SodomyAndTolerance

Headline: Feb 2, 2005 from AP: "Debate Flares Over Teaching Kids Tolerance By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer "

excerpts:

NEW YORK - Cartoon characters adored by kids seized the spotlight in the latest flare-up of America's culture wars, but the debate itself poses serious questions for adults involving the depiction of gays and lesbians in materials for teaching children about diversity and tolerance.

The liberal camp argues that even young children should learn that intolerance based on sexual identity is wrong, and that gays are as legitimate a part of the national mosaic as anyone else.

"It's about creating awareness and understanding of people who are different," said Joan Garry of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. 'Why shouldn't that be a good thing for America's young people?"

Nancy Carlsson-Page, an education professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., has emphasized diversity awareness in a career spent training early-education teachers. She said Spellings was wrong to suggest that a certain category of family — those headed by gays or lesbians — be excluded from images shown to children.

"All children, whatever family composition they have, should see the full, diverse range of families," Carlsson-Page said. "Otherwise, when they encounter a different kind of family, they'll think that family is lesser, that it doesn't count."

Linda Hodge, president of the National PTA, said she strongly supports classroom initiatives promoting tolerance and combating bullying. However, she suggested some programs could backfire if they focus so explicitly on harassment of gays that those students feel singled out and labeled.

Hodge's bottom line: "Every child should feel safe and welcome in school."

For GLAAD's Joan Garry, a lesbian raising three children, the controversies hit home on a personal level.

"There are millions of kids living in households with two moms or two dads, and millions of other kids who know those kids," she said. "I wonder what James Dobson would say to my own children. What would be the respectful, Christian thing to say to them?"

Headline:N.Y. Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Struck Down

February 04, 2005 10:34 PM EST

NEW YORK - A judge declared Friday that a law banning same-sex marriage violates the state constitution, a first-of-its-kind ruling in New York that would clear the way for gay couples to wed if it survives on appeal.

Once again, the error of not knowing the difference between tolerating people and tolerating ideas is crystallized in the recent ruling regarding sodomy, as society, and particularly our children, our "little ones"(Matthew 186-14), are being brainwashed into subscribing to the notion that all truth is relative, and once more embracing the idea that consensus/popularity, "our opinion"(this recent court ruling), determines what is right and wrong, not "...the scripture of truth...."(Daniel 10:21). How about all believers resolving to propose this rationality: There are some things that are true, and there are some things that are false. Here is the inevitable result of subscribing to the "in thing" sweeping this country, and this "evil world"(Galatians 1:4)-the "pluralism" view, i.e., it demands that you must not say that anyone's belief system is inferior, or worse yet, in error. To say someone is wrong is "intolerant", to be "close-minded", to be "mean-spirited", to be "extreme", to be "divisive", to be a "trouble maker", to be a "bully", to be "unrespectful" , is to be guilty of "harassment", or, last, but not least, to be "unchristian."

This "open mindedness", this "loving tolerance", says that I should not criticize other people's beliefs-"You are so intolerant and bigoted." And those that proclaim the truth from the divine perspective, and refuse to "... call evil good.... put darkness for light.... put bitter for sweet...."(Isaiah 5:20) are "bashed", criticized, vilified, ridiculed......The hypocrisy of such a view is apparent in the "moral" judgment these proponents of this so-called "tolerance" spew out day after day. They have a self-defeating argument, and a silly view of "tolerance". According to this message,in order to tolerate someone and be "loving", I cannot assert my "argument"as being correct, i.e., it is "condemning", it is "judgmental". And these so called "enlightened, sweet, reasonable" "actors"(definition of a hypocrite-perhaps this explains the depravity of "Hollywood") are doing the same thing-people rant and rave about being "judgmental", "condemning"-all the time delivering their own judgements! Is it tolerant to say something is true when it is really false? That is like saying "All mushrooms are good to eat". No, they are not. Not all mushrooms are good-some will kill you. Sodomy is wrong-period(I refuse to use non- biblical words such as "gay", homosexual, "alternative lifestyle".....The LORD God does not use word semantics, double-speak, weasel words, or euphemisms. Nor will I).

A proponent of promoting sodomy in this article urges an "understanding of people who are different." Translation of this "spin", these "... good words and fair speeches...." that "...deceive the hearts of the simple"(Romans 16:18), this deception "...with vain words...."(Ephesians 5:6): We demand your approval, your endorsement.

This same proponent then goes on to ask: "Why shouldn't that be a good thing for America's young people?"

How about this for a "no spin" answer: Because the LORD God says it is not "a good thing" in his word. Not too complicated, is it?

Another proponent in this article uses the phrase "different kind of family", apparently viewing a family headed by sodomites as just "different", not necessarily evil. This reminds me of the politically correct answer Kobe Bryant(and others) made during his press conference after his admitted infidelity to his wife: "I made a mistake." How about "calling a spade a spade"? How about speaking the truth as David did?:

"...I have sinned against the LORD...." 2 Samuel 12:13
"... I have sinned against thee." Psalms 41:4
"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight...." Psalms 51:4

Sodomy is not a "mistake", nor is it merely "different", or "good". Sodomy is a sin-it is that simple.

Tolerance is how we treat people. Rationality, or reasoning(Isaiah 1:18; Acts 17:2, 17:17, 18:4, 24:25)is how we treat ideas. We are to tolerate people, the person, "...speaking the truth in love....(Ephesians 4:15), according to the Holy Bible, but not ideas. We examine ideas just like we examine "good mushrooms from bad mushrooms"- we must distinguish between truth and error in the spiritual realm just as we do in the physical realm-we are to be discerning.. People are very discerning in matters of the physical realm, distinguishing between "good and evil" on a daily basis. And yet, when considering matters in the spiritual realm, they "take a space walk." If I said it is OK for children to smoke pot, and someone corrected me on this, should I feel that person was making personal attacks on me? Should I say "You are not building me up(edifying)?" Should I say "Please speak words seasoned with salt?" Should I say "You are being so intolerant, so mean spirited, so narrow minded, so condemning, so judgmental?" Should I agree with the "Oprah Winfrey" approach, the "Can't we all get along" mentality(Rodney King)? NONSENSE! Allowing our children to smoke pot is wrong-it is that simple.

In this day and age of general compromise, of fearing man of instead of the LORD God, of "All roads lead to Rome" ecumenicalism, of "whatever works", those who align themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ are not to be persuaded by opinion, sincerity("good intentions"), whether it "feels good or right"(experience), nor are we to be concerned with our reputations, nor with the world's approval(Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 2:22; Luke 6:26; John 5:44, 12:43; Acts 4:19 5:29; 2 Cor. 4:2; Galatians 1:10; Colossians 3:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). We are only to be concerned with communicating the truth of the scriptures. Unity cannot be at the expense of the truth. Scripture never compromises with error-nor should we, nor can we. The truth only hurts when you do not tell it. The real issue is whether what I said here is true scripturally, not whether if others like what scripture says, whether it suits you, whether it is convenient, or whether you found this truth appealing (i.e., "I prefer" eating ice creme, and I "prefer" not going to work every day....).

There is an absolute truth "out there", and the LORD God has revealed absolute truth, including truth pertaining to the critical issues of life, such as this issue of sodomy, and more importantly, including who he is and his Holiness(contrary to popular "opinion", Holiness is the most often named attribute in scripture of the LORD God, not love)and how man can approach him, in his written word, which we call the Bible("bible" means book). The LORD God has revealed absolute truth in his written word, "The scripture of truth:(Daniel 10:21), which "... is true from the beginning...."(Psalms 119:160), for "...thy word is truth..."(John 17:17), and "...thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name"(Psalms 138:4).

It is truly amazing that a debate can even be had over the validity of the existence of objective truth regarding the critical issues we daily face in both the physical and spiritual realm, including the issue of sodomy. In layman's terms, this "truth is in the eyes of the beholder". In theological terms, this is known as subjective truth, or post-modernism. Scripture summarizes it as follows:

"...but every man did that which was right in his own eyes"(Judges 17:6, 21:5).

And so the truth of Genesis, the "seed plot" of the Holy Bible, is once more reaffirmed, as man's depravity, man's "...deceitful....and desperately wicked...."(Jeremiah 17:9) heart "...is fully set in them to do evil...."(Ecclesiastes 8:11), is on full display to anyone that has "...ears to hear....(Deuteronomy 29:4, Matthew 11:15), as man continues onward toward the mind set of "...ye shall be as gods, knowing good from evil"(Genesis 3:5). This is idolatry- "my mind is my god", as man defiantly rebels against and blasphemes the LORD GOD creator, proclaiming "Yea, hath God said....?"(Genesis 3:1), thus doubting and disbelieving the word of God, which has as it's inevitable consequence rejecting the authority of the word of God,as it is written:

"...Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? Genesis 37:8
"...Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" Exodus 2:14
"...We will not have this man to reign over us." Luke 19:14
"...Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?" Acts 7:27

The "day of man", as opposed to "the day of the LORD", mocks the Holiness of the LORD God, and rejects the Lord Jesus Christ and His standards, and thus this predominately Christ-rejecting world proclaims:

"...Away with him, away with him.... We have no king but Caesar." John 19:15

Belief and the truth are independent. Absolute certainty about something is no assurance that you believe the truth. Someone may believe something with all their heart("sincerity"), and yet be in error. Mere belief does not guarantee the truth of an argument, i. e., whether you are correct. The opposite is also true. You may disbelieve something with absolute certainty, and yet be wrong, despite your "sincerity". Just as belief does not guarantee something is true, doubt is no guarantee that something is false. The conclusion/argument: Belief makes nothing true, and the greatest doubt in the world makes nothing false-belief stands independent of the truth itself. The truth goes on through eternity regardless of one's belief, or lack thereof.

Interestingly enough, I heard that one of the arguments made in this recent case in defense of allowing same sex marriages was somewhat along the lines of "...they must be allowed to follow their heart...." Gee, I guess if I want to murder someone(an extreme example, but tell that to David, Moses, and Paul, who were all murderers), or sleep with someone's wife(David), that's OK, because, after all, I should be allowed to "follow my heart".

The issue is not whether John Whalen believes sodomy is evil, or what the latest "opinion poll" says about this issue, or what the Sunday morning talk shows say, or what Bill O'Riley says, or what Rush Limbaugh says, or what Sean Hannity says, or what Jesse Jackson says, or what the "pope" says, or what your pastor says, or what your your "reverend" says, or what your "priest" says, or what your your parents say, or what a popular ministry says, or what "Joe Blow theologian with 15 titles after his/her name" says, or what your boss at work says,or even what the American judicial system says, or..... No, those "in Christ" are called to determine the truth in regards to this matter by asking themselves one simple question: "What saith the scriptures?" All believers, with no exceptions, have been charged by this great God of ours to proclaim the truth as revealed in His written word-nothing more, nothing less.

Telling people the truth as revealed in the Holy Bible is love, and this should be our motivation, regardless of the cost, whether that cost take the form of loss of friendships(and this includes friendships with fellow believers-Amos 3:3), or enduring being labeled as "intolerant", and the like. If you love someone, you tell them the truth as scripture reveals it, whether they want to hear it or not. The apostle Paul perhaps best summed it up when he asked the poignant question:

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" Galatians 4:16

How right Isaiah was when he lamented: "...my people doth not consider"(Isaiah 1:3), and the shout of pharaoh resounds:

"...Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice....?"(Exodus 5:2).

In Christ and with Christ,
John M. Whalen
prestonke@earthlink.net