When the homosexual "marriage" bill was passed in New Zealand, faithful Christians could clearly see God's handwriting on the wall. Like that ancient writing which appeared amidst a pagan feast during the days of Daniel, we knew that the days of our nation were numbered. We knew that God had weighed us and found that our sin was grossly abhorrent. We knew that our nation had already been given over to enemies. We warned that homosexual "marriage" would soon morph into the persecution of Christians and the Church.
Christians have always been an ornery people. They quaintly claim to believe in God and His Messiah. They assert that their highest, deepest, and ultimate loyalty is to the God of gods. They will not transgress His law, even unto death. Now, in "ordinary circumstances" Christians get along just fine with their neighbours. They seek to do good to all men. They care for and serve the poor and the oppressed. They live peaceable lives. They mind their own business. They raise their children to be decent citizens. So far, so good. But militant Unbelief cannot help itself. In the end, it will brook no opposition. In the end, Christians will be made to conform--or, more accurately, the attempt to make them conform will break out.
When the homosexual "marriage" law was passed, anyone who suggested that it was only a matter of time before Christians were persecuted for their resistant unbelief in the secular religion and for their rejection of illicit sex and perverse "marriage" were mocked as extremists and alarmists. But Unbelief is implicitly totalitarian. Given enough opportunity, it will brook no opposition. Given half a chance, Unbelief will be militantly oppressive, demanding total conformity to its apostate religion.
New Zealand is a small country. When Unbelief becomes more godless and militant, the very smallness of the country can act as a restraint. People know people. Politicians can be approached. Blogs can influence an entire election campaign. Avenues are open for redress and correction. But these things will not protect the faithful when the militant, secular Left get back into power--as it inevitably will.. We have seen their form.
Under the last Labour administration, believers were openly mocked in Parliament as "chinless scarf wearers" because they dared to oppose the relentless secular juggernaut being imposed upon the country by Helen Clark and her cabal. At that time, Clark crossed more than a few bridges that were too far, and "mainstream" New Zealand dumped her unceremoniously. It was evident that "mainstream" New Zealand (that is, moderate secularists) did not appreciate being told which light-bulbs they were permitted to buy, and the length of time they would be permitted to occupy a shower to conduct their ablutions. But note the oppressive, militant spirit that was revealed. "Ve hav vays of making you konform." The animus will come back. We predict that homosexual "marriage" will be a field of skirmish, then open battle. And note that the mainstream has, in this instance, applauded the passage of homosexual "marriage" perfidy.
In the United States, the cause of homosexual "marriage" has been taking over with all the relentlessness of the Borg. The nation appears to be assimilating at pace. Whether this is the product of a rogue judiciary or the manipulation of elites, and whether it will eventually be rolled back by peaceful means, remains to be seen. But the prediction of the persecution of Christians has rapidly emerged into reality.
City officials in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho have informed two ordained ministers that they must perform same sex marriages or face jail time and a fine.It is likely that eventually judicial appeals will smite the city officials in Idaho on the face. We shall see. But expect many more cases like this. Secularism and Unbelief is becoming unmasked. It is as oppressive in spirit as all godless, secular governments have been when they have taken control--as the regimes of Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Hitler, and Castro eloquently testify. Secularism has motive--serious motive. All it needs is the opportunity and the means. Then evil will be unmasked in all its diabolical horror.
City officials told Donald Knapp that he and his wife Evelyn, both ordained ministers who run Hitching Post Wedding Chapel, are required to perform such ceremonies or face months in jail and/or thousands of dollars in fines. The city claims its “non-discrimination” ordinance requires the Knapps to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies now that the courts have overridden Idaho’s voter-approved constitutional amendment that affirmed marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
“The government should not force ordained ministers to act contrary to their faith under threat of jail time and criminal fines,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here – and it’s happened this quickly. The city is on seriously flawed legal ground, and our lawsuit intends to ensure that this couple’s freedom to adhere to their own faith as pastors is protected just as the First Amendment intended.”
For Christians this will be a time of great struggle and hardship. But, because the Spirit of God dwells amongst us, we will not lose heart. True--there will be departures. There will be those who, under foul weather, will prove that they were always fair-weather Christians. They will leave and prove thereby that they were never really of us, as the Apostle John notes (I John 2:19). The true Church will be purified and sanctified by going through the deep waters. But Christ will not leave us. He will enable us to persevere. Our Saviour--as always--will command secularist evil to integrate into the void. Its end is sure and certain.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
3 comments:
The state of the western world fits Isaiah 30 10-11 so its not new.
The verses say, 10."They say to the seers, See no more visions and to the prophets, Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11. Leave this way, get off this path and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel.
The encouraging thing is that as we in the west decline, the gospel still goes out and hearts are changed somewhere else.
3:16
Oh woe to the persecuted xtians.
There is no law in the US that compels xtian ministers to perform same sex marriages, and the RFRA provides the cover for that.
That said, "The Hitching Post" is not a church or place of worship; it is a business, and as such must comply with the law the same as any other business and not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, sexuality, etc.
Did you read this piece from the article?
Coeur d’Alene officials told the Knapps privately and also publicly stated that the couple would violate the city’s public accommodations statute once same-sex marriage became legal in Idaho if they declined to perform a same-sex ceremony at their chapel. (emphasis mine)
The are offering services at public accommodation, not a place of worship.
I wonder how Evelyn would feel if a DMV employee refused her a driver licence because is faith tells him women shouldn't drive?
David, if you can suspend your lamentations and woes for a moment, is it your view that a Christian business is an oxymoron or an illegality or somehow illicit?
If so--and one assumes that must be your operating assumption--we would point out that your view is not the Christian worldview. It is a secularist demand for a religion that is acceptable to secularism, or any other belief you may hold. From the outset, then, you are bent on imposing your views--religious and otherwise--upon us. By what standard are you demanding that a business must be secular and non-Christian? Upon what does your authority rest? Who or what gave your particular religion or philosophy that imperial authority?
From the get-go, then, you are presuming to dictate to Christians how our faith should be framed to conform to your predispositions. Add the force of law to your prejudices, and you have persecution. And you are cheering it all on--which provides an apt illustration of the authoritarianism of which we speak.
Mock us all you like, but please lay aside the arrogance of presuming to tell us what our faith, our Christ, and our world-view ought to be.
JT
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