For two consecutive days now I’ve commented on political matters that have both moral and spiritual implications for us a nation. Yesterday, I wrote of Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and friends tying hate crimes legislation to an Iraq war funding bill that could threaten our freedom of religious expression if the bill is passed into law but place our soldiers fighting the war on terror in greater peril than they’re already in if vetoed.
In today’s world, in spite of the warnings of God-fearing people like me, many fail to see the threat posed by hate crimes legislation such as that I wrote of yesterday becoming law in the United States of America. Sadly, this is even true of Christians at times.
Because the above is true, building on what I wrote yesterday, I want to demonstrate why those presently failing to see the threat posed by hate crimes legislation such as that Senator Kennedy says is necessary to fight “the war on terrorism at home” he and his special interest group goonies want us to believe is being waged against homosexuals in America need to open their eyes!
The headline of a Daily Mail article written concerning hate crimes legislation recently passed in the United Kingdom is a glimpse into the Church’s future in the United States if we don’t get motivated to fight Senator Kennedy and the homosexual agenda: New law means anti-gay comments could lead to seven years in jail.
That’s right, folks! Seven years of imprisonment for merely making a comment deemed offensive to a homosexual! That is more than the average sentence a rapist is handed in the United Kingdom!
Are we beginning to see the threat posed to the teaching of God’s Word by legislation of this nature yet? If not, wait until the spiritual powers behind it attain their ultimate goal!
The following are excerpts from the Daily Mail article:
The announcement widened the rift between opposing supporters of freedom of speech and gay rights.
Christian groups condemned it as “a law to allow Christians to be locked up for what they believe”.
But the gay pressure group Stonewall said those who disapprove of homosexuals would have nothing to fear from the law if they express their views in a manner that is “temperate” and “polite”.
And there’s this (emphasis added mine):
The new law aims to catch those who do not explicitly call for attacks or discrimination against homosexuals, as this is covered by existing incitement laws.
Instead, police will be allowed to pursue those who create an “atmosphere or climate” in which hatred or bullying can be fostered. Officials said it would not prohibit criticism of gay, lesbian and bisexual people or joke-telling.
The final decision over who has “crossed the line” will rest with the police.
Did you catch what this law is designed to do? It is designed specifically to make it permissible for someone to be prosecuted based on what another person merely perceives they have said, as opposed to what they actually said or even meant!
If Mary Lou, a lesbian, hears a pastor condemn homosexuality as an abomination from his pulpit, as it is referred to by God in Scripture, she could call the police upon completion of the service and say the pastor created an atmosphere in his church that fostered the hatred of homosexuality.
It would make no difference whatsoever, in an environment where a law like that is in place, what the pastor’s intent was in quoting the Scripture if a police officer, upon receiving a complaint from Mary Lou, determined that probable cause existed that the pastor “crossed the line” and fostered the hatred of homosexuals. And, believe me, if this legislation becomes law in the United States of America, there are going to be lawsuits galore filed by homosexuals against law enforcement agencies who don’t see things their way - so many I would predict that government officials will quickly begin urging their police departments to make arrests in almost every instance possible to prevent them! After all, what is government more worried about? Doing what is morally correct or the almighty dollar? Trust me when I tell you it is the latter in almost every instance, especially where the appeasement of special interest groups is concerned.
If hate crimes legislation of the sort Senator Kennedy is leading the effort to get passed becomes the law of the land, one of the first things I would strongly encourage pastors and all those who plan to express disapproval of the homosexual lifestyle on religious grounds to do would be to consult an organization like Liberty Council or the Alliance Defense Fund to get their assistance in writing a disclaimer to be attached to any Christian writing or sermon outline wherein the topic of homosexuality is to be addressed in an effort to thwart what I guarantee you is going to come if America’s liberals get their way.
Keep looking up, Christians! The ride is getting rougher by the minute and that can only mean one thing! Our redemption draweth nigh!
Original Link.