This might be the tipping point

Many thoughtful and sincere friends have given me counsel about my public comments regarding politics, and our president, noting that “being political” could hamper my effectiveness as a pastor.  I understand their sentiments, and their concern for the church in general.

But this week our president has done something that may well push me past the point of silence.  No, it wasn’t his coming out in support of gay marriage.  I can disagree with the president on an issue (actually many issues), and still respect the position of president (Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:7).

What president Obama did that I find particularly offensive is that in his statements in support for gay marriage, he invoked the name of Jesus Christ:

“This is something that, you know, [Michelle and I have] talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated…”

So let me get this straight Mr. President; You support homosexual relationships, and your basis for that support is your faith in Jesus Christ? You believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind, and that means we must promote and condone a lifestyle that is not only at odds with “others,” but is at odds with God’s word?

Mr. President, I support your right to hold whatever position you wish on the issue of gay marriage. But I take offense that you would invoke the name of Jesus Christ as the basis for that support, as if Jesus Himself would support gay marriage.  If you wish to know Jesus’ position on marriage, He stated it quite clearly in Matthew 19:

Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’  and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. (Matt 19:4-6)

Yes we are instructed in scripture to honor the king, but that doesn’t mean that we must stay silent when the name of Jesus is blasphemed.  John the Baptist was imprisoned, then beheaded, because he confronted Herod over this marriage to his brothers wife, Herodias:

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. (Mark 6:17-18)

I encourage every follower of Jesus Christ to contact the White House, and RESPECTFULLY state your position on the president’s comments.  (Honor the Lord in all you do, including raising an objection to our political leaders.)

and ... PRAY for our nation.  that our leaders would seek the face of God, and that there would be revival and repentance in the land.  

Why is it important?  For one, he has grossly misrepresented the name and nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Second, it deceives those who may not know any better, leading them to believe that somehow God would condone gay marriage. Third, God sees the sins of a nation, and at some point when those sins are filled up, God will bring judgment to that nation (see Ezekiel 22 below). 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

(I notice that the white house contact form is currently “undergoing maintenance.  Hmmm.)

you can also phone: 202-456-1111

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God. (Ez 22:23-31)