Same Sex Marriage Realities

Quite the uproar last week re: our President’s confession of what we all already knew = he supports gay marriage.  How in the world could one have watched all of his policies and appointments and practices over these last 3 + years and not have known that?  The question is where do we as a nation go from here after the uproar dies down?

Those in liberal media outlets, liberal churches (most of which are very small and limited in influence), and in ultra liberal Hollywood tell us that our society is evolving, and soon we will all – or the overwhelming majority of Americans will get in line with full support of gay marriage.

This in spite of the fact that every single time (32 x’s to be exact) a state has been able to vote on whether marriage should be defined as and limited to a relationship between a man and a woman - - they have voted yes. The last state to do so was North Carolina where as usual the pro traditional marriage side was outspent two to one (some states have been outspent by far more than that), but N.C. still had a resounding majority vote for traditional marriage (62 to 38 %).  And lest you write this off as just another southern traditional bigoted state, Obama carried North Carolina in the presidential election 3 + years ago.

It is worth noting that every time one of these states voted, many months of endless main stream media manipulation took place.  Those who would dare vote for traditional marriage were warned and threatened and cajoled and belittled and even beaten (at least in California).  Hollywood heavyweights scorned in polished commercials the audacity of someone in the 21^st century who would dare vote against “progress” and “freedom” and “fairness” and “equality” and “non discrimination”.  

Many in these states probably gave more thought to the issues with this particular vote than perhaps any other they had ever wrestled with.  So highly charged accusations that we who voted for marriage to not be redefined and neutered are all homophobic, gay hating, uneducated, backwards, fearful folk just doesn’t hold water.

Can you find a so called “Christian” pastor or priest here and there that have joined the anti traditional marriage cause?  Yes you can. But in most cases they lead small congregations with very little influence beyond that congregation.  And even in some of those congregations, long time members are just waiting for them to move on; and they (the members) remain – not because they share their pastor’s viewpoint, but rather because this has been their home church for decades, and they do not want to leave it.  As one who helps lead the pastors fellowship in our region (3 cities) and has been very involved with the pastors on the Central Coast (15 cities?) for my 18+ years here, I happen to know that what is true in my city is true in all of these cities = the great majority of congregations are not wavering on this issue, and are convinced that heterosexual marriage is God’s clear design for family and society from the very beginning, and is worth being persecuted for.

So back to my question: Where do we go from here?  Well I have several suggestions: First of all, we must all learn to ignore those in mainstream media who try to intimidate and defeat us by their ongoing proclamations that this “change” is inevitable.  If California can vote for traditional marriage twice in the last decade with the media, Hollywood and the California Teachers Association (among other loud voices) vehemently against us, then it is certainly not inevitable.   Truth has a way of weathering storms.   Second, we must learn to ignore polls.  In most of these 32 states, the pre-election polls led us to believe the anti traditional marriage folk were going to win or were at least tied with the pro-traditional marriage folk.  Over the years I have seen this with other elections as well.  Polls in general cannot be trusted.   Especially the way mainstream media have learned to manipulate them.  Third,  we men must get back to loving our wives and being more involved in the lives of our children so that our marriages are walking examples of why heterosexual marriage is foundational and good for society; and so that our children can learn to live by principle and not by polls.  

Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, hypocrisy & absurdity

Lots of turbulence in the airwaves these days re: Rush Limbaugh’s diatribe towards Sandra Fluke. I stopped listening to Rush about 20 years ago; not because I didn’t agree with some of his positions on issues; but rather because of the way he treated people, and because of the cynicism and sarcasm that much of his commentaries were laced with. Pretty early in my ministry here at LOCF I exhorted our men to do the same. I know a number of them also have begun to be more careful about listening to commentators who spew poisonous attitudes – regardless of whether their position is right or not. The end never justifies the means in the kingdom of God; but some commentators on both the left and the right have not learned that important lesson.

But my concern tonight is not Rush. I think by now he has been flogged sufficiently, and hopefully sees the consequences of a tongue that is not tamed (see James 3:5-8).

My concern is rather two-fold. First I must marvel at the absolute hypocrisy of the left in all of a sudden claiming to be such protectors and defenders of women. And rather than go into that, check out Michelle Malkin’s article on www.townhall.com entitled, “The War on Conservative Women.”

My second concern is how because of Rush’s stupidity and lack of self control, he lost the opportunity to make the point he was trying to make, which is the absurdity of the complaint Sandra Fluke made about the medical or health insurance afforded her by Georgetown University. And rather again than trying to wax eloquent on that, I would encourage you to check out Cathy Ruse’s commentary on www.wjs.com (Wall Street Journal). It was in yesterday’s issue (March 6^th). And it was entitled, “Limbaugh and our Phony Contraception Debate”. I read today that it was the most emailed Wall Street commentary ever on their website. I'm not surprised.

Traditional Marriage - A Losing Battle?

This letter - submitted on 2/13/12 in response to Joe Tarica’s Article of 2/12/12 in the Tribune has so far (2/19) not been published. My little editing team and I worked for hours to get it where we all felt good about it and it was not over 200 words. Joe's article on the front page of the Sunday Local section was a classic bullying kind of article trying to convince traditional marriage folk that our cause is doomed and our motives are hate and fear based.

The battle some of us have been fighting for decades is a difficult battle, but certainly not a “losing one”. The fact that 63 million people in all 31 states that have voted on this issue have sided with traditional marriage doesn’t exactly spell defeat does it?

One of the many reasons why some of us in this nation have been defending traditional marriage is because of what the preponderance of social science reveals regarding the impact a female mother and a male father have on their children. Growing up in a home where both the mother and father are intact and working together results in a child’s best chance to live a healthy and prosperous and productive life. Therefore educators and pastors and therapists need to be able to pursue and encourage this model without being labeled “homophobic” or “fear mongering.”

Finally comparing one’s chosen behavior to another’s immutable characteristics such as being born as an African American is getting wearisome. People continue to leave or depart from their homosexual lifestyle. No African American that I am aware of has been able to depart from the ethnicity they were born in.

Prop 8/Gay Marriage in CA Musings

Today a 3 judge panel of the 9th U.S. circuit court of appeals rendered their long awaited decision re: the constitutionality of Prop 8, where 52% of Californians voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman. They decided 2 to 1 to nullify our vote. Most of us who have watched this saga over the years expected nothing less from a court whose decisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court more than any other court body in our nation. As expected their decision will now be appealed either to the full 9th U.S. circuit court of appeals or to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, gay marriage proponents are rejoicing in the streets; and the millions of Americans who have voted to uphold marriage between a man and a woman in all 31 states where it has been allowed to be voted for are wondering - what good is our constitutionally guaranteed and protected vote if a handful of activist judges can overturn it whenever it conflicts with their personal agenda?

The U.S. Supreme Court on the whole appears to respect the constitution and especially the will of the people. So the general expectation by many of us is that they will honor our majority vote. But who knows how long that will take??

Ultimately my hope is not in any human court or judge, but rather in THE JUDGE, who always judges with absolute righteousness, truth, impartiality and goodness. He will have the last word. And He is mercifully giving more time to all of us to repent of our hardheartedness and rebellion before it is too late. That was the root issue He dealt with - with the Pharisees when they pressed Him for loopholes to divorce any women they were bugged with (see Matthew 19:2-9). And it is the root issue with all who are pressing for same sex marriage to be made the law of the land.

Latest non published letter to area newspapers

This was a letter I sent to the Tribune, New Times and Bay News on Monday Jan. 23rd. None of them published it as of today = Feb. 7th - my 31st wedding anniversary. (The New Times & Bay News both published this letter on Feb. 9th).

You could have heard a pin drop....I asked the ladies in our congregation yesterday (Jan. 22) if they would be willing to share why they are pro-life; and why we should protect the unborn and discourage abortion. No one knew this was coming, and no one knew what to expect. One shared our of her years of experience working in a crisis pregnancy center of the great need for education for these (mostly young) pregnant and scared ladies. Few knew of the remarkable formation of a distinct human being - - even in its first month in its mother's womb. One spoke of her gratitude towards her mother, who though pregnant outside of wedlock with her at 16 years old, (50+ yrs. ago), chose not to abort. And how because of that she was able to not only live, but have two daughters of her own, one of whom has already brought three wonderful grandchildren into her life. One spoke of the pain and grief she has experienced because she did abort a child out of her fear and panic, and the lack of support of a husband; and yet the forgiveness of God as she turned to Him in later years. One older lady spoke of how she had tried to abort her first daughter by drinking quinine from a drug store, but by God's mercy, it didn't take, and her daughter thrives to this day. One lady spoke of the day as a student nurse, she was asked to help with an abortion. She had no idea that she would see recognizable body parts being sucked down a tube, at the same time hearing in the next room - a baby crying as it was delivered to its waiting mother. Horrified at the experience she vowed she would never aid in the taking of a baby's life again. One spoke of how she was advised by the doctor doing her ultrasound that she should abort her child because this, her third son, would be born prematurely, if he even made it that far; and that he would probably be disabled or disfigured. She listened to her conscience instead, and he is a healthy happy eighth grader today.

Abortion is a terribly complicated and intensely emotional issue. The worst thing we can do is not talk about it. May our community be one where it is safe to get this issue out in the open; and where women who refuse to deny their baby the right to live get our full support in the birthing and raising of that baby.

Abortion and the conscience of our nation

Well writing on my blog is kind of like playing golf - both rarely happen. But something has been kind of stirring in me, so I'm going to see if I can put it into words, and I might even write a letter to an editor or two - who knows!

I originally started this blog because I began to see in scripture how much God cares for cities, and expects His church to serve and care for the cities in which she is placed. Cities are fragile things. Many forces fight against them. Jesus Christ will eventually judge each one of them for how they have conducted themselves, and how they have stewarded the opportunities and resources He entrusted to them.

They can and should be entities wherein individuals and families and communities can walk out their destinies and callings with some degree of safety, a sense of belonging, and being a part of something bigger than themselves. But unless righteous foundations are built and protected against these hostile forces, ("If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?" = Psalm 11:3), chaos, disorder and destruction will take root.

One of the crucial aspects to that righteous foundation that most of my blog revolves around is healthy heterosexual marriages. Because radical homosexual activists have sought to redefine and neuter marriage, and because many have cowered under their hostilities and threats, I've had no choice but to be vocal about this issue. You can read all of my former blogs if you want to get a gist of my concerns about that.

But another crucial aspect of a righteous foundation is that of a sensitive conscience as contrasted to a hardened one. For any family, community or city, state or nation for that matter to thrive, its leaders must have sensitive consciences. They must be people who abhor evil in all its forms, and who value life in all its forms. The devastation that comes from leaders who have hardened hearts or "seared" consciences cannot be overstated. The apostle Paul wrote of this danger to his young protege Timothy, when he said, "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron...." (I Timothy 4:1,2) The scriptures teach that demons hover over cities and one of their primary tools of destruction is that of spreading lies. And the people who buy these lies are those who have seared consciences. Over time these people have come to a place where their consciences have become deadened, and life has become cheapened. And sadly these people are often voted into high places of leadership and influence because of their gifting and image, rather than because of their character.

And no where in our society is this more prevalent than in those who call themselves "Pro-choice." There is no other way to explain how educated leaders of our society can be so passionate about making killing unborn babies legal than that their consciences have become so hardened over time that demons are now their mentors. I believe President Obama's (who I seek to pray for daily and his wife and his cabinet members and their spouses) primary mentors and instructors are demons. And the only way that could take place is because he has allowed his conscience to become stone cold through a series of small decisions over years. There is no other way to explain how a Black president could endorse full blown abortion when his own people are the greatest victims of this evil practice. Closer to home, the same can be said for Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Jerry Brown, and the Terminator, who as Governor made it easy for thousands of California babies to be terminated in his years in Sacramento.

Now for anyone that might be bored enough to read this, if you claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you and I must not allow this sad reality to cause our consciences to be seared and thus justify maligning or somehow taking justice into our own hands with such leaders. Ours is to pray for them and to give ourselves to making disciples of those who still have ears to hear. I may send a letter in their direction in the next few days. But I will work hard to make it respectful and objective rather than emotionally based (always with the editing expertise of my wife and perhaps another person or two in our congregation).

Ultimately our primary enemy in the battle to save unborn babies is Satan and his demons, not any political figure. Paul was very careful (once Jesus Christ got a hold of him) to fight the battles he was called to fight with spiritual weapons (not carnal or fleshly ones) (II Cor. 10:4).

The chief of those weapons is intercessory prayer, bathed in love, and grounded in the word of God.

I need to bring this to a close. I want to end by saying, if you belong to a local Christian congregation, and you are not discussing this from time to time from your pulpit, you are not fulfilling your purpose as a Christian congregation/church. Martin Luther King Jr. put it this way, "The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."

May the Lord of lords restore to our state and our nation a tender conscience. May we - the church - learn to love the things He loves, and hate the things He hates, while there is still time.

Dinner Table Talk

Tonight at the dinner table with my wife, mother in law, and daughter I learned that none of them had ever read my blog. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I rarely mention it around the house. And I rarely write in it. One of the reasons I write with such rarity is because as someone has so aptly said, "History belongs to the intercessors." If I only have so much time during a day and I haven't prayed sufficiently, I usually am going to choose to pray rather than write. The writer of the Proverbs said in ch. 10 vs. 19, "Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." Another Proverb has also challenged me in this regard, "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (14:23) I see prayer or intercession as the highest form of work and the most productive.

Now lest I mislead you, I do not pray as I should, though I pray every day and throughout the day.

Anyways you can learn a lot at the dinner table if you listen in between bites. :)