Christian broadcasters leery of 'hate crimes' law

[JerryNumbers]

:amen

To be honest, what percent of the America people actually get treated equal?

I have lived around this community all of my life except for the 4 years I spent in the Air Force, respect of person takes place most of the time. What you can get by with depends on, who you know, who your mother and father was or is, what position you have, and how much money you have.

This is especially true in local law enforcement, for instants, one wrecker company has always got the business from the city and county. They have been several who have tired to break this up, but usually they go out of business, for your not allowed to buck the powers that be.

[Madeline]

Washington (CNN) -- President OBama on Wednesday signed a law that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
The expanded federal hate crimes law, hailed by supporters as the first major federal gay rights legislation, was added to a $680 billion defense authorization bill that OBama signed at a packed White House ceremony.

The hate crimes measure was named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in OctOBer 1998, and James Byrd Jr., an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year
Shepard's mother, Judy, was among those at the ceremony that also included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary ROBert Gates, Attorney General Eric Holder and leading members of Congress and the Pentagon, who were on hand for the appropriations bill signing
To loud applause, OBama hailed the hate crimes measure in the bill as a step toward change to "help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/28/hate.crimes/index.html

As I heard in a sermon..."God's law supercedes man's law. Therefore when you make law contrary to His word, you're in rebellion to God." When these people stand before God on the day of judgment, the federal law will be useless against the law of God which clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination.. And what an OBamanation!!! OBama states, "Who they love and HOW THEY PRAY? What a hypocrite! We are definitely in the last days!!!

Love,
Madeline

[Madeline]

I just wanted to add. This anti-hate bill that OBama is passing is calling evil good and good evil. To say that you can't speak out against homosexuality is to say that you can't practise your religion. And what angers me is that most Christians are not stepping up to the plate and speak out against such disgusting abominations. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. WAKE UP!!! There's a saying ..."If God doesn't soon bring judgment upon America, He'll have to go back and apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."

Love,
Madeline

[John81]

Sadly, many professing Christians (including pastors) are walking in fear; fear of man rather than fear of God.

Has anyone been paying attention to how similar laws in England are effecting Christians there?

In England a couple have been charged with a "hate crime" for debating who Jesus is with a Muslim. Apparently this Muslim was in their hotel and started talking to the couple about Jesus; making the Muslim claim that Jesus was just a prophet and nothing more. The couple, who are Christians, proclaimed correctly that Jesus is God. Now, for simply stating their belief of who Jesus is they are facing a potentially hefty fine and having a criminal record.

In another case in England an elderly woman was handing out Christian literature where some homosexuals were gathered. The homosexuals harrassed the woman and treated her horribly but it's the elderly Christian woman who is being investigated for possibly committing a "hate crime" against the homosexuals.

So many Christians in America are already fearful of the government, the ACLU and anyone who might persecute them for speaking the Word of God. Don Wildmon's book "Speechless" does a great jOB documenting many such cases and really serves to show just how this dominates the land and isn't just isolated as some of the media stories can make it seem.

[JerryNumbers]

Jesus and His apostles faced such persecution, daily, why do we think we should be spared such per? Why do we fight to keep from suffering and facing persecution for our Lord? John, Those walking in fear need to put more faith in Christ while they keep proclaiming the truths which is the example we have to follow by Christ as well as the 12 apostles.

Think about how it was for John in Revelations 1, he had been exiled to Patmos, he was the last living apostle, think about all the bad things he had seen happened to his fellow brothers as well as Christ, those who he had walked with talked with, plus it was happening to him. Yes by inspiration he wrote another book. He was not fighting against those who persecuted him, he was still doing the work God had saved him to do knowing what he had waiting when he left this world.

[John81]

More and more pastors and Christians in general are purposefully avoiding certain topics for fear of others reactions, for fear of lawsuits, for fear of being seen as "intolerant" or as a "hater".

This has really weighed heavily upon our pastor this year and he's mentioned it many times in his sermons this year.

Several years ago a group of area pastors got together for a meeting. Our pastor was invited and he went. At the meeting the idea was proposed they all help sponser a summer camp for the youth of their churches (and others). One of the pastors stated they wanted it to be a fun summer camp with no one "pushing Jesus" or trying to get people born again, or any of that sort of stuff. Our pastor was shocked but thought this man must be joking. Then another pastor backed that idea, and then another. Our pastor looked about and no one said a word and he spoke up. He asked what the point of a church summer camp would be if Jesus wasn't the central part and getting the children saved and active for Christ.

There were about a dozen pastors in that room and not a one, other than our pastor, would speak up for Christ. Our pastor said he would have no part in it and that he wouldn't have any part in anything else they might do.

Sadly, things have only got worse over the years. I'm thankful our pastor still stands for Christ and refuses to water down the Word, join with those who do or sit silent as they do.