A bill in Congress
The message to pastors and other Christians: Just shutup!
If we don’t aggressively oppose a bill now in Congress, in the near future we will be subject to huge fines and prison terms if we say anything negative about homosexuality. We will have a situation similar to Canada where even parts of the Bible itself are considered hate language. The proposed law would make it a crime to preach on Romans Chapter 1 or I Corinthians Chapter 6. Even a discussion of these passages in a Sunday School class would be a crime. If we want to keep the government from telling us what we can and cannot preach and teach about homosexuality, we better get involved now!
House bill H.R. 1592 which currently has 171 co-sponsors and Senate bill S. 1105 has 43 sponsors. You can read the context of Senate bill S. 1105 here. These bills would make negative statements concerning homosexuality, such as calling the practice of homosexuality a sin from the pulpit, a “hate crime” punishable by law. This dangerous legislation would take away our freedom of speech and our freedom of religion. Consider what has already happened. A California lawsuit which is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court would make the use of the words “natural family,” “marriage” and “union of a man and a woman” a “hate speech” crime in government workplaces. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. If we do not speak out now, we will not be able to speak out in the future.
Pastor - I noticed no South Carolinians from either body have cosponsored these bills. Even so, it is apparent that the enemy has blinded many an eye to the Truth about homosexuality. I’m certain some people have said “Jesus didn’t condemn homosexuality”. I haven’t had anyone say that to me yet but if I did I would respond “He certainly did. He said, ‘Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.’ Matthew 5:17 (NASB). I would then point them to the Law about which He spoke and came to fulfill: ‘You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.’ Leviticus 18:22 (NASB).” Of course, I would only respond this way. When I take the initiative to speak to someone about Jesus, I will only focus on the nature of our sin as it is seen in our lies and our hatred for others, for example. John
Comment by John Paulk — June 16, 2007 @ 3:49 am
Before you make up your mind about the Hate Crimes Bill, I invite you to spend some time with the experiences of hate crime victims at http://www.hatecrimesbill.org.
Comment by Antony — June 16, 2007 @ 5:10 am
Thank you for your comment, Antony. However, I disagree with you. This law violates a person’s right to free speech and freedom of religion. I may disagree with what you say but I respect your right to say it. I don’t condone the crying of “Fire!” in a crowded theater nor do I condone the call for violence against any person but as past experience has shown, there has been a very strong trend to enforce hate crime laws only when they single out Christians. As I have mentioned, in Canada, it has been used to silence the Church on the issue of homosexuality. Now, in California, the courts are ruling that saying “one man and one woman is a marriage” is a hate crime. Where does it stop? An appeal to emotions doesn’t necessary make for good laws. It amazes me that the first ones to cry out for the separation of Church and state in Congress are the first ones to try to regulate the Church. This is nothing more to left-wing attempt to legislate their morality by silencing those who disagree with them.
Comment by Quinn Hooks — June 16, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
This is all written about in the Holy Bible. A sign of the times. We have been seeing the beginning of birth pangs for awhile now. If you don’t know what that means, please look it up in the Holy Bible!
If it’s a battle for you, fight the good fight.
peace
Comment by keith — May 13, 2008 @ 3:19 am