As I sit here at my computer typing away, fireworks are heard outside as this is the July 4th—Independence Day in the United States. I thank God that I was born in this great country and that I experienced my childhood during the times when America was still the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
However, those times are changing—and they are doing so rapidly. The values we once cherished in this country have almost been eliminated and replaced with a hodge-podge of ideas so foreign from what our forefathers saw for this great land.
I recently was challenged to take part of a US citizenship test, as it was reported that less than 27 percent of folks in Louisiana (where I live) could pass the test. Curiosity got the best of me, but I can state that I scored 100 on the test. Which really got me to wondering what people in America really believe and if they don’t know what the foundation of our nation is, then who will standup when the powers that be rise up to challenge them.
For example, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
However, there is a movement underway across America, specifically in California that would directly quell what pastors can preach from the pulpit. Specifically, “Assembly Concurrent Resolution 99 calls on 'counselors, pastors, religious workers, educators' and institutions with 'great moral influence' to stop perpetuating the idea that something is wrong with LGBT identities or sexual behavior.”
And lest someone thinks this is idle talk, the bill passed it its committee vote and is heading to the California Senate for a full vote.
ACR 99 is based on a number of conjectures, all introduced with the word WHEREAS. The first one states, “The California State Legislature has found that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBTQ) is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming.”
Based on this, it would be wrong to believe or teach that homosexual practice is sinful. Or that homosexual desires are disordered, or that there is anything wrong with homosexual relationships. Or that a man who believes he is a woman has any type of deficiency. And this is just the first of the 9 “WHEREAS” clauses!
Another clause states that “the stigma associated with being LGBTQ often created by groups in society, including therapists and religious groups, has caused disproportionately high rates of suicide, attempted suicide, depression, rejection, and isolation amongst LGBTQ and questioning individuals.”
In other words, if you preach or teach what the Bible says about LGBTQ issues and people, no matter how loving and compassionate you are, you are guilty of stigmatizing them, thereby causing them emotional and even physical harm.
So, where does this leave a minister or counselor? Should we avoid demonizing those in the LGBT community? Absolutely. Should we be careful to make a distinction between an aggressive agenda and a hurting individual. Yes. Should we proclaim God's love through the cross for every person? Without a doubt. But we must not refrain from declaring what God's Word plainly says.
It may be that Freedom of Speech may be coming to end in the U.S., but that will not stop the preaching of the truth found in the gospel message of Jesus Christ—no matter what the cost!
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