“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
Acts 5:29 NIV I have always tried to keep politics off of this blog. I’m not afraid of politics, but this blog only addresses spiritual matters. That’s how this post wound up on here. There is a possibility that the U.S. Congress could pass a bill which would connect preaching against any protected class of people mentioned in “Hate Crimes” legislation. I woke up to this on Fox News this morning: [kaltura-widget wid="5lo9jiz9e0" width="410" height="364" addpermission="3" editpermission="3" /] Focus on the Family gave this press release this morning as well:
The U.S. House is expected to vote Wednesday on legislation that would create a new class of crimes based on the victim’s “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” For years, Focus on the Family and other pro-family groups have issued warnings about federal hate-crimes legislation. The reality is that those who speak out against homosexuality could face prosecution for “inciting” violence against gay individuals. Bash Back, a Seattle-based militant homosexual group, recently vandalized Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, Wash., because it was hosting a Christian apologetics conference. The real target? Ken Hutcherson, whose nearby Antioch Bible Church co-sponsored the April 17-18 event. Hutcherson is an outspoken defender of biblical truths about sexuality and gender. Bash Back justified its actions this way: “We remember the countless (homosexuals) that have been murdered as a result of the sick bigotry spewing from Ken Hutcherson’s pulpit. He may not have tied the noose, pulled the trigger or thrown his fist, but his words have encouraged others to do so.” (emphasis mine)
I’ve been concerned about this ever since I heard about it. Strangely, the first I have heard about it was this morning. You would think this legislation would be known. But, because there are only a few news outlets who will print or produce news which could affect Believers, we don’t get much warning. What I am not afraid of, is going to jail for the Gospel of Christ and Paul’s condemnations of homosexuality. As the representative from Iowa said, I don’t fear it in the near future, but I never figured our Pop society becoming as perverse has it has become. What will happen in a few years when this “protected class” of citizens claim The Bible caused crimes against them. Will we have to tear up our scriptures? Will the “Good Book” be banned in Boston, Bartlesville, and Broken Arrow? Or will publishers such as Zondervan and the International Bible Society going to be banned from making commentaries and Bibles which have verbiage which this “protected class” can point toward to get monetary criminal rewards? Will I go to jail in the near future? Probably not. But, the next generation may have to eliminate weddings altogether because the church refuses to marry gays. Politically corrected Bibles will be the only ones allowed to be printed. Many other provisions will have to be made to keep Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and pastors from being held responsible by the “protected class”. I am concerned, my friends, very concerned.
Okay, you made your moral equivalence…
The point of this thread is without provisions in the law, anything, any human does, which gains the favor of lawmakers, can be a part of a protected class of people. Thereby, giving the police state the right to arrest anyone who caused an offender to “think” the way they do. In the scenario, a preacher could quote scripture, a listener take it to mean something it doesn’t, and then commit a crime. The preacher would be held just as liable as the person who committed the crime…for contributing to a “hate crime.”
“There is nothing in the Bible that proposes two people of the same gender can’t share a love for one another that is as profound as a love between a man and a woman.”
In the face of what you are saying, I believe you are correct. It is with modern increments of meaning which has perverted our simple understanding of affection and love for each other of the same gender.
Paul’s references to homosexuality all refer to “acts of homosexuality”. Which is the separation of the sin from the person. (Homosexuality was actually TAUGHT in ancient times.) Something which those outside of Christ, have a hard time making sense of. Paul condemns acts of homosexuality, not homosexuals. In references where modern interpreters have noted the use of “homosexual” as the object, the Greek rendering is a generic term for “pervert.” The context of the writing points towards homosexuals, but does not expressly point there.
Therefore, if two women loved each other, such as Ruth and Naomi, today’s perverse society would immediately ask if there were sexual relations between the two who obviously loved each other deeply. David and Jonathan were similar.
THE MAIN POINT
The article is not about the interpretation of what is homosexuality. (as you know). It is in regards to how our perverse society protects one class of people over another. The Bible is a moral guide. Therefore, it speaks strongly about immoral behavior. Any classification which our HUMAN GOVERNMENT wants to place as a protected class of people (as in ‘hate crimes’ which punish people for thinking wrongly in THEIR view.) can become classified as such, and thereby can be interpreted as “hate speech.”
For example: The Bible is quite clear that the ideal family is one man and one woman raising children. If a single woman, or single man decides he/she wants to adopt a child, and the state approves the adoption… then, someone from a pastor’s church scrawls “get married” on his/her garage door, the pastor could be held responsible for preaching “hate” against single parenting. Ergo, arrested and potentially convicted of “hate crimes.”
The fulcrum of judgment teeters on who the government classifies as a “protected class” of people…homosexuals, Jews, single parents, convicted felons, vegans, atheists…who? The classification is the central point. Who deserves the power of the police state over another person?