Prayer Targets: Christ and His Church; Pride Month; ENDA; DOMA; Prop.8; Children
June 13, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
President Obama said his Christian faith required him to approve of same-sex "marriage." Such required a tortuous twisting of Scripture's plain meaning. Some viewed it as blasphemy. Dr. Timothy Dailey contrasts Scripture with pro-homosexual apologetics.
As much as the revisionists seek in vain to find theological themes that might trump biblical injunctions against homosexuality, they avoid one clear and central theme altogether: the theological symbolism of marriage itself... "'For this reason a man will...be joined to his wife, and the two will be become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church" (Eph 5:31-32).
In this memorable passage, quoted often in marriage ceremonies, Paul-following the pattern set by Jesus-appeals to Genesis for the divinely established norm. But he is saying more than simply marriage belongs to the order of creation. Paul is declaring that... the union of a man and a woman-mirrors the covenantal union between Christ and his church. As William May and John Harvey observe, "The symbolic meaning of the sexual union of husband and wife is explicitly related to the meaning of Christ's union with his Church, and surely this has something to tell us of the meaning of our sexuality and of the male-female relationship."
[Thus] acts of marital infidelity by definition destroy the analogy of God's faithfulness, which the marriage bond is intended to reflect. Fornication repudiates the order of creation, which finds its true reflection only in monogamous [man-woman] marriage. [H]omosexual acts are... incompatible with the marriage covenant.
In their effort to avoid this judgment, revisionists suggest that "homosexual marriage" might also reflect the covenantal union between God and man. John Noonan refutes this... claiming that, "homosexual marriage" fails on every point of the analogy... The God of Israel is a faithful husband; he is never seen as a devoted homosexual lover. The Christ of the New Testament is a bridegroom, the Church is his bride; the couple are never presented as a homosexual pair. Human marriage itself, presented as the sign of Christ's union with the Church, is presented as the union of man and wife.
All these biblical themes present relationships that describe theological truths, each of which depends upon the sexual differentiation of male and female. The rejection of such distinctions would result in the distortion of the corresponding spiritual truth, as Noonan remarks: "In each instance there would have been something incongruous, ludicrous, even unthinkable in the choice of homosexual relations to signify deep, faithful, complementary love" (Download free The Bible, the Church, and Homosexuality).
God gave family to be a glimpse of heaven on earth with marriage being a vivid picture of Christ and His Church (Eph 5:22-32). We who believe are profoundly responsible both to defend and magnify the biblical meaning of marriage. To the degree it is sullied, the holy, tender, beauteous, wondrous image of God Himself, and the love of Christ for His Bride, the Church, is sullied. May God help us spread His light in this dark hour!
Ripple Effect of President Obama's Actions - President Obama proclaimed June "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month." He plans a reception for LGBT guests at the White House this Friday. The White House website now lists his accomplishments in advancing the homosexual agenda. Federal agencies, U.S. Military Installations and Embassies abroad are "celebrating" in various ways. Despite the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Louisiana law that prohibits same-sex "marriage" or civil unions, a U.S. Army chaplain performed a same-sex ceremony at Fort Polk last month. While institutions across America are yielding to pressures to abandon moral guidelines on homosexuality, the Boy Scouts, presented with a 250,000+ signature petition to admit homosexual leaders, announced that they have no intention of changing their standards (see Proclamation, Homeland Security, U.S. Embassy, White House Reception, Website, Army Camouflaging Marriage Agenda, Boy Scouts).
- May the President realize that he is an example and that his actions have an impact for good or for evil! May God wash our nation of the moral dullness and spiritual filth that is covering us as a result of this misguided, evil proclamation! May the Boy Scouts continue to resist pressure to yield to this ungodly agenda (Ps 51:6-7; Is 1:16-20; Jer 2:19-3:15; 4:14; Acts 22:16; Jude 7).
ENDA Back in the Senate - The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions reopened hearings on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) this week. ENDA would punish employers who in any way discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. A glimpse of the numbers in the LGBT community who claim acts of discrimination against them forebodes a flood of inquiries and lawsuits if this bill were to be enacted. Christian businessmen would be targeted by activists (see Transgender Testimony, Videos & Documentary, Cry for Help).
- May America become fully acquainted with ENDA and its ominous consequences, and may they demand that their Congressmen and Senators reject it! (Ex 18:21-22a; Pr 28:4; Is 5:20; 59:15; 2 Th 2:7-12)
DOMA, CA Marriage Ruling - As noted last week, both the 9th Circuit Court ruling Proposition 8 Unconstitutional and the 1st Circuit Court ruling DOMA unconstitutional are headed for the U.S. Supreme Court. Soon after the High Court announces its decision on Obamacare, the Arizona Immigration Law and others, it will decide which or both cases it will take up (see DOMA-stic Abuse, DOMA to SCOTUS, If Court Declines CA Case, DOMA is Vital, Demand DOMA Be Enforced!)
- May the Lord lead each Justice to uphold DOMA and the right of the voters to amend their constitution to uphold marriage as between a man and woman! (Ex 18:20; Dt 16:18-19; Pr 28:4; Lk 12:11-12; Jn 7:24; 1 Tim 2:1-8)
New Study on Children of Homosexuals - Homosexual activists have long insisted that children raised by those who identify as homosexuals do just as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. That proposition has been accepted in many circles, including the courts. Now a Texas study, using the largest sampling of any study yet, shows that children in a home where even one parent has engaged in homosexual activity fares worse by every measure and by wide margins than those raised in heterosexual two parent homes. Predictably, homosexual activists are outraged and dismiss these sophisticated scientific findings (see The Kids Are Not All Right, Risks, Varied Outcomes).
- May this study find wide acceptance and help bring clarity to a confused scientific world, and be the first of many more in-depth studies that will demonstrate what we already know from the eternal truths of Scripture (Hos 4:6; Is 28:9-17; Pr 15:7-12; Hab 2:12-14; 1 Tim 4:2-4).
Finally, Americans are still learning what is in Obamacare and the unseemly back room deals that preceded its Senate passage on Christmas Eve, 2009 and in 2010, by the House of Representatives. Pray that Supreme Court will strike it down or that the next President and Congress will repeal it in its entirety!