New Evangelical Viewpoint ... 02

From Jerry Beavan: Here is today's Evangelical Viewpoint on the recent string of successes run up by the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans-gender) supporters in destroying the traditional, God-ordained, Bible-verified concept of marriage.

But first, let me express my sincere, heart-felt appreciation for the warm welcome you have given to the first NEV. We knew that many ANC readers missed that weekly commentary, and after 10 years of publication, that might well have been expected. But never could we have expected so many of the carefully selected members of this new group to share NEV by forwarding each issue to their personal email list, and/or using some of the "social media" like FaceBook, etc.

Little did we know just how timely that first issue of NEV would be. We set forth God's viewpoint, God's plan and purpose for Israel, just at the time John Kerry was brokering the Palestinian claim on the land God gave to Israel, as he resumed the previously failed "peace talks."

Our approach to today's subject issue is different from most of the commentaries you have read about the widespread increase in the legalization of "same sex marriages." We are not going to use your time—and ours—in enumerating the many argumentative responses to the pro-arguments put forth by the homosexual supporters. Let it just simply be said that the concept of "same sex marriage" is wrong. Period. It is anti-thousands of years of historical tradition. It is anti-God's Word as expressed in Genesis 1:28: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply." And it is anti-God, where He gave His viewpoint of homosexual behavior in Leviticus 18:22: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." God doesn't need to repeat Himself. His Word is eternal.

And in the New Testament, Paul, in establishing Christian doctrine, wrote“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves ... shall inherit the kingdom of God.” So this concept is simply wrong in so many aspects; it is anti-tradition, anti-Bible, anti-Christian and anti-God.

But our viewpoint today is slightly different. Consider this quote from Bob Coffey, Canadian born consultant to major think tanks and corporations:"A valuable lesson of what small but dedicated group can do when it works hard. We conservatives should be ashamed that we were outworked by a group that was willing to do for evil what we were not willing to do for good."

In this brief comment, Dr. Coffey brings into clear focus the actual heart of the problem—a small, dedicated group committed to an erroneous concept were willing to work hard for something evil, while our much larger group, who are supposedly committed to doing the right thing, has failed in working toward achieving the correct concept. This brings our problem into sharpest focus: it isn't economic or military or political—it's spiritual. Most observers and commentators completely miss that fact.

Consider these brief facts:

(1) Back in the 1940s Alfred Kinsey floated the theory that the LGBTs represented 10% of the US population. For decades this guestimate was taken as the accurate figure. Wrong.

(2) In 2011, Gary J. Gates, a demographer at the Charles R. Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law, UCLA School of Law, took a scholarly stab at answering the question that has been debated since Kinsey's estimated that 10 percent of the men he surveyed were "predominantly homosexual." Gates concluded that 3.5% – 3.8% of the U.S. population were in the LGBT camp.

(3) In 2013, Gallup surveys pointed out some cities and states where the LGBT percentage could reach 10%, but overall settled on a national average of 3.5%.

(4) In 2008 the Pew Research Center reported that Christians represented 78% of the U.S. Population. In 2012 Gallup surveys placed that figure at 77%

And thus the Coffey quote becomes so important -- the LGBT adherents are outnumbered by American Christians 20 to 1—less than 4% compared with just less than 80% ... but that small community is winning the war against traditional, God-ordained marriage, one battle at a time.

Of course, they do have a powerful supporter in the person of Barack Obama, who, while on Air Force One enroute on his African trip, sent this message to LGBT workers in California as Proposition 8 was overturned: "We're proud of you guys, and we're proud to have this in California. And it's because of your leadership things are heading the right way. So you should be very proud today."

By the way—in case you missed this "news item"—"Obama once again proclaimed the month of June 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month,' as he has done in each of the last four years of his administration." And, of course, to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, he hosted his fifth annual gala Itfar dinner at the White House.

And why has the Christian majority (77% over 3.5%) failed with respect to this important issue? One reason might be found in the report that in the 2012 presidential election, 21% of American Evangelicals voted for Obama. And on a broader base, in that election 42% of Protestant Christian voters voted for Obama. How does one comment on facts like that?

It brings to mind Bob Norman's (Brother Bob) book: "Where Is the Voice of the Church?" And that is our thought provoking headline for today—"Where Is the Voice of the Church?"

We do not sell books, but often the advertisements for new publications include some thought provoking statements—like these in behalf or Brother Bob's book in which he brilliantly elaborates on how churches have become neutralized, how America has lost its Christian heritage and how we reclaim it:"America has been great because it was built on sound Christian principles. Our nation acknowledged and honored God, the Creator, and as a result, He blessed the nation. However, years ago, our churches adopted a neutral position with regard to society, wherefore, those principles melted away. Our Christian foundation eroded and we lost our stability."

And that is the New Evangelical Viewpoint for today. If these thoughts strike a responsive note with you, take just a moment to forward today's NEV to your personal email list. "Going Viral" has several ranges, but by any standard, the reports we have received demonstrate that the previous issue did indeed "go viral."

Here, as an afterthought, is a news item you may have missed. With royal approval given by Queen Elizabeth II, same-sex marriage is now legal in Great Britain. Following positive voting results in both Houses of Parliament in mid-July, the Queen's approval was purely routine, but under the new law, beginning next Summer gay couples will be able to wed in civil and religious ceremonies in England and Wales, and couples who had entered into a civil relationship will be able to convert that relationship to a marriage. We can ask the same question that confronts us here in America: "Where Is the Voice of the Church?"