California Supreme Court Upholds the Will of The people

This week the California Supreme Court upheld what The People of California recently voted for. They just passed Proposition 8, outlawing homosexual marriage. You might think, "Of course their Supreme Court upheld it, the people voted for it!" But that would suggest you don't know much about California. In fact, some might think it's a sign of the apocalypse when anything turns out right in "La La land." Remember, this is the home of the infamous 9th Circuit Court that routinely ignores common sense and legislates instead of interprets. In case you don't remember government class, Congress is elected by the people and the make the laws. Federal judges are appointed, not accountable to the people, and are supposed to interpret the law, not make it.
The first time I visited California was in the 80's. I discovered something amazing, folks out there are a whole lot like people you find anywhere in the USA. (Well, OK, Oklahomans are considered a bit different by most folks.) But Californians, like most people, want to work, make a living, go to the beach or the mountains on holiday, and generally enjoy the fruit of their labors. For some reason, their government just doesn't work very well. Pity that.
But The People, including a large number of minorities, voted that marriage has meant, and will continue to mean, one woman and one man, a husband and a wife, Adam and Eve, male and female created He them. But the queers, (hey, that's their term), are already spoiling for another fight next year. Well "fight" may not be the word for these sad, confused, prisoners of sin. They don't really fight, they just whine a lot, not unlike spoiled children.
Now its important to note that just because a majority decides something, doesn't mean it's always right. Of course not. The majority rejected Christ and that was a Big Mistake, right? If the majority of the people decided to take the right to vote away from black people that would be wrong. That's why we have a Bill of Rights, so that the majority cannot infringe on the rights of the people. But nowhere in the Constitution have two men ever had the "right" to get married. Even if one of them is a "girly" man. As Dwight McKissic, the African-American pastor of Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington likes to say, "Don't confuse my skin with your sin." (Rom 1:27...and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with lust for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.)
We should pray for the people of California, and the rest of the country. I'm sorry for those who are caught up in this sin because it's so damaging to the mind and soul. We need to pray for revival to break out and deliver "gay" people out of their bondage. We should pray for them, always defend their 'true' rights as citizens, but not make up imaginary rights just to help them in their sin.
So, Thank You, people of California!

Always Give an Answer

1Pe 3:15 "...but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer, to every man that asks you, a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect."
This is an interesting verse. It usually is applied to the idea of witnessing for one's faith: giving an answer for the hope that lies within. But I think its application is wider than that. Yes, it's a challenge to witness. But it also challenges us to have an answer. When someone asks you something, replying "I don't know" is an answer, but its not an answer that necessarily helps. fF somebody says, "How can I get to heaven?" or, "why do you believe in Jesus?" We really ought to have an answer better than "I don't know." That's where discipleship comes in. Are you pursuing God through knowing His word? That's what a disciple does. Peter also wrote, "As newborn babes [desire milk, you should] desire the the milk of the word, that you might grow..."
So what if they ask, "Don't good works count for anything?" or, "Why do you guys dunk people?" or, "Are you anti-homosexual?" What are you going to say?
Do you have a biblical answer for those questions? Do you want to have one? And then there's another equally important question. Can you answer these folks with gentleness, meekness, respect for them, and in the fear of God?
Recently I read an article by a pastor (Brian McLaren) who said how he hated to answer questions about homosexuality. He said we should have a moratorium on making decisive statements on that subject for 5 years while we talk and listen to each other. This person was showing great meekness and respect for others. But, what about respecting God? What about having an answer for anyone that asks. God has already spoken on this subject and thousands of others. Acting like we have to get our answers from humanity when God has already spoken, is not sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
I once preached a pro-life sermon in which I spelled out pretty clearly that abortion was a sin. Later that day a young lady in the church told me that she had had an abortion years ago. This was a wonderful young woman. A great wife, and mother of two darling little girls. She was funny, sweet, supportive of me as her pastor, but there was also a deep scar in her life. I did not regret my sermon or my stance. I did comfort her from the "hope that lies within me," that Jesus can forgive anything we have done, He loves us with an everlasting love, and He already paid the price for her decision 2000 years ago on the cross.
Are you ready to give an answer, to anyone who asks, out of the hope within you, with gentleness, respect and the fear of God? Remember what Paul told Timothy, "Study, to show yourselves approved unto God."