Survey on People’s View of Same-Sex Marriage

Interesting new research from Lifeway about people’s view of same-sex marriage. I think one of the main points about the article is that it is viewed as a civil rights issue. In other words, the issue of same-sex marriage is on the same level as non-discrimination against others for race, gender, religion, etc. according to the majority of opinions in this survey.

As followers of Christ, we should understand that there are implications on many levels due to this shift in opinion. Understand I’m the type of person who thinks about possible implications to a decision and what the end result might be. In that vein, here are a few questions we should be considering and some next step questions that fall underneath these questions (in no particular order):

What does this mean for our culture in general?
Can government force business owners, landlords, etc. who are opposed to homosexuality on religious grounds to violate their religious conscience and accommodate homosexual couples? 

What does this mean for marriage since the government can define it any way they want?
Does this mean three (or more) people can get married? Brother and sister? (sounds crazy but remember the criteria is that two or more people are in love)

How do we teach our children to view this issue in light of the strong cultural pressure that is coming?
How will this affect what is taught in our public schools?

How do churches adapt to this shift in worldview?
How many churches will hold to the truth of the Bible in the face of cultural opposition?
How do we reach people for Christ when they believe same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue?
Will pastors who preach that homosexuality is a sin be accused of “hate speech?”

What does it mean? I don’t really know. I do know we need to be working on addressing these issues. I certainly have my opinion about these and other questions that are coming because of this potential shift in culture. The purpose of my post is to get you thinking about the implications and offer a few words of encouragement.

• Pray- This is a spiritual issue more than a political or cultural issue. Ask God for wisdom and pray for our leaders to have wisdom on this issue.

• Study God’s Word- We need to have God’s heart and mind on these issues. That only happens by being in relationship with Him and hearing His voice from Scripture.

• Speak to people with compassion and love- We will not change the culture’s view on this issue by screaming louder than them. We must speak the truth in love and have a genuine discussion about why we believe what we believe. Our goal is to allow the Holy Spirit, through our words and deeds, to reveal what is true, knowing we can’t argue them into believing something but must allow them to be won over to truth.

Isaiah 55:10 (NASU) “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding [in the matter] for which I sent it. 

It will be God who brings about the results He desires, not us. We should be found faithful telling others the truth and loving our neighbor as our self.

Finally, our ultimate goal is not to change people’s behavior. A person’s greatest need is not changed behavior but a changed heart. That can only be accomplished when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Even as we discuss topics like this, we must be looking for opportunities to share the Gospel with others. (See 1 Peter 3:8-18)

Thinking theologically about politics

I could not resist posting about the upcoming elections. However, as a pastor I’m going to resist the urge to tell you which person is theright person to vote for (though I will certainly tell you in a private conversation!) What I want to do is to help you think about voting and politics from a biblical/theological perspective.

The best book I have read on this topic is Wayne Grudem’s Politics According to the Bible. I will quote him often. I like this book because he articulates very well much of what I have thought about politics. Everyone likes being told they are right! More importantly, he helped frame the issues for people to see them in a theological context.

Grudem bases his arguments for certain policies from three positions. These are explained on pages 18 & 19 of the introduction.
1. Clear, direct, and decisive principles from the Bible
2. Arguments from broader biblical principles
3. An appeal to relevant facts in the world

Position one is “unassailable” in that God has clearly spoken on the issue. To take a different position is to oppose God’s revealed word.
Position two is based on the totality of Scripture and though there may be some area of discussion, the principles in Scripture appear to address the issue.
Position three is based on observations in the world and others may take the same facts and draw different conclusions. These arguments should be informed by positions 1 & 2.

I urge you to stop using thirty second sound bites to lead your decision-making and to let Scripture be the primary source from which you start thinking about issues and candidates. I’m not telling you how to think, but that here is what I’m concluding based on my understanding of the Bible. Voting is not about feelings or external factors. Voting is exercising a responsibilty to vote in a way that reflects, as much as possible, the values revealed in Scripture.

Again, Dr. Grudem says it better and I will end with this quote:
“I am cerainly not claiming that the Bible also supports all the facts that I cite about the world today. Readers are free to evaluate and search out evidence about those factual questions themselves. What I am doing in each chapter, however, is to say that if my understanding of these facts is correct, then the teachings of the Bible seem to me to lead to one conclusion or another about the specific issue under discussion.” (Politics, Grudem, 19)

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.

Killing Babies No Different Than Abortion

I know the headline seems outrageous. You may be thinking this is some attempt to get attention, but the sad reality is the title of this posting is the title of the article I’m referencing. In case you have not read the story, you can click on the title of this posting and read an article in the Telegraph. In the article, two doctors argue that killing a newborn is no different than an abortion, so they are advocating that people should be able to kill newborns.

Let me say that again, They make the argument that killing a new born is no different than an abortion, so they are advocating that people should be allowed to kill newborns.

Dr. Al Mohler does a great job of explaining the moral and ethical issues involved. Read his blog here.

What I would like to remind you is that as followers of Christ, we must be diligent about knowing where we are to draw the line as to what is right and wrong. The argument stated by these authors is the natural conclusion to abortion. When the moral foundation for making a decision is man-made (life begins at birth), then the line can be moved by man as well.

Too many people who claim the name of Christ remain silent on abortion because of some foolish notion that Christians should not be “imposing” their moral views on other people. Abortion is not some morally ambiguous action equivalent to drinking alcohol or smoking a cigarette. The taking of an innocent life is fundamentally wrong because it violates God’s blessing of life to those made in His image (Genesis 1:26-30 and Genesis 9:5-6).

So, what should Christians know and do about the issue of abortion?

1. Know your Bible. The two passages noted above are foundational for understanding why we are to protect life. We don’t argue against abortion because it makes us feel good. We argue against abortion because it is morally repugnant to a Holy and Righteous God.
2. Love those who are considering an abortion or had an abortion. A woman considering an abortion is not going to be screamed or shamed to make the right decision. On the other hand, a wise, godly person can lovingly provide information to help her make an informed choice. More importantly, that wise counselor can point the woman facing an abortion to the God who created us and the Holy Spirit can guide her to making a God-honoring decision of choosing life.
3. Know who is running of for political office and vote accordingly. The issue of abortion is, ultimately, a spiritual issue that can only be overcome through the transformation of the Holy Spirit. However, politics still plays a role in this issue. All other things being equal, vote for the person who champions life. This does not mean you vote for the person who says, “I’m personally against abortion, but I think women should be allowed to choose what happens to their body.” (That is so stupid it is beyond comprehension. What they are saying is “I’m personally against murder, but I think women should be allowed to choose whether or not they murder their unborn child.”)
4. Support people and organizations who help women facing this issue. Not everyone is called to counsel a woman or couple facing this decision, but you can help those organizations that are called and qualified. Of course, I would say support Hope Women’s Centers if you live in Broward County, Florida!

The words of Martin Niemöller remind us of the price paid for our indifference. He said the following quote in regard to how the church responded to the Nazis in Germany in the 1930’s.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

We cannot remain silent on this issue. Issues like abortion seem so distant, but it is but the first part of a slippery slope if not addressed. Abortion has led to an acceptance of euthanasia in some countries, now it is leading to some openly advocating infanticide. That is one small step from getting rid of the “weak” and the “diseased,” then it is a matter of time until it moves to the “undesirables.” We must stand on this issue, not because it directly affects you and me, but because it is a fundamental moral issue that we cannot surrender.

Article about Role of Scripture in America’s Founding

Just read a good article about the importance of a biblical foundation has had on our country. I would suggest you read the article to see how the author lays out his argument.

The most intriguing aspect of his article is how he adeptly argues that a democracy without a spiritual grounding is doomed to failure. We are seeing the slow decline of our culture as an ethic grounded in Scripture and God’s providence is replaced with a secular humanist worldview the is based upon “rights” that somehow appeared without any grounding in God.

Christianity is first and foremost about God doing for man what he could not do for himself.  Jesus came and died for all who would believe in His death on the Cross as our substitute. Along with that faith in Him, God calls us to live responsibly, provide for our family, care for those in need, and to love our neighbor.

This is the kind of article that should serve as a reminder to all believers that our worldview must be shaped by Scripture. Once we let other influences be the primary filter of how we view the world, we will slide into an ethical pit from which we can never recover.

Scary Decision in the UK

You may think the issue of whether or not marriage is between one man and one woman is not an issue that affects you, but a recent decision in the UK reveals otherwise. The case is of a man who was fired from his counseling job because he would not provide therapy for a homosexual couple. The man refused to do so because he felt that to provide the counseling would violate his Christian beliefs.

You can read the story for yourself  by clicking the title above. Two amazing things stand out in the judges decision. One, he totally ignores the man’s right to live out his religious faith in the workplace. Near the end of the article, the judge says (in essence) that a person can believe whatever they want, they just can’t let it affect what they do!

Secondly, he says that if the man was to live out his faith by refusing to provide the counseling, the state is imposing Christianity on others. Again, this is just unbelievable mental and verbal gymnastics. The counselor, who is Christian, is admonished for “imposing” his beliefs on others by refusing to do something. On the other hand, the judge does not see that the by forcing the counselor to provide the service, he is, in fact, imposing the beliefs of the couple on the Christian.

Our world has gone crazy. This judge railed against a non-existent imposition of Christian beliefs over and above other beliefs, then he actually elevates beliefs that are opposed to Christianity over and above Christianity. As believers in the United States, we must realize this is coming our way. The question is not “if” it will happen, but “when” will it happen?

We must engage people in the marketplace of ideas and offer an apologetic for our faith and our values. We are called to share the truth in love. Truth is not a club used to beat people over the head. Truth is like a laser that carefully removes falsehood from a person’s heart and mind to allow room for the truth to replace the lie. You want to change your culture? It does not happen by forcing people to change their behavior, it happens by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform a person’s mind, then they will be led to change their behavior.

Review of Culture Shift

A great book on which to start learning more about the changes taking place in our culture, and how to respond to those changes is written R. Albert Mohler Jr. titled, Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth. The topics he covers are far-reaching: politics, law, genetics, public schools, atomic weapons, to name a few. He does so with great insight into the current reality of our culture, and he brings to bear God’s Word to help Christians know why the issues being addressed matter.

Of all the topics covered, the one area that he addresses that caused me to re-think my own position deals with public schools. I have always been an advocate of the decision about where a parent sends their child/children depends upon the make-up and needs of each individual child. Public school, private school, and home school are all equally valid options.

Though they all remain as valid options, Dr. Mohler’s essay helped me envision a time when the public option may no longer be as good an option as the others. Not because of the quality of teachers. There are many fine teachers in our schools today, Christian and non-Christian. However, as the school boards start mandating more and more topics that are addressed in schools that fall outside what Christian parents should allow their children to be taught, it may be that leaving public schools might be the right answer.

How do we avoid having to make this decision? Be involved in our public schools. We need good Christian teachers who will stand for truth. We need qualified Christians running for public office. Not to be a “Christian public official”, but to be a public official serving all of the community, whose worldview is Christian.

Go buy this book, read it, and give it to others.

Capitalism = Political freedom

Janet Daley wrote a great article about economics, politics, and democracy today that is great. As you start reflecting on The Truth Project, you may want to read this article to remind yourself about The American Experiment. In fact, she refers to America in those very terms.

I found the article very interesting on several levels. My initial reaction to the article was how she was able to distinguish the nuances of the ideas between capitalism and socialism. As people of “the Word”, we must always remember that words matter. We must be precise in the words we use and not be sloppy with the meaning. Ms. Daley’s article reminds us to choose our words carefully and get clarification from others when they are imprecise with their words.

Another aspect of the article that struck me was her grasp of the linkage between politics and economics. She correctly identifies that what most people identify as economic discussions are in fact political discussions. Many of the woes in our economy are not due to “economic” problems but political interference in the area of economics. Ms. Daley rightly points out that when there is free exchange within the economy, there is an inherent set of checks and balances that take place. (Not instantaneously, but there are corrective mechanisms to keep power in check.)

Finally, the article is interesting to read because it is an “outsiders” perspective on the American Experiment. She has a better grasp of the basics our government than most Americans, at least the founding principles. Although, I would disagree with her view of America’s willingness to give up freedoms. I see far too many people who are willing to sign away freedom in order to fulfill their own self-interest.

I would highly encourage you to read this article. I’m making a copy of the article for myself to keep for future reference and to give away to people who “just don’t get it” when it comes to capitalism, politics, and freedom.