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While I agree, why would anyone want to force someone to marry them?????? Kinda puts the focus on the wrong thing. Many places and even churches will marry a Gay couple, so why focus on one that doesn't want to?
Why would anyone?
Enmity Genesis 3:15
Why focus on the ones that doesn't want to?
A: Because the correct focus is one of a spiritual battle ... and as such we know:
1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
B: Because the ones that don't is like salt to an open wound ... and the open wound would like nothing more than the salt to lose it saltiness and trample on it.
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth.
But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
If they can mandate performance, they can't mandate content. Perhaps they should declare their willingness to perform a ceremony that includes readings from the relevant scriptural injunctions against homosexuality. As the news reports said they provide pre-marriage counseling and copies of CDs with information on how to have a happy marriage, they could probably include some information on how to deal with same-sex attraction along with the other information, as well as some pamphlets on counseling to overcome such impulses. As long as they include that for every ceremony, they are on good legal ground, as long as the speech is religious in nature. If a gay couple insists on participating in such a ceremony, they go in knowing what kind of ceremony they will get.
Or, they could act on their conscience, refuse to kowtow to an overreaching state bureaucracy, and allow themselves to be jailed as prisoners of conscience, like Thoreau or the Berrigans. That would change the national narrative in a way that could be catastrophic to the homogamy movement - no one likes Big Brother imprisoning people for their faith, or for civil disobedience..
If they can mandate performance, they can't mandate content. Perhaps they should declare their willingness to perform a ceremony that includes readings from the relevant scriptural injunctions against homosexuality. As the news reports said they provide pre-marriage counseling and copies of CDs with information on how to have a happy marriage, they could probably include some information on how to deal with same-sex attraction along with the other information, as well as some pamphlets on counseling to overcome such impulses. As long as they include that for every ceremony, they are on good legal ground, as long as the speech is religious in nature. If a gay couple insists on participating in such a ceremony, they go in knowing what kind of ceremony they will get.
Or, they could act on their conscience, refuse to kowtow to an overreaching state bureaucracy, and allow themselves to be jailed as prisoners of conscience, like Thoreau or the Berrigans. That would change the national narrative in a way that could be catastrophic to the homogamy movement - no one likes Big Brother imprisoning people for their faith, or for civil disobedience..
So they should throw a temper tantrum of sorts because they're not allowed to break the law? That seems pretty "Christian".
If they can mandate performance, they can't mandate content. Perhaps they should declare their willingness to perform a ceremony that includes readings from the relevant scriptural injunctions against homosexuality. As the news reports said they provide pre-marriage counseling and copies of CDs with information on how to have a happy marriage, they could probably include some information on how to deal with same-sex attraction along with the other information, as well as some pamphlets on counseling to overcome such impulses. As long as they include that for every ceremony, they are on good legal ground, as long as the speech is religious in nature. If a gay couple insists on participating in such a ceremony, they go in knowing what kind of ceremony they will get.
Or, they could act on their conscience, refuse to kowtow to an overreaching state bureaucracy, and allow themselves to be jailed as prisoners of conscience, like Thoreau or the Berrigans. That would change the national narrative in a way that could be catastrophic to the homogamy movement - no one likes Big Brother imprisoning people for their faith, or for civil disobedience..
How Christian of you, Arizona!!! It's that kind of Christianity that takes Christ out of His own story.
Did you read my post #94 on this thread? It's okay for evangelicals to cry foul because they are "forced" to do something against their religious beliefs, but when the government declares a CHURCH, not a for profit chapel, may not perform same-sex marriage as North Carolina did in 2012--it's fine.
The hypocrisy of right wing evangelicals is unbounded.
While I agree, why would anyone want to force someone to marry them?????? Kinda puts the focus on the wrong thing. Many places and even churches will marry a Gay couple, so why focus on one that doesn't want to?
The reason for the focus I believe is to prevent other for-profit businesses from discriminating based on religious beliefs. This can be a very slipperly slope once a court decision is made. Should some religious extremist who owns a Grocery whos hates women or thinks its sinful to have them shop be allowed not to serve them? This is an extreme example but its not hard to think of others that are much more likely and are likely to affect Christians directly in some cases.
It's what I've been saying forever--"religious" groups cannot operate "for profit." Personally I'm completely opposed to tax exemptions for both churches and the people who give to them also. People who give should give because they feel an obligation toward the message being preached. Churches, if they are operating at a profit as many mega-churches are, should be a part of the greater society.
Explain what you mean here. What are these churches doing with this profit?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wardendresden
By the way, I practice what I preach with this regard. I don't give to churches, and money, some of it significant, that I give to help down and out individuals and families is NEVER tax exempt. They get my after tax money only. If you're going to be good, be good for something, not good because of tax breaks.
Well, I give my money to my church, after I pay my taxes also.
I've seen other articles that suggest evangelical ministers will be forced to submit transcripts of their sermons and can be prosecuted if they aren't in line with the "progressive" direction this country is heading. That's what burns me up. You know the old "right to refuse service" thing you see posted in places? Why can't a business refuse service? It goes against their beliefs.
Have you ever been in another country, try to walk into an establishment and hear "NO AMERICANS!"
Don't like it? Gomennasi!
I've seen other articles that suggest evangelical ministers will be forced to submit transcripts of their sermons and can be prosecuted if they aren't in line with the "progressive" direction this country is heading. That's what burns me up. You know the old "right to refuse service" thing you see posted in places? Why can't a business refuse service? It goes against their beliefs.
Have you ever been in another country, try to walk into an establishment and hear "NO AMERICANS!"
Don't like it? Gomennasi!
Are you asking why businesses are prohibited from discriminating?
I definitely believe that the tax breaks for churches will be a wheat/chaff separation moment for many churches when the government throws down the gauntlet. I believe it will be in my lifetime.
I have already had the discussion with my pastor and I am pleased that he said he would forfeit the church's tax-exempt if the government required us to publically denounce the Scriptures.
I believe that a large majority of churches will succumb to the almighty dollar, which is not surprising as most churches are more concerned with their bottom line than preaching the gospel.
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