Posts Tagged ‘Homosexuality’

By Berit Kjos
Kjos Ministries

“… because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…. If they persecuted Me they will persecute you… for they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:19-21

What goals are driving our government today? What can we expect as America gradually merges into a socialist, anti-Christian New World Order? Will you and I face persecution for our faith?

These are sobering questions! Centuries ago, God blessed our nation with peace, hope and shelter from the terrors that darkened so many other lands! But the world is changing fast! Our nation is forgetting His goodness and mocking His guidelines, while corrupt rulers trade truth and integrity for lies and deception. Psalm 52:1-3 summarized it well:

“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? …
Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good…”

Christian children now face mockery and humiliation from classmates as well as teachers in their secular schools. Teenagers who question the acceptance of the gay lifestyle are being disciplined — even expelled. And countless adults who dare to express their faith in a secular workplace are threatened or fired.

Yet our God still reigns! So, “…do not be discouraged…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

Hating God and His Truth

A spiritual war has been raging since the beginning of time. The Old Testament points to a cycle that appeared again and again in ancient Israel. As long as the people trusted God, He met their needs. But when they grew strong and proud, they ignored their Provider and forgot His guidelines. When He finally withdrew His hand of protection, they faced droughts, famines, wars and cruel invaders.

Does that sound familiar? The New Testament warns us that we will face similar consequences if we reject His guidelines. Are we prepared to follow our Lord no matter what happens? Click here to continue reading.

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network

Following the announcement that NBA star Jason Collins had come out as a homosexual, ESPN commentator Chris Broussard declared on national television today that homosexuality is a sin against God, and that a person who willingly lives an unrepentant lifestyle cannot call themselves a Christian.

“I’m a Christian,” he began as he spoke on Outside the Lines along with LZ Granderson, an avowed homosexual. “I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin. I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is [sin] and LZ knows that.”

“Personally, I don’t think you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle, or [engage in] premarital sex between heterosexuals [as a Christian],” Broussard continued. “If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you will know them by their fruits. It says that it’s a sin, and if you’re living in unrepentant sin — whatever it may be, not just homosexuality — adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God.” Click here to read more and to watch a video of this.

LTRP Note: We believe this article, written by a Lighthouse Trails reader, goes hand in hand with our recent article, “4 Reasons Why Holman Publishers Should Not Have Inserted an Article by a Contemplative Author into Their King James Bibles. ” Both that and this article below show that the King James Bible is being exploited because it is in the public domain. While the so-called Queen James Bible may be an extreme case, it is still another case in point regardless.

By BGF

On December 12, 2012 an unnamed US publisher announced release of the Queen James Bible (QJB), dubbed A Gay Bible. It was apparently produced for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender) community using the 1769 edition of the King James Bible (KJB) for its base translation. The following commentary and conclusions concern the contents of the QJB’s official website, its press release, and Internet coverage. It is assumed that the QJB is not a hoax due to the expense incurred to publish it and the care with which its editors and the publisher have concealed their identities.

Quoting the QJB official website:

Homosexuality was first mentioned in the Bible in 1946 in the Revised Standard Version. There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this – only interpretations have been made. Anti-LGBT Bible interpretations commonly cite only eight verses in the Bible that they interpret to mean homosexuality is a sin; Eight verses in a book of thousands [implying an insignificant number to establish God’s meaning]! (Bold added.)

The Queen James Bible seeks to resolve interpretive ambiguity in the Bible as it pertains to homosexuality: We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible.  (Bold added.)

The accusation of homophobia from the homosexual lobby against those who disagree with the LGBT worldview for biblical and moral reasons deliberately obscures the distinction between fear and reasoned disagreement. Unlike reasoned disagreement, fear in the phobic sense is irrational. Quoting Wikipedia:

A phobia (from the Greek, Phóbos, meaning “fear” or “morbid fear”) is, when used in the context of clinical psychology, a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational.1

It is claimed that the term homosexual was not used in Bible translation before 1946. That term was also never used in any preserved text Bible because it did not exist in the English language until 1892, according to Webster’s Dictionary. Regardless of the language used, the essential meaning of homosexuality has been presented for millennia in Bible manuscripts as a form of sexual perversion and that understanding is also clear from Jesus’ and the apostles’ New Testament teachings on marriage as a sacred union of fidelity between one man and one woman. The term homosexual was introduced into Bible translation by the same theological revisionist school of textual criticism that is responsible for the modern Alexandrian Critical Text Bibles.

The QJB official website goes on to say:

The Bible is the word of God translated by man. This (saying nothing [of the] countless translations and the evolution of language itself) means the Bible can be interpreted in different ways, leading to what we call “interpretive ambiguity.” In editing The Queen James Bible we were faced with the decision to modify existing interpretively ambiguous language, or simply to delete it.  (Bold added.)

Clearly, the decision of the QJB’s editors and publisher was to modify the KJB’s text to accord with the LGBT agenda. To purchase the QJB, its official website directs one to Amazon where God is indicated as the Author and Jesus Christ as Contributor. It is unclear if this blasphemy is attributable to the editors, the publisher, or both.

The editors deliberately played upon James’s title (Queen for King), implying that rumors of his sexual proclivities made him one of them, so to speak. Alterations to the KJV text may calm the consciences of a demographic accused and offended by God’s intended understanding of the Bibleregarding sexuality and marriage, but at what price? Quoting further from the QJB official website regarding James’ alleged sexual orientation:

Commonly known to biographers but often surprising to most Christians, King James I was a well-known bisexual. Though he did marry a woman, his many gay relationships were so well-known that amongst some of his friends and court, he was known as “Queen James.” It is in his great debt and honor that we name The Queen James Bible so.

No verifiable historical evidence that King James was either homosexual or bi-sexual has been found by this writer, although James has been described as having less than manly deportment for a king (The Bible in the Making, Geddes MacGregor, P.146). In its historical context, Queen James may well have simply referred to deportment, and nothing more. It should be obvious that such an observation regarding James’ manner does not warrant the indictment of his sexual orientation being anything but heterosexual. For the QJB editors to advance their interests without citing sources is slanderous and irresponsible, the more so when James’ accusers choose anonymity. Even if evidence of sexual perversion existed, it would in no way cast a shadow on the veracity of the King James Bible because James’ role was to commission it, not participate in its rigorous translation process. Who are we, the created, to question why God uses unlikely vessels, such as the Apostles and others, for His divine purposes?

Attempts by this writer and others to identify the US publisher and editors of the QJB have been unsuccessful. Further, Internet postings to date are not neutral regarding the QJB’s biases. They have also accepted as factual the association of the fictional Reverend J. Pearson and the real San Francisco Holy Innocents Episcopalian Church with the QJB.

Recent telephone discussion with clergy at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church revealed that they had no knowledge of the QJB prior to that discussion. That discussion also revealed that there had been a Rev. A (Bertie) Pearson at the Church, but not a Reverend J. Pearson, as cited in the QJB’s press release. Rev. Bertie Pearson left Holy Innocents Episcopal Church on October 1, 2012 to minister elsewhere. On December 12, 2012, PR Web, an online press release distribution service, (www.prweb.com/) issued the press release titled, “New Gay Bible Prevents Homophobic Misinterpretation of Key Verses; Titled The Queen James Bible.” During a telephone conversation with the falsely associated Rev. Bertie Pearson, he stated that he also had no knowledge of the QJB until contacted by his former church, whereupon he had PR Web remove the article from its website because it was inaccurate and libelous.

The QJB has an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), but the ISBN Registration Office in the US only has record of John Pearson as the contact person and Queen James as the publisher. Pink News (news@pinknews.co.uk), a UK website that caters to the European LBGT community, posted an article on December 13, 2012 titled, “San Francisco: Gay-friendly ‘Queen James’ Bible launched, naming Reverend Pearson of San Francisco’s Holy Innocents Church” (no given name initial). It is noteworthy that the Pink News posting occurred just one day after PR Web’s press release in the US. Telephone contact with the US Copyright Office revealed that there is no record of copyright registration for the QJB, including among recent registration applications awaiting processing. If there had, identifiers such as God or Queen James would have been questioned. Apparently, the ISBN Registration Office did not do that. Copyright registration would afford protection under law for the holder and would become part of the public record, which would open the holder’s identity to disclosure. However, registration would not be sought if a work’s copyright holder wanted anonymity, which is obviously the situation regarding the QJB – so far. US copyright begins the moment a work is created and it lasts until the author’s death and/or its ownership is transferred, plus seventy years. Copyright work, registered or not, can show the copyright symbol (C inside a circle), which the QJB does.

The following conclusions drawn from unsuccessfully attempting to identify of the QJB’s editors and publisher serve as a warning to be vigilant and to anticipate future sophisticated deceptive attacks on the King James Bible and its teaching.

- The QJB editors and publisher apparently have no fear of having to one day answer to the Lord for blasphemy, heresy, and gross unethical and immoral conduct.

- The QJB editors and publisher apparently have no scruples about deliberately propagating disinformation and libeling others.

- So far, the QJB editors have failed to publicly associate with their altered KJV, and they have been careful to avoid scrutiny. By any standard, that is moral cowardice and contrary to the admonition of Scripture, which is to stand publicly for one’s faith.

- The KJ Bible was chosen for corruption because outside the UK its text is in the public domain and therefore not subject to copyright violation. The year 1769 identifies the King James as the text used. A non-UK KJ text would have required permission from the copyright owner to alter it, and that would have revealed the QJB’s editors’ identities.

- Several factors suggest the QJB editors may reside in the UK and be associated with the LGBT community there and in the US. Those factors include:

•The one-day separation between the PR Web’s US press release and the UK’s Pink News’ article suggests that Pink News may have anticipated the release. No LGBT publication from another English-speaking country appears to have posted an Internet QJB article within such a short period after PR Web’s release.

•The wording on the QJB’s official website (i.e. printed and bound in the United States), suggests that it was not edited in the US.

•Knowing that only the KJV text is in the public domain outside the UK necessitated a non-UK publisher in a large market. It seems unlikely the QJB’s editors, if from the UK, would select another Commonwealth country for publishing, such as Canada or Australia, and visa-versa.

•Editing abroad and publishing in the US makes it unlikely that prosecution would occur should the editors and publisher be identified.

•Choosing a San Francisco church to scapegoat is consistent with that city’s being internationally known for its homosexual community. And choosing the surname of a past member of that church’s clergy added superficial plausibility to the press release and subsequent coverage. But would domestic (US) editors be as careless in overlooking an individual’s correct given name initial if they were concerned about not raising suspicion?

One would hope that even the LGBT community would distance itself from the QJB if it were to become aware of the deceptive tactics of its editors and publisher on its behalf. Concerning the alteration of Scripture, Revelation 22:18-19 gives clear warning:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV)

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network

Dallas, Texas – The Boy Scouts of America announced a proposal today to lift its ban on openly homosexual members, while retaining its existing policy barring openly homosexual leaders.

The proposal, which will be voted on by approximately 1,400 scouting members next month in Texas, is stated to come as the result of a survey that was issued to an estimated 1 million scout affiliates in February. Approximately 200,000 responded.

“While perspectives and opinions vary significantly, parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting,” the organization outlined in a statement Friday, adding, “The proposed resolution also reinforces that scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of scouting age is contrary to the virtues of scouting.”

“[A] change in the membership policy specific to youth only would be consistent with the religious beliefs of the BSA’s major chartered organizations,” it asserted.

Reaction to the proposal has been mixed. Click here to continue reading.

Lornet Turnbull
Seattle Times

The state attorney general’s surprising lawsuit against a small florist in Eastern Washington has energized gay-marriage opponents who all but disappeared after failing to defeat same-sex marriage in Washington last fall.

They are rallying around Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers of Richland, who cited her relationship with Jesus Christ in declining last month to provide floral arrangements for the September wedding of two longtime gay customers.

Local gay-rights leaders, meanwhile, have been low key in their reaction to the case — even as it has grabbed attention nationally.

There’s concern that as a handful of states seek to legalize gay marriage, a case like this could well provoke resentment among the so-called “movable middle” as well as live-and-let-live types who don’t like being told how to run their businesses.

Much like the Wildflower Inn in Vermont that refused in 2005 to accommodate a lesbian wedding and the New Mexico photo studio that declined in 2006 to shoot a commitment ceremony, they know the State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers will undoubtedly become a cause celebre for opponents seeking to highlight what they refer to as the negative consequences of legalizing gay marriage. Click here to continue reading.

Pan Evangelicals Still Wield the Broken Sword of Political/Cultural Evangelism

An editorial by Orrel Steinkamp

The evangelical political games are essentially over. All that is left is to create an evangelical political party. The GOP will sooner, rather than later, nominate a presidential candidate advocating same sex marriage. The past election cycle demonstrated the culture is too far gone to be saved by the ballot box and raw political and legislative power.

Actually the Gospel was never intended to be a political/cultural product. Nevertheless, seeker-sensitive evangelism gave it the ole college try. All that remains is what Shakespeare called “wind and fury signifying nothing.”

Pragmatic Christianity tried desperately to accommodate to postmodern culture but it has peaked and is now flirting with medieval Catholic monastic mysticism.

Only a handful of attractional megachurches with multiple campus satellites draw lots of media attention. They have staked their hope on getting too big to fail, and then getting even bigger. Their motto is “grow or die.” Click here to continue reading.

Washington Post
Associated Press

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguayan lawmakers voted to legalize gay marriage, making the South American country the third in the Americas to do so.

Supporters of the law, who had filled the public seats in the legislative building, erupted in celebration Wednesday when the results were announced. The bill received the backing of 71 of the 92 members of the Chamber of Deputies present.

Uruguay’s legislature voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to legalize gay marriage. The country’s president is expected to put the law into effect with in 10 days.

“We are living a historic moment,” said Federico Grana, a leader of the Black Sheep Collective, a gay rights group that drafted the proposal. “In terms of the steps needed, we calculate that the first gay couples should be getting married 90 days after the promulgation of the law, or in the middle of July.” Click here to continue reading.

LTRP Note: Show us a Christian college that is becoming laxed in its views toward homosexuality, and we’ll show you a college that has been promoting contemplative spirituality for some time. They go hand in hand. Liberty University is just such a place.

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network

Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty University is coming under fire following a recent essay released by a former student who shared his story of being a practicing homosexual on campus.

As previously reported, The Atlantic published an essay last week penned by former Liberty student Brandon Ambrosino, outlining his personal experience of life on campus after coming out as a homosexual.

“When people find out I underwent therapy at Jerry Falwell’s Christian college, they assume I went through something like gay reparative therapy. But that isn’t what happened,” he wrote in the piece, entitled Being Gay at Jerry Falwell’s University. “I saw two counselors at Liberty … and neither of them ever expressed an interest in ‘curing’ me. Did they have an agenda? Yes. Their goal, which they were very honest about, was to help me to like myself, and to find peace with the real Brandon.” Click here to continue reading.

Related Information:

Jonathan Falwell Becomes Vice-Chancellor at Liberty University

Mark Driscoll and Liberty University Are Good Match – Both Promote Contemplative Spirituality

Liberty University Climbs Deeper into the Contemplative/Emerging Camp