Excerpt of a response to the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins from Mark Potok, Senior Fellow of the Southern Poverty Law Center and editor of its Intelligence Report and Hatewatch blog:
”Perkins’ accusation is outrageous. The SPLC has listed the FRC as a hate group since 2010 because it has knowingly spread false and denigrating propaganda about LGBT people — not, as some claim, because it opposes same-sex marriage. The FRC and its allies on the religious right are saying, in effect, that offering legitimate and fact-based criticism in a democratic society is tantamount to suggesting that the objects of criticism should be the targets of criminal violence.”
Head to Potok’s blog to read the rest. He strikes exactly the right tone.
I do not understand how you view other people’s beliefs that are opposite of yours as hate speech. It is very self serving and one sided.
I am a believer of the Bible – and that as Scripture foretold, that the Annointed One, Yeshua, would come at the set time to bring salvation to all who believe. We are all going to be judged by God after this life – and we are going to be judged by Torah. You might have heard of His commandments against which we will be judged.
My point is that no one is innocent in light of the righteousness required of us in Torah – and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
So I personally do not judge any homosexual. The Bible also says that if anyone breaks one of the least of these commandments, that person is guily of violating the entire Torah of righteousness – that even means lying – or coveting. not just murder or whatever ‘big’ sins people think there are.
But the Annointed One, Yeshua the Messiah, does commission us who believe Him to speak His Word and to share the improtance of turning from our sins and accepting Him as our attoning sacrifice – HE is the true Passover Lamb – and in the days of Moses and beyond, there was innocent life blood required to attone for sins (in the form of innocent animals)for the sins people committed by violating Torah – but Yeshua came as the Lamb of God…an attoning sacrifice for all who believe.
That is the very good news for us who live on the earth.
I do not buy into the ultra focus on homosexuality from either side – since there is NO ONE who even comes close to obeying what Yeshua the Messiah said was the greatest commandment: Hear (listen and obey) oh Israel, the Lord our God is One – and you shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and ALL your mind and ALL your strength – and that you should love your neighbor as yourself…who among us does this ALL the time? We cannot – because we are flesh and blood. So we are all guilty in the sight of God.
I do know that in the ancient times, it was recorded for us to know that when the nation of Israel as a whole rebelled against God and His Torah that they were severely judged (warned and punished by God) – and they were guilty (as a nation) of very similar things America is guilty of today (as a nation): rejecting God and His ways, child sacrifice (abortion) paganistic worship of planets, sun, trees (militant environmentalism) revelry and sexual immorality (adultry, homosexuality).
The way ancient Israel was judged came first with warnings – from prophets (evangelicals)and when they did not listen and even killed the prophets God allowed enemies to breach their secure gates in a limited way (911) and allowed the things they relied upon for ‘power’ (pentagon/military- money – WTC) to be dismantled to a degree. But as ancient Isreal ultimately did not heed these harbingers, the Lord destroyed them from their land and made them a hissing and a spectacle. I do not want to see America destroyed to that degree. So I want us as a nation to return to God and His righteousness as we once were.
So I will speak out in love and humility against your agenda of ‘gay marriage’ – because that is simply rebellion against God – and I am strongly opposed to having it accepted as a nation -just as I am against divorce – adultry – murder/abortion – lying – coveting – stealing -dishonoring of parents…and these things are becomming rampant in America.
America, in my opinion is going too far away already from what we once were. I do not want the State to impose it’s doctrine on me because I am a free American who chooses to accept the doctrine of the Bible. I do not want the State to impose it’s doctine on my children in public schools. And do not kid yourself – our country and way of freedom and government and law was established on Judeo-Christian principles and dedicated to the God of the Bible. (forget Jefferson’s letter which had a phrase that has since been radically blown up and exaggerated to this generation’s cry of separation of church and state…just research how they lived – what they taught in school (the Bible) – the prayers preceeding congressional assemblies etc.)
Marriage is a holy thing given us by God between one man and one woman..’that is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife – and the two will become one flesh’.
Your arrogant trespass against this God given beautiful gift and your rampant effort to force it on our nation is what I am against. And I believe that that is what alot of believers are against.
In your secular mind you want gay rights. (By the way, that phrase was very successfuly derived in a liberal democrat think tank to manipulate our population…who of us in America wants to take anyone’s constitutional rights away? Anyway – what rights are you lookng for? Homosexuals have a right to work – to buy and sell things – to benefit from law enforcement and our military – to life, liberty, and the pusuit of happiness.
We believers have the right also: to freedom of religion and expression of those beliefs in what we say and how we live.
I do side with you on this point,however, that to hate a homosexual person is wrong, and not only wrong – it is also un Biblical to hate anyone.
This does not, however, validate your agenda’s perverse intrusion into our Christian faith’s doctrine of marriage. No homosexual ‘marriage’will be honored by God. It is rebellion against God. Why were you not satisfied with your secular civil unions? You are a secular body of people by choice–why not just stay there?
I pray for you that you too might decide to accept our Savior, Yeshua the Messiah, and that you might come to repentance. In the end – HE is – and His Words will never pass away. In Him you will find love and acceptance – He said He would turn no one away.
Truth does win out – HE is the Way and the Truth and the Life. And He is the victorious one.
@tom
The SPLC designated the Family Research Council as an anti-gay hate group, not because of it’s policy positions on marriage, not because it disagrees with FRC’s right-wing politics but because, over the years, FRC spokespeople have consistently slandered LGBT people by equating them with child molesters and pedophiles,calling for the imprisonment and deporataion of LGBT people and that is but the tip of the iceberg. The vicious hate and and doleful lies have not ceased at any point. Nothing in the Bible really justifies that kind of hatred as you yourself seem to realize.BTW, not all LGBT are “secular.” Many are deeply religious.
As to the issue of how “Christian” the Founders really were, I would simply say that while they were imbued with Western culture and had more than a passing acquaintance with Judaeo-Christian values, they also had an intimate knowledge of secular enlightenment philosophy and this more than helped guide their sense of governance and justice. They had virtually nothing in common with today’s right-wing and extremist “Christians,” especially those ignorant enough to think that they did.
As far as rights go, it’s pretty simple. LGBT Americans are citizens of this country and as such they are entitled to the protections of due process and equal protection under the law enumerated in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Those protections are currently meaningless in 29 of the 50 states (34 if you’re transgenedered)where a person can be fired or lose their housing merely becuase of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That is not something merely “made up” by liberal democrats. It is a fact of daily existence in this country and it is experienced by conservative LGBT people as well. Imagine that.
Move to Africa or the Middle East, tom. You’ll find lots of people there who share your views.
Tom,
Interesting screed.
So, my question would be this;
Why do you beleive in God, the Bible and all the above?
(Oh, and marriage is not christian.)
Yes you do judge us tom. You’ve judged us to be in rebellion against god. You are not demonstrating any humility and you are not demonstrating love. You are demonstrating pride and hatred. You are a bigot and a bully trying to justify your attacks on people who have done nothing to you. Mind your own damn business.
Tom, considering all the different religions throughout the world, how did you decide that yours is the correct one? Without spending many years on exhaustive research, I don’t know how anyone could legitimately make that decision. Surely, you didn’t just adopt the religion of your parents and/or one that was predominant in your community, did you? If I were you, I’d be very worried that I may have chosen the wrong one.
From another angle than the previous posters Tom, you DO realize that more and more Christians, from Episcopalians to Lutherans DO love and accept Gay people as we are and as God made us to be ( Gay ), right? Stop acting like you speak for the whole faith, or, in the west, even the overwhelming majority of it. 60 % of mainline protestans are pro gay marriage, the majority of American Catholics are, and even more and more young evangelicals are now GLBT welcoming and affirming. The largest movement in Judiasm, the Reform Movement, ordains GLBT rabbis and recognized marriage equality also.
These Christians (and Jews) show grace, tolerance, a love of equality, and, based on their actions and works, a better understaning of a loving and good God than you do…so, why would anyone listen to a hateful, bitter, lousy arguement made by those on your side of the issue?
You don’t have a leg to stand on with the athiests on the issue of marriage. They see it as a civil contract between two people in love. And those of us who are people of faith and have a BETTER understanding of a God who is loving and good and wants the best for all of us have as much right to have marriage equality in OUR churches as you do to NOT have marriage equality in yours.
Stop thinking only of yourself…even though that is a hallmark of evangelical Christianity, try.
Some things deserve to be repeated. Gene said:
“And those of us who are people of faith and have a BETTER understanding of a God who is loving and good and wants the best for all of us have as much right to have marriage equality in OUR churches as you do to NOT have marriage equality in yours.”
And that begs the question: How can government legitimately justify an all-encompassing law that codifies only the creed of churches that deny marriage equality while rejecting the creed of churches that affirm marriage equality? When government codifies the creed of churches that do affirm marriage equality, nothing is denied to churches that don’t, other than their arrogantly presumed entitlement to dictate how everyone shall live.
The christianists are always whining about their being persecuted and LGBT people wanting “special rights”.
Yet our government’s codifying of marriage inequality through DOMA is showing preference for one religious group (the fundagelicals) over others. Sounds like these christianists want special rights to me!
D. Edward Malcom said “BTW, not all LGBT are “secular.” Many are deeply religious.”.
In fact about 70% of American LGBTs are christians.
Humanity and it’s inborn natural attributes will always and forever trump over superstitious irrational intrusive unfounded religious doctor’in.
Save your prayers Tom, Yeshua and multitudes of gay bi and straights know this. You’re just a bit slow on the upswing. But you’ll come around, when you realize through study, that pedophilia was the reason for the Judaic Law concerning homosexuality.
Your judgments only harm you Tom.
Kneel less Tom, study more.
PS Tom, Catholicism is the original Judeo Christian Church. It’s goal was to unite all, which is the definition of catholic. She failed miserably. But my deep love and affection for all the good she has done, makes me move forward in commitance to this original goal.
The goal was not made because of stupidity ignorance and bigotry. Separation at its finest. If you wish to divide and try to conquer the innocent, to continue the ways of darkness and evil, that is your choice. Just know this is not the way of Yeshua, and he does not support your plight.
Save your prayers to dissolve your own judgements, and for your own mental and emotional healing. Then you will know the original goal has been met, at least by you; that being unity, within and without. Then Yeshua, our great brother and teacher, will grade you appropriately. Until this happens, you are working for the adversary, a place where angels do not tread.