Posted on 03/27/2013 10:45:06 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, issued some words of advice for fellow GOPers: Get in the 21st century with same-sex-marriage issues.
“We do have a platform, and we adhere to that platform,” Mr. Priebus said in a USA Today video. “But it doesn’t mean that we divide and subtract people from our party” who favor gay marriage.
“I don’t believe we need to act like Old Testament heretics,” he said in the USA Today video. Rather, Republicans “have to strike a balance between principle and grace and respect.”
His statements come as the U.S. Supreme Court is due to hear two cases on gay marriage — one on a California-voted ban on same-sex marriage, and the other on the legalities of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans the federal government from giving marriage benefits to same-sex couples.
His statements also come at a time when politicians from both sides of the political aisle are renouncing their past objections to gay marriage. On the Republican side, Sen. Rob Portman – an Ohio conservative with traditional values — just flipped on gay marriage, in part, he said, because of the recent revelations of homosexuality by one of his sons.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I have come to the realization that it is best to pray for the conversion of the people of this country to Christ via repentence.
Lets not forget increased health care costs for homosexuals, and the burden that that places on society.
The GOP-E hates Christians far more than it hates liberals. In fact, it understands and accepts liberals - but it has no basis for interaction with social conservatives.
I’ve voted straight republican for 20+ years. I stopped giving to the RNC 10 years ago. I may switch my registration to independent, knowing that I’ll only vote for 3-4 spots on the 2014/16 ballot. I refuse to vote for someone who hates me.
Actually, I haven’t voted straight republican for 20+ years. Last time McCain came up, I voted for his opponent. But this “Social conservatives are hate-filled bigots” stuff has shoved me out of the Republican party. And if they lose someone who has given them steady support since the mid-80s, where will they get the votes? San Francisco?
See: Maine; Angus King, O.Snowe, Suzy Collins.
(continued)
Elliot Cutler.
Yes, among other things.
I believe it is important when discussing these matters to go back to the biblical text and see what the Bible actually says. Many in modern America, even professing Christians, simply do not read Scripture. We have become too comfortable with sin and even if we oppose it, we don't fight against it as hard as we should.
Perhaps you are thinking of Ezekiel 16:49-50, which says, “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.”
Nobody argues that the only sin in Sodom was homosexuality. But it certainly was among the sins that led to their destruction.
The simple fact is that God's word refers to Sodom over and over again as a key example of wickedness that leads to utter destruction. God says that “the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13).
What was that wickedness?
Men trying to commit homosexual rape against angels of God makes pretty clear what the “final straw” wickedness was which led to the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah:
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” (Genesis 19:4-13).
We find additional references to “Sodomites” in I Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46, and II Kings 23:7 which pretty clearly refer to homosexuality. We also see in Jude 6-9 that the sin of Sodom involves “strange flesh,” with, interestingly enough, additional references to the good angels and the fallen angels: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
Some might argue that homosexual rape is forbidden by God, but not consensual homosexuality. That's not what God says in I Corinthians 6:9-11, using two Greek words translated as “effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” that refer to the passive and active partners in homosexual acts: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Note carefully the final verse: “and such were some of you.”
Sodom didn't repent. Some homosexuals do. Without that repentance no homosexual can enter the Kingdom of God, but God can and does convert even the worst of sinners.
The bottom line, as Romans 1:18-32 says, is that when a nation abandons God, He abandons that nation and turns it over to horrible evils, including but not limited to homosexuality.
Homosexuality is not like many other sins. It is a curse that comes about as a result of prior disobedience. There can be no compromise with it by Christians.
Romans 1:18-32: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
You can be a INDY and NOT lean Democrat. Both Dems and GOP have left me.
Good grief. You don’t even need to mention the Bible. If there never was a Bible there would still be people like us that believe marriage is between a man and a woman. 95% or so are heteros that find gay practices unnatural and disgusting. Plus conservatives see no rationale for special rights to placate certain groups. Marriage has always been between a man and woman in numerous culture including non christian cultures.
We need a party spokesman who can go on the offense and not defensively beat up on “bible thumpers” in order to appear ‘reasonable’ to these leftists.
I don’t donate to RNC.
I truly wish I could agree with you.
A few years ago I did.
I no longer believe that secular conservatives can be relied upon to support a biblical view of homosexuality. The radical change among our young people — including conservative Republican young people — to view sexuality as a personal choice is an indicator of what happens when being “conservative” means to “get government out of our lives” rather than to “get God in our lives and do what He tells us to do.”
Freedom from government over-regulation is a good thing, but it can lead to an anti-authoritarian spirit which says we need to be free from **ALL** regulation of our lives, even God's regulations.
I fear that is happening with the homosexual issue. Freedom to choose and freedom from regulation of our lives are becoming core values for conservatives. That's libertarianism, not conservatism, and there is a big difference between the two.
Don't get me wrong. I welcome the support from secular conservatives who find homosexuality disgusting. We need every vote we can get.
But I'm afraid that feelings of personal disgust don't come from a consistent worldview and won't convince the next generation to oppose homosexuality. Opposing homosexuality requires a worldview which says that respecting personal freedom and personal choice is neither the goal nor the method for building a functioning society.
I can see Pandora’s Box opening.
This is going futher deeper into the Bible. Even the miniseries on the Bible is just a slice of a pie with regards to the Bible.
Going deep into the Bible is a good thing, I think ;-)
Matthew 28:19-20, which is part of the Great Commission, doesn’t just say to love God and have good feelings following conversion. On the contrary, it says to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
“All things” requires going pretty deep.
A huge amount of the problems of the modern church can be summed up as being caused by one of two core problems — lack of knowledge and lack of willingness to act on knowledge. As dragonblustar posted just a few minutes ago, Romans 12:2 — “do not conform” — is a key passage for Christians.
If our goal is to be liked by men, we’re going to be hated by God. If our goal is to be loved by God, we will trust Him to do what’s best with our lives.
After all, He knows a whole lot better what’s best for us than we do.
We do believe that, don’t we?
If we do, then let’s act like it, and trust God rather than ourselves to bring the right results.
Should everything bad be illegal - by government? That's the question. I have that anti-authoritarian spirit. God's regulations are between myself and God (and others directly impacted by my decision). Government is not God. I can choose to walk away from God. It's bad for my soul, not to mention get me in big trouble with my girlfriend, but it's something I can do.
Government is evil and one I can't walk away from. It's albeit a necessary evil that is very dangerous because of the people attracted to the power of government.
What's more evil, two homos banging each other behind closed doors, or government policing the inside of homes looking for it. Or government sanctioning it and putting it in our schools pushing it on kids. The first part is disgusting. The second part is scary. The third part shows that the gay agenda is about more than consenting adults.
I don't need a government regulation to tell me that it's wrong to cheat on my girlfriend with the pretty woman I meet at the bar or to mess around with another man's wife. Those are areas that government should not be involved.
Government needs to limit itself because of it's history around the world of abuse, and frankly its history of murder. The feds should handle defense. The states and locals most other matters.
If I switch to independent, it will be because the GOP-E has rejected me. It will NOT, in ANY way, make me a democrat.
AMEN. Yes I do believe.
Hannity had a Rev. Oliver White on his radio show yesterday. The good Rev said he was a minister for a black church.
I heard part of that interview. What I found interesting was how fast the good Rev. ran from the polygamy issue. They really don’t want to get into gay marriage vs. polygamy debate because that might turn on some dim bulbs to their real church destroying agenda.
The Dem machine has carefully scripted this debate. This is a Marxist PR operation. We are being railroaded and without effective opposition are in deep trouble.
Ditto that. I’m no longer a Republican. They are immoral, depraved, evil. They are the heretics.
I will give to individual candidates who happen to “still” be Republican (Ted Cruz) but I no longer even identify by name with the Republican party. Haven’t given directly to the RNC for years, but now I’m even more disgusted by them.
From my sweet, wise friend, Ben Gilmore, who teaches a wonderful course on Principles of American Government:
It is Not Debatable
Same sex marriage is derived from homosexuality, which is a derivative of rebellion, which is a derivative of universal depravity, which is a choice.
As I listened to the talking heads on TV news, it occurred to me that depravity is destined to win todays debate. In our “Principles of American Government” online course, we make a point of recognizing and not accepting false presuppositions. If you permit a false idea to be introduced at the beginning of a discussion - The whole structure of the discussion is built upon sand, NOT solid rock.
What is the false presupposition in the “same sex marriage” discussion?
God does not exist. Therefore the “laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” are invalid. Therefore the opinions, and not the sound reasoning, of humans is supreme (i.e. humanism).
Our unique American culture, based upon Christian self-government, has become so eroded that we are debating the un-debatable!
Liberty is not license. Nothing and no one is without a set of rules (laws) that govern it. Step outside those rules – chaos. Stay within those rules – peace. America’s founders understood that. Their reference to “natural law” and “revealed law” presupposed that God exists. (“We are endowed by our Creator … “.
Natural law may be discovered by observation and reason. We see the “edge” of the earth and conclude “the earth is flat”. Human reason is not always correct. Navigation based upon that false presupposition will not work! The truth – the earth is round – was not changed by faulty human reasoning.
Revealed law is found ONLY in the Holy Scriptures. Since there is a mountain of evidence that they resulted from the direct inspiration of God, “revealed law” is infinitely more authoritative than “natural law” which is based upon human observation and reason.
It is important to note that – natural law and revealed law will never be in conflict – since they come from the same source.
BUT – You say, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: … “. [1st Amendment to our Constitution] Therefore, you can not involve God and either natural law, or revealed law (the Bible), in discussing “same sex marriage.”
I believe “religion” here, refers to systems of doctrines and beliefs, created by man.
Separation of church and state makes sense. Our founders feared a state-sponsored church. Separation of God and state is insanity! Both the Declaration and the Constitution presuppose a supreme lawgiver. We are wrong to equate God and His will, with man-created systems. Fellowship with believers (i.e.”church” ), is a good thing. – BUT – It is not a substitute for a personal relationship with God.
Both human reason and the inspired word of God will validate the wisdom of staying within the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. Any law outside those limits should be no law at all.
This is the discussion we should be having — Do God and His rules exist? We will agree in advance to accept a better, more proven, set of rules. What have you to offer?
Let us agree – It would be unwise not to live and govern by the best set of rules available.
“If you will not stand and defend your God-given liberty, you will be a slave to one who opposes it!”
~ Ben Gilmore
http://achstudygroups.com/category/bens-blog/
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