The battle for the fate of our culture is at hand
June 8, 2004
In I Chronicles 12, we learn about a pivotal time in the history of Israel . It is a time when God was bringing many mighty warriors to King David as his authority and throne were being established. God brought him warriors of uncanny abilities and valor. These men were renowned for their bravery, loyalty and preparation. But there is one group among all these warriors that has always stood out to me. These were the men of Issachar. What these men brought to the table was discernment and wisdom. The Bible describes them this way, “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do …” (I Chr. 12:32).
You can have a mighty army, but without men of discernment and wisdom, it will eventually be defeated. Maybe not at first, but ultimately, the strong would fall without wisdom. We need such men and women right now. We need warriors who understand the times and know what America and its church should do.
Many may not fully realize the battle we are in. At this very moment in history, we are locked in one of the greatest cultural wars Western Civilization has ever faced: the battle for the family!
A small number of Massachusetts Supreme Court justices have taken upon themselves to define what comprises a family. In Genesis, Chapter 3, God defines a family as one man and one woman. Every subsequent civilization in the history of mankind has concurred — until now. If these justices were in Missouri , I would lead a charge to impeach and remove them. So it is now up to the citizens of our country to define and defend marriage and the family as one man and one woman. This is why we must add language to the U.S. Constitution that protects the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. This is why the Federal Marriage Amendment must be ratified. On Aug. 3, Missourians can send a loud and clear signal to the rest of the nation about what we believe.
What can you do?
First, call the local office of your U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative — today. The local offices will be much more responsive than calling or writing the Washington, D.C., offices. When you call a local office it has a grassroots effect and causes lawmakers to pause, especially if they are facing re-election. If you do not know your legislators or where the local office is located, you can go to the Web site of our Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), www.erlc.com, and find it, or call the U.S. Capitol main telephone number: 202-224-3121. There also is a lot of helpful information at the SBC’s Web site, www.sbc.net.
Second, be sure you are registered to vote. You can register by going to the ERLC’s website www.erlc.com and register on-line.
Third, register everyone in your church and all your friends. I would suggest that you have a voter registration table in a high traffic area of your church every Sunday during June or July. Yes, that is perfectly legal. When I was a pastor, we did this before every election and registered many new voters. In Missouri , all that is really needed is to provide every person with a postcard to fill out with the appropriate information and then hand deliver or bulk mail them to the County Clerk . If you need more details, call your County Clerk for the complete step-by-step process. Detailed information is also available at: www.sos.mo.gov/elections/countyclerks.asp or call the Secretary of State’s office Matt Blunt at (573) 751-4936.
Too often people do not vote because they don’t think their one vote will make a difference in a nationwide election. If you think your one vote doesn’t count, then review just a bit of history with me, regarding the power of one vote.
- In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
- In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
- In 1776 one vote determined that English, not German, would be the American language.
- In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union .
- In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
- In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
- In 1923, one vote gave Hitler control of the Nazi party.
- In 1941, 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor , one vote saved the Selective Service.
- In 1960, Richard Nixon lost the Presidential election and John F. Kennedy won it by less than one vote per precinct in the United States.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if we lose this battle in this and following elections, homosexuality will be taught as a normal lifestyle in your children’s school textbooks. One man and one woman marriages will be replaced by same-sex marriage and then, with the barriers lifted, polygamy will be next. Polygamy is already being contested in our courts. Then, what would keep two men and three women from being married to each other? Or a woman from marrying her dog?
A Toronto Christian businessman, Scott Brocki, refused on the basis of his religious convictions, to print letterhead for a homosexual-activist group. In December 2001, the local human rights commission ordered him to pay the group $5,000, print the requested material, and apologize to the group’s leaders. Both The Saskatoon Star Phoenix and Hugh Owens were ordered to pay $1,500 to each of three homosexual activists as damages for publication of an advertisement, placed by Owens, which conveyed the message that the Bible condemns homosexual acts. Chris Kempling, a 13-year teacher and counselor in the public school system in British Columbia was declared guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the British Columbia College of Teachers by the College in May 2002. The reprimand was for writing letters to the editor objecting to the promotion of the homosexual agenda in the public school system. Remember, one of the strategies of the homosexual agenda is to silence all opposition.
If homosexual marriage is legitimized, then it will soon become illegal to speak against it. We MUST be able to tell the homosexual community that there is a Savior who can — and will — deliver them from sin. To not speak out would be a terrible spiritual injustice. Why? Because Jesus Christ Himself said, “Outside (of heaven) are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev. 22:15). We MUST share the gospel story with them.
Today, we need “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do … .” Don’t put your head in the sand. Step up and stand up when election time comes.