Gay Marriage Vs. Religious Freedom: What Does The Bible Say?
Let’s be frank: Religious liberty has become a buzz-word phrase in the last few weeks. With the signing of Religious Free Restoration Acts in two new states, religious liberty is at the forefront of many debates today.This is not, however, the first time that this has been a hot topic; gay marriage and free exercise of religion have been at odds for the past few years. It seems that it is only a matter of time before all of this comes to a head and something will have to give. So what is a Christian to do?
Reality Check
The Constitution has been the bedrock of American liberty since its inception. It was well-crafted by men who had the nation’s best interest at heart. They were not concerned with a specific group’s interests but were instead concerned with structuring a government in such a way that each person could enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They even added an amendment preventing the government from making any law “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion.
But things change and it would appear that our nation is more concerned about the interests of a specific group over the liberty of all. Could it be possible that a day might come in which Christians are not allowed to freely exercise their religion in the name of “tolerance”? Yes, it is possible … and perhaps even likely.
Learn About The ‘Real Constitution’ And What The Founders Truly Intended
Throughout the history of the church, wherever the Gospel has spread, persecution and opposition have followed. Nations have risen and fallen with the cross in front of them and behind them; nations have embraced Christianity and have then rejected it; they have conquered and have been conquered; governmental systems have risen and fallen. All of these things are temporary and those that will come after them will be no less temporary. The one thing that will always stay true: the promises of God.
Jesus Told Us This Would Happen
Jesus said, “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” (Luke 6:22). Jesus promised us that when we take a stand for His name and His truth, people will hate us for it.
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We see this when the small-business owner refuses to accept business and chooses not to accept that which is sinful – and the mainstream media goes ballistic. Jesus was telling us the truth. So let’s ask the question again: What is a Christian to do?
The Greatest Commandments
When asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, Jesus responded by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40). Love for God is the most important thing in a Christian’s life. John wrote, “This is love for God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). When God says something is sinful, we must believe it as such. When God commands something, we must obey. When we subvert the laws of God for the sake of cultural tolerance, we abandon love for God. We must not do this.
Jesus said the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. This is important because a Christian does not have license to be hateful simply because someone has a lifestyle that is contrary to Scripture. Instead, we should love God first by keeping His commands and then love others by pointing them to the truth of God’s Word, communicating all the while that we care for them and love them. Spewing hateful venom at each other is not being loving toward others, nor is it being loving toward God, since they also are made in the image of God just as we are.
Instead, no matter what kind of opposition a believer faces, our task remains the same: love God first and love others in such a way that it communicates our love for God and our love for them. We are not promised religious liberty in the Scriptures; we are promised opposition to the Gospel and blessing for remaining faithful to the commands of God.
4 comments:
Who gives a damn what the Bible says. It's mostly like government and about control.
The term "religious freedom laws" is a misnomer. The First Amendment to the Constitution says, " The government shall make no laws respecting religion........." Period. Very clear.
It's also very clear that Anonymous, who asks, "Who gives a damn what the Bible says", has not read much, if any, of the bible. I would assume that since he or she is following NESARA, they are less than pleased with the way America is headed. That way is away from the principles our nation was founded on, which were largely Christian principles. Our founders were Bible-reading Christian men, while our "leaders" of today are Godless heathens with no morals or consideration for their fellow man, or our country. We need God's help more than ever.
ANON AT 4:45PM.........AFTER MEETING SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN AND CAME BACK TO TELL ABOUT IT YOU CANNOT CONVINCE ME HEAVEN IS NOT REAL.....JESUS SAID IN MAT 10:33 "BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN" YOU NEED TO LOOK IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN YOUR LOOKING TO SAVE YOU SOUL FROM GOING SOUTH.... THERE IS A BOOK FROM AN ATHIEST DOCTOR THAT WROTE OF HIS PATIENTS EXPERIENCES AFTER PHYSICALLY DYING AND COMING BACK..WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS...... I SUGGEST YOU READ IT.... AVAILABLE AT AMAZON FOR ABOUT $10.00... HERE IS A COMMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO READ HIS BOOK.... I highly recommend reading this book.
After a close brush I had with death, I read many books on near death experiences. All were very optimistic about death. They essentially gave the general impression that no matter what I did in my life, all my experiences and actions were either just learning experiences for my spiritual growth, or I was not going to be held accountable for my actions because in the big scheme, they did not matter.
Then I read "To Hell and Back: Life After Death Startling New Evidence, by DR. Maurice Rawlings". While I found this book very upsetting, I also find it to be one of the most important books I have ever read. It provides very strong evidence for the existence of a very real hell. Like most people, I'd prefer there was no hell, but if there is one, I want to know about it NOW, not find out after I die when it is too late.
The most compelling concept that gives his patients' hell accounts such credibility is the very well documented psychological phenomenon of humans forgetting (repressing) memories of severe experiences, to protect their sanity. I know personally that severe experience memories are repressed because my mother has told me of severe experiences she has witnessed me go through while I was awake but of which I still have absolutely no conscious memory.
Since the author was an objective observer, he was able to recall the patient's pleas for help to be saved from hell. While later, these very same patients only remembered the "good" part of the experience that usually proceeds entry into hell. They had to repress the hell experience because the certainty of going to hell is so overwhelming. They HAD to block it from their conscious memories to go on with life, otherwise they would go insane. Read more ›
Leviticus 18:22 ESV /
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV /
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 1:26-28 ESV /
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Leviticus 20:13 ESV
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
1 Timothy 1:10 ESV
The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
AND THIS IS JUST A FEW THERE ARE MANY MANY MORE SCRIPTURES THAT ARE IGNORED IN THIS DEBATE. IF THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS TO LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, MIND, AND SOUL....THEN HOW IS THIS GREATEST COMMANDMENT OBEYED BY IGNORING ALMIGHTY GOD'S LAW....THE TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS DI NOT MAKE ALL OF GOD'S WORD NULL AND VOID...IT FULFILLED IT....MEANING IF WE ARE IN CHRIST AND SERVING HIM WE ARE OBEYING ALL THE LAW WITHOUT REBELLION. NOT SERVING SOMEONE THAT IS DISOBEYING ALMIGHTY'S GOD'S COMMANDMENTS IS OBEDIENCE TO THEIR GOD AND THOSE THAT ARE DISOBEYING THE LAW FOR WHATEVER REASON CONSTITUTIONALLY CANNOT FORCE A PERSON TO GO AGAINST THEIR CONSCIENCE. THE ABOVE ARTICLE IS BASING IT'S CONCLUSION ON THE SECOND COMMANDMENT WITHOUT DEFINING THE FIRST.... AND "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF" ALSO APPLIES TO THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO FORCE OTHERS TO GO AGAINST THEIR CONSCIENCE. FOLLOWING ONE'S CONSCIENCE DOES NOT EQUAL HATE... OTHER THAN "HATE THE SIN, BUT LOVE THE SINNER".... SO IT IS NOT THE PERSON THAT IS HATED BUT RATHER IT IS WHAT THEY ARE CHOOSING TO DO. FORCING CHRISTIANS TO GO AGAINST THEIR MORAL VALUE AND BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES BASED ON ALMIGHTY GOD'S WORD DOES NOT GIVE CREDENCE TO THE ACTION THAT IS BEING FORCED BUT JUST THE OPPOSITE.
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