ways of God and the Bible. A group of Free Individuals is more powerful than any other human force in the long run. I keep digging articles by homeschool moms because I see the hope of our nation in them. The next generation will make the change.
In the meantime we need to fight the good fight. It is important that we remember that “our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers” (Eph). Homosexuals as human beings are not our enemy. Our enemy is the Devil and the Ideas that he promotes in the earth. We need to fight in prayer and in the battle of ideas. We also need to take a stand with our votes and by supporting those who are on the forefront of these battles in government. There needs to be letters written, neighbors persuaded, blog posts posted.
And somehow, in the midst of that, we need to show with our actions what it means to be truly loved with the love of Jesus. We need to show it to all men and women, including Homosexual Activists. If they remain in their deception they may never recognize love but we’ve got to remember that God is our Judge, not human beings. Even if humans were our enemies the Bible commands us to love them. But we are not required to love them with something that is in fact not love at all - the accepting of the Homosexual Agenda.
My view of America’s future is optimistic. I think we are in a temporary “dark season” which happens to be right smack in the middle of a National Christian Revival. Things can get better. If we pray and fight they will.
We don’t need to be afraid of deception or people. We just need to pray and act.
Let’s preserve Religious Liberty, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of Conscience for our Posterity.
For almost the first 180 years of American history, pastors routinely addressed political issues and candidates from the pulpit. “Until about 1954, churches were free to endorse or oppose particular candidates from the pulpit — and, in fact, churches did that,” says Erik Stanley with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). “Some pastors opposed Thomas Jefferson as being a deist. Other pastors opposed William Howard Taft as a Unitarian. Some pastors opposed Al Smith in the 1928 presidential election — and the list goes on and on.”
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Our Sacred Honor, Bennett
So, why would someone like me, who normally is not very interested in other people’s sexual behavior, take such a keen interest in the Homosexual Agenda?
And somehow, in the midst of that, we need to show with our actions what it means to be truly loved with the love of Jesus. We need to show it to all men and women, including Homosexual Activists. If they remain in their deception they may never recognize love but we’ve got to remember that God is our Judge, not human beings. Even if humans were our enemies the Bible commands us to love them. But we are not required to love them with something that is in fact not love at all - the accepting of the Homosexual Agenda.
