Tag: LGBTQ

The Absurdity of Pride Month

Pride Month is the U.S. government sanctioned, protected, and supported celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people during each month of June. Most Americans support its purpose and activities. Yet, it is the most controversial, divisive, unbiblical, irrational, and absurd custom that we recognize as a nation.

In June of 1969, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, started riots and protests throughout the country. The next June saw “gay liberation” marches and protests in most major cities. President Clinton, in 1999, declared each succeeding month of June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. President Obama proclaimed the month to include all of the LGBT community. This month, President Biden called on Americans to “celebrate the great diversity of the American people and to wave their flags of pride high.” Therefore, regardless of how much the practice of deviant sexual behavior offends millions of Americans, our government officially supports not just its recognition but also its legal priority and celebration. With that government cover, those who celebrate the actions of the LBGTQ population are emboldened to expand the limits of our cultural norm each successive year.

Compassion should always be shown toward every human being. But tolerance of immoral behavior should not be shown. Anyone who considers the Bible as the true Word of God cannot deny God’s rejection of sexual deviation from His natural design. He loves every person of every sexual preference, but He despises the “exchange of their natural function for that which is unnatural.” (Romans 1:26) It is a dangerous situation when our nation officially celebrates what God detests.

It is the height of absurdity when anyone’s lifestyle defies biology, science, natural law, and common sense. From the beginning of time, the entire animal kingdom has been given the bodily functions for male and female procreation. We also all possess the physical and spiritual ability to fulfill our natural family roles based on our biological gender. Departure from this universal norm has contributed to the downfall of societies throughout history. In a half-century, our nation has moved dramatically from disapproval to acceptance to often-radical celebration of deviant sexual lifestyles.

There are dozens of things for which America has designated a month to celebrate. Some are trivial (September is Pizza Month), most are worthy (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Only one month promotes pride in controversial, divisive, unbiblical, irrational, and absurd human behavior. I have been somewhat encouraged this month by observing more than usual pushback and counter statements from those feeling pressured to celebrate behavior they oppose. If you choose to challenge the Pride Month messaging this month, please do so peacefully with compassion for the messenger.

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SCOTUS LGBTQ Ruling Is Wrong for America

In this week’s bombshell Supreme Court ruling, the justices voted 6-3 to force millions of America’s businesses, organizations, and individuals to accept LGBTQ employees against their moral and biblical convictions. This is wrong on many levels.

The decision, shocking most Americans, applied to three lower court appeal cases, the most notable of which was Harris Funeral Homes v. Aimee Stephens and EEOC. Funeral director, Anthony Stephens, was fired after announcing to his funeral home owners that he was changing his name to Aimee and would be working dressed as a women. The funeral home owners believed the action would cause increased grief for families of departed loved ones who were aware of the situation. The firm also felt such condition would cause undue stress on its other female employees who would have to share restrooms with the biological male. Stephens sued the funeral home.

The ruling according to the majority justices is an interpretation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which, among other things, prohibited employment discrimination based on gender. At the time, the intention of the Act was clearly about biological males and females. Monday’s decision interpreted the Act as applying to all LGBTQ sexual identities.

About half of all states already have some valid level of non-discrimination protection for LGBTQ communities. But the other half have limited or no such ordinances. On this issue, the states are generally aligned according to political party majority with blue states legislating LGBTQ protection and red states not. The SCOTUS decision no longer leaves the issue up to the states and even usurps the responsibility of the US Congress to enact discrimination law. Most conservatives view this ruling as judicial activism at the highest level. It was a radical rewrite of existing federal statute. It has taken a controversial social issue out of the hands of legislators representing national sentiment and forcing social change by judicial fiat from six individuals.

Although the decision left open the possibility of employers being exempted on religious grounds, there is little doubt but that lower courts will now use this decision to defend LGBTQ persons applying for employment in churches, Christian schools, para-church organizations, and religious related companies. The ruling’s application to only employment issues will not stop it from being influential in backing men attempting to join women’s sport teams as well as men using women’s restrooms and changing facilities. Such a sweeping decision by the Supreme Court has sunken America much deeper into the normalizing of deviate sexual behavior.

Furthermore, traditional conservative Americans guided by Christian principles felt a sense of disappointment and betrayal upon learning that Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with the liberal justices on this ruling. Gorsuch, usually an unyielding conservative on the Court, even wrote the majority opinion. Justices Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Alito provided the dissenting opinions.

Apparently, conservatives can no longer assume that justices leaning in their direction will vote with conservative ideals. With a 5-4 conservative majority in the Court, one liberal vote by any of the five will swing the decision. This makes it crucial to conservatives that a conservative president and Senate majority be in place when the next Supreme Court seat is vacated.

So, be alert. This ruling has left open all potential for capitalization by the LGBTQ community. Pray that the decision will not embolden those who might want to test the waters in ways that would cause more offense and animosity. What are your thoughts?

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Has Chick-fil-A Become Chicken?

chick fil a

Last Monday, conservatives almost forgot about impeachment when Chick-fil-A announced it was ending donations to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Salvation Army, and Paul Anderson Youth Homes. Many see this as the family-owned restaurant chain founded on Christian values kowtowing to the LGBTQ community. Let’s slice through this controversy and get to what has really happened here.

Business reporters quickly jumped on Chick-fil-A’s new policies for donations by its non-profit foundation this past week. Every year, the company’s foundation donates millions of dollars to worthy charities, mostly those that support the needy and disadvantaged. The new donation criteria for 2020 excludes certain organizations that oppose the LGBTQ/gay marriage/transgender rights agenda.

Chick-fil-A founder, Truett Cathy, declared the new corporation’s purpose 50 years ago: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” Cathy, a faithful Southern Baptist, was never shy about his belief that homosexuality, gay marriage, and transgender lifestyles were sinful. Since its inception, the company has been constantly derided by the LGBTQ community, often involving large demonstrations and boycotts.

Upon Truett Cathy’s death in 2014, his son, Dan, took the reins of the corporation as CEO. Since then, he has been virtually silent on LGBTQ positions, while continuing to donate to prominent charities that are outspoken against those positions. Even before his father death, Dan Cathy declared he would stop engaging in the national debate over marriage equality. He stated that even though his views hadn’t changed, he realized talking about them publicly was bad for business. One can only conclude that his removal of faith-based groups that support heterosexual relationships and traditional marriage from his foundation’s donation list was considered good for business.

This past week, evangelist Franklin Graham called Dan Cathy to determine his objectives in this turn-around. Graham reported that Mr. Cathy “was very clear” in saying that the company “did not bow down to anyone’s demands, including the LGBTQ community.” Cathy said his company will continue to support whomever they want to support and that they haven’t changed who they are or what they believe. Mr. Graham went on to argue that the LGBTQ community will never be satisfied with Chick-fil-A because of the founder’s strong stand for biblical traditional values and his desire to honor God.

Franklin Graham is right about the LGBTQ radicals not being satisfied. Over the last few days, social media has been filled with comments like, “A public apology is needed here, not just saying they stopped,” and “When Chick-fil-A apologizes directly to the LGBTQ community and begins to donate to pro-LGBTQ causes, then I will eat there. Not one second before.” The company can expect Dan Cathy’s initial peace gesture to the gay crowd to be incentive for them to press for more.

So, where does all this leave us who crave that delicious chicken sandwich meal, enjoy the restaurant’s wholesome Christian atmosphere, and love the positive, friendly service? As for me, I plan to continue to patronize Chick-fil-A. If I abandon a Christian family business that is stumbling over some of its biblical principles and choose to patronize its competitor with no known connection to my faith, what have I gained? However, I plan to share my concerns with the company, both locally and at corporate level, and will watch closely for any signs of its further departure from its Christian roots. Finally, I will include Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy in my prayers from time to time, particularly before enjoying my grilled chicken sandwich.

 

 

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