Tarheel Baptist said:
But it seems that since these issues were identified as political issues, that we must be careful what we say about them.
And, we shouldn't align ourselves politically with those who 'oppose' these sins...that we offend some by such action!
I say BULL!
I cannot and will not support any candidate or political party that officially endorses either...i.e....the Democrats!
And the fact that abortion and gay rights are admitedly a part of their political agenda makes me their political opposite.
And, frankly, I don't understand where I'm wrong, Biblically,morally or politically.
But I'm sure someone will attempt to 'set me straight'! 8)
I absolutely agree that homosexuality and abortion are wrong.
Abortion is murder and is an act of aggression against another human being. I will not support any candidate that makes light of this issue, does not believe life begins at conception, or believes that abortion should be acceptable for
X weeks after conception.
Abortion should be handled the way murder is handled: the federal government sets (or clarifies) the statute, and the states handle and codify the prescriptions and consequences in compliance.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God despite what some here may attempt to argue. It goes against God's clearly established institution of marriage from the creation. It also deprives children of the benefits of the roles of mother and father. This does not mean that single parent homes are in sin, but that any female parent should be a true
mother and any male parent should be a true
father.
Now, as far as the legal side of this, I can find myself at odds with the theonomists at some points. I absolutely agree that we should not condone any government "recognizing" homosexual "mOarriage" for any reason. I would never give my support for something that flies in the face of God's clearly defined institution.
I would prefer that governments get out of the business of codifying "marriage."
Marriage is a covenant union of commitment between one man and one woman in the sight of God, not necessarily a secular state. When we try to make pagans mock our sacred institution by secular law, we jeopardize the purity and testimony that we can have as salt and light in being different from the world. It takes much more effort for us to express the holiness of marriage to the world when they can claim the same status from carnality. Many in the world who get a marriage license do not even regard it for anything other than a tax benefit or claim on property rights. Many just "shack up" anyway, and many that get marriage licenses find themselves getting divorce lawyers not long afterward.
So much focus is on homosexual "marriage" when the
real problem is homosexuality
itself. It is not a license that God calls "an abomination," but rather the actual acts of intercourse. I, just as much as many here, would love to have homosexuality gone. The issue, then, is what is our duty as Christians to reduce it effectively. As Christians we should know that "the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart." Only
God can truly change the heart of a licentious person to follow His moral law. Since the real issue is not a secular license but the actions of the heart, the best remedy is preaching the gospel and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
Since the issue is homosexuality itself, how do we prevent this through law. The actions are private, and any
preventative law would necessarily be draconian and could unduly punish someone who is not a homosexual. Laws that try to regulate consensual, personal behavior rather than deal with the effects on people in so far as they infringe on the will of others can further harden wicked hearts against God. Intrusive, draconian laws that try to regulate personal behavior can turn sinners into martyrs for their cause, further increasing their ability to turn law to their lopsided benefit. Of course, consequences of such "relationships" should be allowed to be tried in court.
I also would never support the legal ability of homosexual "couples" to adopt and rear children, as this would infringe on the rights of young children to have real parents without their ability to object.
!