Things NOT better yet!
Let me begin this latest blog by apologizing to the three people who actually read this blog. I have been swamped with being a father, husband, pastor, and student, so my blog has taken a back seat. I don’t think anything is going to slow down in the near future, but I had a moment to write, so here it goes.
I am sure all here are familiar with the term, “Bully Pulpit.” Believe it or not, the term originally had nothing to do with a “pulpit” or a “bully.” The term was coined by Theodore Roosevelt and it actually had a positive meaning. That was news to me, because I am sure you know the term as I do. We talk about a “Bully Pulpit” when someone misuses a position of authority in order to intimidate others.
Although this is tactic is used all the time, I believe this particular incident upon which I am blogging is really quite different for two reasons.
- The Bully Pulpit was utilized by a man who stated he was adamantly against bullying.
- I wrote about this being the case almost one year ago to the date.
Although not a household name, Dan Savage (a columnist in Seattle), caught the attention of the country last year when his project, the “It Gets Better” campaign, went national. I first saw the commercial while watching an NBA playoff game. I went online to find out more about the organization. I will simply repost what I wrote one year ago concerning the “It Gets Better” website.
According to the It Gets Better Project website, because many young people are bullied each day, they have nowhere to turn. This is especially true for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) kids and teenagers. The site goes on to say, In many instances, gay and lesbian adolescents are taunted — even tortured — simply for being themselves. The site then lists the names of seven kids that committed suicide because they were gay or perceived to be gay by their peers. The next paragraph is as follows:
While many of these teens couldn’t see a positive future for themselves, we can. The “It Gets Better” Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years. The “It Gets Better” Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it WILL get better.
I clearly stated that I agreed with the campaign concerning bulling. The life we are called to live in Christ does not allow for us to physically abuse or verbally harass anyone. Oh Yeah, there was one more thing that I wrote about the campaign, so I want to repost what I KNEW to be true about the “It Gets Better” Project.
When it comes to the issue of bullying, I wholeheartedly agree with the “It Gets Better” Project, but that is not the real objective of the project. The reality is “It Gets Better” is a full-on, no-holds-barred promotion of the homosexual lifestyle.
Man, did that make some people upset.
How could I assert such a thing?
Here was a man (Dan Savage), with an honorable campaign promoting peace.
Dan wasn’t promoting an agenda; he simply wanted people to be tolerant of others.
I was certainly called many colorful names and my church labeled a “hate group.”
WELL, here we are one year later.
THE PULPIT: Addressing the National High School Journalism Conference
THE BULLY: Dan Savage
Invited to speak about anti-bullying at the National High School Journalism Conference, Dan Savage chose to use a student conference to berate and bully teenagers. Instead of speaking about tolerance and respect for people who are different, he attacked Christian kids and their beliefs.
Now here is where it gets even more interesting. Do you know what anti-bullying campaigns tell kids? I do. I have three kids. They are told, “If someone is bullying you, walk away and if possible find an adult.” In other words, don’t escalate the violence by fighting back, but instead, attempt to remove yourself from the situation. What did the Christian teenagers do as Dan Savage verbally assaulted them??? They got up from their seats, and walked out.
Now picture this.
There is an adult berating Christian teenagers for their beliefs.
These kids do what they have been told. They walk away.
AND WHAT DOES DAN SAVAGE DO?
He calls them pansy-assed. CORRECTION: Dan called their response (walking out) pansy-assed. Please note that Dan also stated that this is “a distinction without a difference.” So, my original post stands.
Later, Dan told the audience to tell those he ridiculed to come back because he was finished “beating up the Bible.” This statement was followed by hollering and cheering from students in the conference. So, he wasn’t beating up people, just the Bible? Can people just beat up on gay-rights and not homosexuals? I wonder if any of the future journalist caught that play on words and the intentional misconstruing of events.
Let’s see if I can put this in context for you. I shouldn’t have to say much about the character of Dan Savage. He exposed his true colors. He relished the opportunity to go after a bunch of kids, call them names, and make fun of them. The problem is that I am not sure which is worse, Dan Savage or the sponsors of the event [JEA (Journalism Education Association) and NSPA (National Scholastic PRess Association)]. Neither sponsoring group apologized for the attack, but rather said this to the future journalist.
“While as a journalist it’s important to be able to listen to speech that offends you, these students and advisers had simply reached their tolerance level for what they were willing to hear.” The JEA and the NSPA also said it was a “teachable moment.”
Dan later said that he had the “right to defend myself and to point out the hypocrisy of people who justify anti-gay bigotry by pointing to the Bible . . .” I guess the obvious question is, “Who attacked Dan at this conference?” Dan’s “tolerance” for those who disagree with him was most apparent when he referred to himself as the “middle-finger” to teachers and administrators who would not let him have access to schools in the past.
I believe the JEA and NSPA were right on one issue. This is a “teachable moment.”
- Tolerance is not a natural characteristic. Our natural reaction towards those who disagree with us is to lash out at them. Dan Savage demonstrated this quite well. Only with Christ can people truly love those who hate them. Dan fails to realize that it was Christ who rebuked even the ATTITUDE of intolerance in his apostles.
- The homosexual agenda is not about tolerance. The agenda is about removing, belittling, intimidating, and bullying all that disagree with the homosexual lifestyle. The movement is about presenting the sinful homosexual lifestyle as normal and anyone who disagrees is to be seen as ignorant, intolerant, and bigoted.
- Since the JEA and the NSPA are so concerned about students being able to “listen to speech that offends,” I cannot wait to see what credible evangelical Christian speaker will be asked to present next year. The Gospel is like the stench of death to those that are perishing. Evidently there were lots of cheers for Dan, just think about their reaction to the Gospel.
- Dan is upset because there were teachers and administrators that did not allow him access to schools and the students within. If my Christian values are not allowed, then why should Dan’s homosexual lifestyle be allowed?
- Lastly, at a conference upon which future journalist are attending, the JEA and the NSPA brought in a guy that spoke of biblical passages completely out of context (not one mention of the age, place, people groups, culture, etc . . .) and then these groups didn’t use it as a teachable moment about true and accurate journalism. Where was the teaching?
As our country continues to turn its back on not only Judeo-Christian values, but on Christ himself, this is the direction we will continue to go. My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the world that our children are facing. We better be about teaching our children the truth of scripture, because it is only a matter of time before they will be bullied from those that loath the Christian faith. I applaud those students who stood up, and walked out. Some of our children will most likely need to do the same in the future. Are we preparing them for this future?
Christ was tortured and hung on a cross and still said, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Dan couldn’t even handle the honor of standing in the “pulpit” at a conference without bullying children. Which would you have our teenagers emulate?
I was right on this issue before and so I’ll say it again. “Apart from Christ, things WILL NOT get better.”
Paul, I am happy you are back to your blogging ways. It is horrible how there is no way a Christian Pastor will be allowed to speak at one of those conferences because it will offend people yet they let someone in there that will belittle children. I have no doubt that the LGBT chilren are belittled and that is wrong. They need to be informed of what scripture tells of those actions, not abused for it. Thanks for as always being a pastor that will stand up for the Christian faith.
Just wanted to post this link if anyone is confused about what the bible says about homosexuality: http://carm.org/bible-homosexuality
I agree that bullying should never be condoned under any circumstance. Great post Paul!
-Ali
I read the news story on Friday night and was completely amazed at the hypocrisy from Dan Savage and the JEA/NSPA. Of course, in their eyes they did nothing wrong – it’ll be interesting to see the comments you get, Paul, defending Mr. Savage’s actions at this conference.
What is even more sad is people hold Savage as a great American leader. I have read countless comments on how he was in the right and the only ones offended by him are the “real” bullies. I think it is sickening when these people claim to know the truth and what is right when their truth is not based in anything but themselves.
The rebellion of people against God reaches deep gross levels. Even through such hypocrisy as this event that took place, the unbeliever in rebellion against God still chooses to say Savage’s words are morally right. This takes away all credit they have when claiming to be logical versus the claim they have the believer as illogical, doesn’t it?
Love your final comment, Paul.
“Apart from Christ, things WILL NOT get better.”
That’s the moral of the whole story. But IN CHRIST, we put our TRUST & HOPE. When I see how the world spins things, I remember that they are in darkness and being led by the prince of this world. But in the end CHRIST will have victory! And though it doesn’t solve the issue at hand, it does help me to put my continued trust in our God alone!
A well written piece Paul. Thank-you for taking the time to share with us. I found myself becoming angry as I read your post. I had to remind myself that we live in an unjust world and its only Christ’s justice and mercy that we can rely on.
I can’t even say how much I enjoyed reading this. I can only pray for God’s wisdom and guidance to prepare my kids for this in their future. I agree that bulling should NEVER be condoned. What Savage did was exactly what he was trying to teach to NOT do. It is us, as Christians, who should be leading my example, like the children did, walk away. I believe, though, that there are sooo many people claiming to be Christians and yet leading people to bully back towards homosexuals, and even to abortionists and this is not what God says to do. This is bullying and I feel they have left a bad name for the name, Christian. I hope my words have been taken into context.
Well said! I pray that God gives me the wisdom to teach my kids His way and how to stand up and if needed, walk away to stand up for God.
I find it interesting that you choose to attack Mr. Savage and make claims about what his speech was without offering the text of that speech to allow your readers to make their own assessment. As the dates of this blog and Mr. Savage’s are the same, you may not be aware that he issued a public apology for his use of the term “pansy-assed move” in reference to those who walked out. He also acknowledges that he made a poor choice in adding an offensive adjective (using “bullshit” when describing the prohibitions of the Bible that Christians already ignore) to what was a pretty stock speech that he has given on numerous occasions previously. Here is his apology:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/04/29/on-bullshit-and-pansy-assed
I have seen and heard what Mr. Savage said. To characterize it as an “attack on Christians/Christianity” is a stretch at best. He was attacking a book. He was attacking the hypocrisy of those who use what is in that book to condemn homosexuality and justify anti-gay bigotry. For those who are interested in what was really said, here is relevant portion of the speech.
” We can learn to ignore what the bible says about gay people the same way we have learned to ignore what the Bible says about clams and figs and farming and personal grooming and menstruation and masturbation and divorce and virginity and adultery and slavery. Let’s take slavery. We ignore what the Bible says about slavery in both the Old and New Testaments. And the authors of the Bible didn’t just fail to condemn slavery. They endorsed slavery: “Slaves obey your masters.” In his book Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris writes that the Bible got the easiest moral question humanity has ever faced wrong. The Bible got slavery wrong. What are the odds that the Bible got something as complicated as human sexuality wrong? I’d put those odds at about 100%.
It shouldn’t be hard for modern Christians to ignore what the bible says about gay people because modern Christians—be they conservative fundamentalists or liberal progressives—already ignore most of what the Bible says about sex and relationships. Divorce is condemned in the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ condemned divorce. Yet divorce is legal and there is no movement to amend state constitutions to ban divorce. Deuteronomy says that if a woman is not a virgin on her wedding night she shall be dragged to her father’s doorstep and stoned to death. Callista Gingrich lives. And there is no effort to amend state constitutions to make it legal to stone the third Mrs. Gingrich to death…yet.”
Secularokie: Wow . . . I attacked Mr. Savage on a blog when I simply called him out for who I knew he was 1 year ago, but he was not attacking Christians/Christianity. That is quite a stretch. I’ll give you this much. You either have a sense of humor or you are just incredibly blind. I went back and listened to Dan’s speech. You will notice I made one correction on the blog . . . it still changes nothing in my comments. Even Dan admitted it made no difference. Let’s cover some facts that you are evidently painfully unaware.
1. I know that Dan apologized. It still doesn’t change what I wrote. One year ago I knew he didn’t care about bullying and he proved me to be right. What he cares about is the promotion of the homosexual agenda. This man knew he had a public forum in which he would address teenagers and he went straight after their faith. That was not unintentional. He caught a bunch of flack, and he finally caved. Then he apologized, KIND OF.
2. I read the link you put here . . . as a matter of fact, let me quote it.
“I did not attack Christianity. I attacked hypocrisy.”
Oh yeah, don’t forget that he didn’t attack Christianity, he “beat up” the Bible.
If you are good with this, then allow me to do the same.
“Christians do not attack homosexuals; we attack the sin of homosexuality.”
We can play this game if you want, but there’s no point. Dan cannot stand the fact that others believe differently than him. Dan can’t stand that Christians, based upon the authority of the Bible (I’ll talk about that in a moment), proclaim his lifestyle to be wrong and sinful in the eyes of God.
Dan is the epitome of hypocrisy. He created a campaign against bullying and then he bullies those who cannot fight back. Let me help you out here. This is the definition of bullying:
Use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone).
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. Did any of those kids have a microphone? Did you miss the fact that he, an adult, is addressing teenagers? You guys are unbelievable.
THE POINT HERE IS THIS – Dan did not apologize for bullying, when he was brought in to speak about ANTI-BULLYING. He never admitted that what he did was wrong.
3. So, can you just “attack the Bible,” but not attack the Christian faith? Again, quite a play on words. The Christian faith is BASED upon the truth in the Bible. If Dan thinks we can just decide on what is true and what is untrue . . . who makes that decision? Is it Dan? Is it just based upon what Dan feels or what he thinks? The Bible states the antithesis. The Bible says we cannot trust our hearts. So, is that true? Why is it that Christians can’t just attack what homosexuals believe? You see, Dan can’t have it so that he can attack the Bible, but not the Christian faith, and then say, that Christians can’t attack the sin, but not the sinner.
Dan’s ignorance concerning the Bible . . . well . . . it plays well to a bunch kids and atheists, but that is about as far as it goes.
Let me address the easiest issue first. Let me quote Dan from the link you sent.
“Divorce is condemned in the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ condemned divorce.”
Nothing but a lie. Did Jesus condemn divorce? Actually, no He didn’t. He made it clear that God allows divorce because of the hardness of man’s heart. Show me anywhere in the Gospels that Jesus condemns divorce. Dan simply lied. Jesus actually gives the reason why someone can divorce – sexual immorality.
What about Slavery? Why doesn’t Dan ever make mention of the difference between a Representative Republic and a Theocracy? Is it that it would be way too educational? He also fails to say one word about the difference between ceremonial, civil, and moral law. I mean, why use the opportunity to educate the teenagers when it is so much easier to perpetuate ignorance? As a matter of fact, let’s use Dan’s logic and look at some other sins.
According to Dan, there is no difference between indentured servanthood (described in the Bible) and antebellum slavery (he never mentioned anything of the sort; therefore, either he doesn’t know OR he was dishonest – which is it?) and the Bible got the issue of slavery wrong (again, according to Dan) and since it got that moral issue wrong perhaps it also got lying and murder wrong. Those are mentioned in the Old Testament and the New Testament and if the Bible got slavery (“the easiest moral question”) wrong according to Dan and Sam Harris, maybe it got lying and murder wrong as well. Those are moral issues. How do you or I determine if lying and murder is wrong? Is it based on what you or I feel? If that is the case, then perhaps others don’t feel it is wrong to lie to you. Who are you to say they are wrong? Why can’t they decide what is right for themselves? Perhaps murder is OK. Holmes seemed to think so just about 2 weeks ago. Who are you to say it is wrong? Is it the majority? So then you are proposing “might makes right?” That is quite interesting. By the way, how would you have tried the Nazi’s? Isn’t just your idea or right and wrong verses theirs? As a matter of fact, how do you convict the anti-gay bully? Based upon what? He feels it is right to bully homosexuals. Who are you to tell them they are wrong? You see, Dan’s idea that you and I get to just decide what is right and wrong just doesn’t work. There is a term for that. It’s called moralistic relativism. Even Dan doesn’t buy into it. If he did, he wouldn’t have made the speech.
Lastly, is Dan really uneducated concerning the dietary laws in scripture? He, along with many other atheists, love to bring that up. Has he really never just read the Bible to see that the dietary restrictions, he assumed was so clever to bring up, were removed in the New Testament? Tell me; was he ignorant or dishonest in bringing that up to the teenagers?
Dan has one agenda and that is to get Christians to abandon their faith in scripture and approve of his sin. He made that quite clear – “If we can clear this one last hurdle . . . this one last thing.”
Dan really wants to sleep well at night, but he can’t. The problem is that God’s law is written on the heart. . . Dan’s heart. You and I cannot change that. Dan can fight it all he wants, but in reality Dan is simply being dishonest with himself. The only peace he will find is when he repents, turns from his sin, and turns to God through Jesus Christ.
Paul,
Correction, YOU cannot stand the fact that others believe differently than YOU. YOU cannot stand that others reject “the authority of the Bible”.
While, it may be difficult for you to hear this. You are no different than hate groups like Fred Phelp’s Westboro Baptist Church. With one exception. You disguise your hate with the phrase, “hate the sin, love the sinner”. It’s still hate, just a far more weaselly and cowardly version. Instead of coming out and just saying you hate the person, you hide behind hating the “sin”, that just so happens to be a person expressing themselves. It’s still hate. Only more like…Diet Hate™. Artificially flavored with Condescension. That same great Hate taste, only more socially acceptable.
In May, a court in Iran sentenced four gay men to death. Conservative Christians like to point out that, whatever they’re guilty of doing here—writing anti-gay bigotry into state constitutions, justifying discrimination against gay people in the workplace, making excuses for anti-gay bullying in schools, bearing false witness against their gay and lesbian neighbors—at least they’re not, you know, killing gay people like they do over there. Christians are against killing gay people!
Except when they’re not.
The Catholic Church opposed a UN declaration that condemned the imprisonment and executions of gay people in the 80 countries in which it is practiced. Also standing in opposition to this UN declaration: Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council. Perkins’ outfit which also lobbied against a U.S. House resolution that condemned a proposed “kill the gays” law in Uganda—a law backed by the our homegrown rightwing religious bigots—that would impose the death penalty on gay men and lesbians. And the American Family Association’s Peter Sprigg has called for gay people to be thrown in prison here at home.
So, yeah, deranged rightwing theocrats in the USA aren’t executing gay people like the theocrats over in Iran are. But only because they can’t get away with it.
It is because of this, that you are “losing” this fight. The more the Pat Robertson’s, Rick Santorum’s, Bryan Fischer’s and you, sir, yell and scream about the imaginary “homosexual agenda” and the mythical “sanctity of marriage” you claim to be protecting. The more people are turning away. You have become Pastor Jeremiah Brown from the movie ‘Inherit the Wind’.
So, YOU are the bullies, and what Dan Savage did, rhetorically, was get back up and punch back.
Secularokie,
Laughable . . . if it was not so sad.
I love it when people, like you, affirm the truth of scripture. I am not surprise when people reject the authority of the Bible, Jesus Christ, or me. It hurts at times and I long for them to see the truth . . . but I’m never surprised. Why is that? Well, as you might have noticed I believe in scripture and the fact is, Jesus himself said I would be rejected. As a matter of fact Jesus said Christians would be hated.
Luke 21:17
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Luke 6:22
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
I could do this all day, but I think you get the point. I spread the good news of the Gospel because I know that the consequences of sin (rebellion against God) are horrible and eternal. So, do I want to tell people to turn from their sin, turn to God so that they can experience knowing the creator of the universe, experience the love of Christ, and experience the freedom from the bondage of sin? You got it. Do I wish people would abandon sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ? You’re right again. Do I hate people who don’t? You are sadly mistaken.
What you have done (and you are very good at it) is that you have built a caricature in which you can then find satisfaction in tearing it apart. The reality is that you don’t know me or my church. You are not aware that I have spoken out against Westboro Baptist Church from the pulpit. But what do you care . . . that doesn’t fit with your description. You can go back and see that I have written quite clearly (in reference to scripture) that it is wrong to bully or harass people and that EVEN the attitude of vengeance and hatred is sinful. But what do you care . . . that doesn’t fit your description. You have no idea that I have a dear friend who has struggled with the sin of homosexuality and the fact that I pray for him and even though we disagree, we are still friends. But, once again, that just doesn’t sit well with the picture you have painted of me and my church . . . so what do you care?
I am not perfect . . . far from it. I am a very sinful man so I do not attempt, even in my church, to mask my sinfulness. I admit it and I ask for forgiveness. So, all of your accusations are simply baseless and false. You know nothing of me.
There are several marked differences between what you and I wrote, but one is glaring. I wrote against what one man did. Dan Savage proclaimed that he was about anti-bullying while in reality he was/is a bully and his objective was to promote the homosexual lifestyle. That is exactly what happened.
You wrote:
“So, YOU are the bullies, and what Dan Savage did, rhetorically, was get back up and punch back.”
Dude . . . he punched back at kids. If (A BIG “IF”) Dan was bullied for being gay when he was younger, those kids were not even alive. Exactly how did those kids do anything to Dan? By your logic, any person who was bullied can then take it out on anyone else, even the next generation who had nothing to do with it. You are justifying that attitude.
Do you really want to talk about persecution on the world scale? In the 20th century alone . . . 45.5 million Christians were killed for their faith. Let me see if I can put that in perspective for you. That means in the last century, more Christians were killed in the previous 1900 years combined. Let me tell you what you are doing . . . you are avoiding the issue.
You are also being quite dishonest. You will notice, again, I wrote specifically about Dan Savage. What you have attempted to do is say that I am something based upon someone else’s action. In case you didn’t notice this, I am protestant, not Catholic. Therefore, I am not going to address what the Catholic Church said or did. Secondly, perhaps just a little bit of research before you post. You mentioned the “homegrown rightwing religious bigots” (I believe that was your description) Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council and their lack of support to condemn the “kill the gays” law in Uganda. You were not quite accurate on your reporting were you? Perhaps Wikipedia should not be your main resource. The reality is that this is what FRC did and the statement they released AS REPORTED BY CBS (not a Christian organization)
The Tony Perkins-led FRC said it did lobby on the bill, but not to kill it – rather to change the language it contained and “to remove sweeping and inaccurate assertions that homosexual conduct is internationally recognized as a fundamental human right.”
“FRC did not lobby against or oppose passage of the congressional resolution,” the group said. “FRC’s efforts, at the request of Congressional offices, were limited to seeking changes in the language of proposed drafts of the resolution, in order to make it more factually accurate regarding the content of the Uganda bill.”
“FRC does not support the Uganda bill, and does not support the death penalty for homosexuality – nor any other penalty which would have the effect of inhibiting compassionate pastoral, psychological, and medical care and treatment for those who experience same-sex attractions or who engage in homosexual conduct,” the group adds.
Quite a different picture than the one you painted. As a matter of fact . . . why didn’t you include in your post that the Roman Catholic Church (along with many other Christian organizations) opposed the Ugandan law? Again, it would have completely messed up your caricature.
If you would like to address the “hatred” me or my church has demonstrated, I would be more than happy to discuss that with you, but the problem is that you would be severely lacking in your content. You want to address the actions of Westboro or FRC? You can write them. I neither belong to nor run either of those organizations. It is inaccurate and dishonest to associate me with them simply because it is convenient for your rhetoric.
By the way . . . Don’t know who Jeremiah Brown is so I didn’t address it, but if accusation was as accurate as the rest of your post . . . no need to.
Lastly, there is a serious problem with your logic regarding your post. You wrote:
“So, yeah, deranged rightwing theocrats in the USA aren’t executing gay people like the theocrats over in Iran are. But only because they can’t get away with it.”
Who do you think put laws into place to protect homosexuals so that Christians, as you say, “can’t get away with it (killing homosexuals)?” As far as I know, every president in my lifetime has proclaimed to be a Christian and I only know of one atheist and one Muslim in all of congress. How did these laws get passed with all these Christian homosexual “haters?” Surely you would not suggest that the majority of them are secretly gay or that a majority of the American population is gay; therefore, it wasn’t to appease a majority.
You have simply bought into a bunch of anti-Christian rhetoric and followed too many stories that put the spotlight on fringe groups like Westboro. Secularokie, don’t buy into it. I hope that clears up many of the inaccurate beliefs that you had/have. It’s OK. You can disagree with Dan. What he did was wrong and inappropriate. He gave a speech based upon a false presupposition and he bullied teenagers. He used the opportunity to promote the homosexual agenda which I accurately described a year prior to the event. That was the topic of the blog.
Secularokie,
You said, “Correction, YOU cannot stand the fact that others believe differently than YOU. YOU cannot stand that others reject “the authority of the Bible”.
You disguise your hate with the phrase, “hate the sin, love the sinner”. It’s still hate, just a far more weaselly and cowardly version. Instead of coming out and just saying you hate the person, you hide behind hating the “sin”, that just so happens to be a person expressing themselves. It’s still hate. Only more like…Diet Hate™. Artificially flavored with Condescension. That same great Hate taste, only more socially acceptable.
So, yeah, deranged rightwing theocrats in the USA aren’t executing gay people like the theocrats over in Iran are. But only because they can’t get away with it.”
First, you must realize this response is full of slander and hate. Not only do you claim that Paul is no different than other hate groups, but you state “rightwings” would be killing gays if it was not for the law. You make no argument to support your belief, but instead attack, or another word for it is BULLY Paul, who makes a logical argument. In no way did Paul attack you or slander you.
Second, Paul addresses Dan. You attempt to generalize all bible believing Christians under one umbrella. While I do agree there are some groups who do act out in violence and hatred and claim to be christian, that is not true Christianity. You are a fool to say every christian is the same as those who make a claim of Christianity yet act in violence. That is exactly like making the statement all middle easterners are terrorists, because that is who attacked the World Trade Center. Ridiculous!!! Christianity is the trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior for the forgiveness for our sins. Every person is sinful, but Christ died and rose again in 3 days so we can have a relationship with God that otherwise is impossible. Where is the hate in this? That is true love. Again, you make false claims that Christianity is a “religion of hate”.
Third, you pull some out of the blue argument about other countries killing people who claim to be gay. That makes no sense when it comes to arguing against Paul. We agree with you that it is wrong to murder people for being gay. It is a sin to do so, just like homosexuality is a sin. Do you hate the act of murder, rape, theft, etc.? Your answer is probably and in fact should be yes. Do you hate the act of homosexuality? Your answer will probably be no. That is because you pick and choose what you believe is right. Paul makes this clear above, you have no basis for truth. You are wishy washy with no absolute truth. Therefore, you believe anyone who does not line up completely with your views are “deranged rightwing theocrats”. For true Christians, the Bible is the only source of absolute truth. We don’t make up what is right or wrong, unlike the culture. Homosexuality and all other forms of sexual immorality has been, is, and will always be sin.
50 years ago being a virgin was looked on as something good. The culture approved of it. Now, if you are a virgin then the culture sees you as a freak. In a matter of only 50 years, the culture changed. That is just one example from many of how wishy washy the world is without any solid foundation in biblical truth.
Finally, you state that Christians are losing the fight. In light of recent events, have you been to a Chik-Fil-A today? If not, read a few news articles. There are lines out the doors, cars backed up at the drive-thru, and crowds pouring into the Chik-Fil-A restaurant. Why? To support the idea of the traditional marriage. While not everyone supporting this is Christian, this shows the moral compass instilled in every person. As Paul says about Dan, so is true of all people. We all have the law of God written on our hearts. Therefore, every person knows right from wrong. It is the condition of your heart, a sinful heart that is dead because you do not trust in Christ, that motivates your actions.