Years ago, when the homosexual agenda was starting to be pushed through our culture, I remember warning (along with many other Christian brothers and sisters) about this happening... That if the Christian community didn't start addressing the issue biblically, individuals practicing a homosexual lifestyle would be equated to a race - and as a race, they would be treated the same as Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Caucasians, etc. If homosexuality is genetic, then being homosexual would be equivalent (for legal purposes) to being of a specific cultural background. Now, see yesterday's quote below from Senator Mark Leno:
"Our current education code requires that the role and contributions of African, Asian, Mexican, Native, European Americans, women and other traditionally overlooked communities be included in our school curriculum. All this bill does is adds that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Americans, along with those from the disability community, also have their roles and contributions included in our curriculum."
Do you see what has happened? Being LBG or T is now equated with being an ethnicity or another form of genetically assigned characteristic (such as disabled, "male," or "female"). However, scientific study and homosexual activists have yet to prove that gender preference is strictly genetic or biological in nature. For my thoughts on homosexuality from a biblical perspective and on the social, spiritual, and biological angles on the topic, please read these blogs from an earlier date:
I obviously have some biblical problems with this new curriculum. But over the past two weeks, I have heard numerous commentators and interviewees speak for the legislation on the basis that many "Christian" communities have adapted their historic stands on homosexuality to fit the culture in which we live. "Christian" denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Metropolitan Community Church, various breakaways from the Pentecostal denomination, the United Church of Christ, and the Episcopal church in America take pro-homosexual stands in the name of Jesus. By their conformation to the standards of our culture, they are misrepresenting the text of the Bible and the Savior of mankind. When the pages of the Bible are edited, reinterpreted, or ignored in an effort to make its message more palatable or acceptable among any culture, the authority of the Word of God is compromised and the repercussions are dire.
Shame on us Christians for allowing the message of the gospel to be so grotesquely miscommunicated that pseudo-intellectuals in the biblical realm can twist the message about God's redemptive plan into a politically correct, inclusive, excusatory treatise on all things "ex-sinful." How are we to blame? By not standing for Truth in the midst of error. Things like this don't happen overnight. At first, we didn't see homosexuality as a serious threat to the message about Christ. Then, we were confronted by the reality that our friends and family members were the ones practicing homosexuality and we were tolerant of its sin without communicating the salvific truth revealed in scripture. And now, we are sleeping in the bed of inclusion that we began to make so tolerantly years ago.
I also have some cultural uneasiness with this legislation. Firstly, the new curriculum is to span the entire public school system from grades K-12. I don't see the need to teach Kindergarten children about sexuality on any level. It has never been a priority that these children (or ANY children spanning the gamut of age or grade level) learn the heterosexual practices of historical figures, and I don't see how it is beneficial, other than to promote a pro-homosexual agenda, to teach these children the sexual practices of historical figures now. And I don't think I'm alone on this...
Because secondly, I believe the exponential increase in the number of children being homeschooled or private-schooled should reveal the discontent over practices, policies, and curricular content of the public school system within the average American home. I have dear friends who are public educators. I myself obtained a degree in public education and was certified to teach in Texas schools at all levels. It is a profession I hold in high regard. But if the liberal agenda is continued to be shoved through our public school systems, the American public WILL (I would hope anyway) respond with conviction by providing a different avenue of education for their children.
Thirdly, if sexuality has a place in public education, it is definitely NOT in the History department. I disagree with sex education in the schools. I believe it is the job of the parents in the home to educate their children on these matters. But if sex education has a place in the school system, it would more appropriately belong in the Health or Biology departments. Why is the legislation putting this curriculum in the History department? - Because biologically and anatomically, homosexuality does not make sense. The proof to which they are appealing is that certain popular historical figures practiced homosexual behavior on some level. Through this legislation... on the basis of historical and societal appeal, demoralization of a culture will occur.
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Where does this leave us now? Christian, it's time you stand for your biblical convictions in the face of opposition and even societal estrangement. I have many friends who are homosexual, some of them, whom I'm sure, are reading this blog. And I have tried very hard to convey to them my heartfelt convictions about their lifestyle. They know where I stand on the issue, and we are able to have dialogue about it. I, nor any other true Christian leader, would ever endorse violent or uncivil actions against homosexuals or any other person living in sin against God. We are to love... and to speak the truth out of that love.
Christian, allow me to let you in on some insight for our future...
1. The homosexual issue is not going away.
Quietly hiding behind a veil of "love and tolerance" and turning a blind eye or a deaf ear toward the homosexual agenda is not working. My children and your children will be faced with the imminence of the homosexual lifestyle and debate. If we are going to reach our lost world and offer them real hope that can only be found in Christ Jesus, we need to accept that the LGBT issue is present and real. Maybe that should shape the way we address sexuality with our children. Maybe that should bring new levels of conviction concerning the TV shows we watch or the places we frequent. Whatever the implications, know that the emergence of these kinds of legislations - as coupled with a generally universalistic approach to spirituality in America - is quickly bringing the homosexual issue to its apex.
2. Because the issue is increasingly intrusive, we should know what we believe and why we believe it.
God has called us to be salt and light. If the salt loses its flavor, what good is it? If you hide your light behind anything at all, it cannot be seen. What do you believe the Bible teaches about homosexuality? What did Jesus teach? And how do you reconcile that truth with the claims of our culture? You WILL BE confronted with the issue multiple times in the future (if you haven't already been). What will you say when one of your best friends reveals that he has homosexual tendencies? How will you react when your daughter defends homosexuality in a History project? We must live in reality. We should always be aware of our own cultural tendencies and what the Bible teaches about them. And we should be ready, in season and out of season, whether convenient or not, to give a reason for the hope that we have in Christ. Are you ready?
3. In the very near future, Christians in America will be persecuted for their stand against homosexuality.
Because homosexuality is being equated with genetic traits, any word against it will be considered hate speech. Telling someone that homosexuality is wrong and sinful will VERY SOON be met with the same resistance as telling someone it's wrong and sinful to be brown. Many of us will be fined or tried, convicted, and incarcerated for hate speech or for denying equal rights to homosexual couples. At the very least, many of us will be ostracized from our own culture. We will be the quack jobs of the post-postmodern world. And at that time we will have to choose either to stand on biblical truth or to conform to the culture around us.
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In closing, I would like to re-post the last paragraph of my earlier blog, Homosexuality, the Biblical Perspective (Part 2). It was a short letter to my homosexual friends:
The Bible is the standard of truth for Christians... therefore, it is inconsistent and hypocritical for a Christian to support or agree with homosexuality.
However, I would like for you to know that God loves you with an everlasting love. He created you specially and wonderfully for His glory. You are significant to Him. So significant in fact, that He gave His own life to satisfy the penalty for sin - yours and mine alike. I was a liar. I was a thief. I was an adulterer at heart. But now I'm a new creation. I still struggle with those desires sometimes, but I have a God who is faithful to walk along side me as a Counselor, and who is also able and willing to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness if I'll only confess it, and agree with Him that it is indeed sin (1 John 1:9).
I don't hate you. And no true Christian would. In fact, I'm not "wierded out" by you or angry with you either. I love you. Really, I do. And if the Bible is reliable and accurate, then the perfect plan that God has for your life will never be actualized until you rid yourself of what He declares to be sin, and place your life in Him. He offers you eternal life, and an abundant, purposeful life here. Becoming a Christian doesn't magically take away our sinful desires, but God does promise the gift of the Holy Spirit who will dwell within you and provide you with truth, comfort, and conviction to help you along your journey.
Grace and Peace,
Tony
God did not instruct us to be accepting or tolerant; He did instruct us to be loving and forgiving.
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