More Stories That Should Awaken Us from Our Slumber

Last week I shared with you several stories of how far down the slippery slope our nation has gone.  I would like to add to those stories this week with more examples of how Christians are beginning to feel the pangs of persecution for standing for biblical truth.

Story #1 - reported at www.action.afa.net and titled, "City suspends Christian employee (a pastor), begins reviewing his sermons."  The article was posted on May 12.  "According to the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena city officials placed Public Health Director Eric Walsh on temporary paid administrative leave last week after they learned he preached biblical truth about homosexuality and evolution.  After the city was contacted by homosexual activists, city leaders removed him from office, and are now monitoring and analyzing Pastor Walsh's online sermons as part of their witch hunt.  Not only is this a case of religious discrimination, it has become a catalyst for systematically intimidating any public official who would speak about their Christian faith as a private citizen.  Walsh, an associate pastor at Altadena Seventh-day Adventist Church, was hired as the director of Pasadena's Public Health Department in 2010.  He also served as the city's public health officer and oversaw the creation of a dental clinic that served low-income patients, as well as those with HIV/AIDS who could not get care elsewhere.  It gets worse...Pastor Walsh was scheduled as the commencement speaker for the city's college, Pasadena City College.  Instead, the city's action has caused the college to scratch those plans and invited  Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black instead.  Recently the college found stolen photographs of Black and an ex-boyfriend engaged in sexual acts on Internet gossip sites, but that didn't seem to matter."  Freedom of speech in America today is rapidly becoming one of those freedoms that we are losing. 

Story #2 - reported by Todd Starnes and found at www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/05/08/ex-hgtv-hosts-if-our-faith-costs-us-tv-show-so-be-it.  The article begins, "The Home & Garden Television (aka HGTV) network announced Wednesday it has decided to pull the plug on an upcoming real estate reality show amid a firestorm of controversy from gay rights activists who accused the evangelical Christian hosts of being anti-gay and pro-life.  Twins David and Jason Benham had been in production for "Flip it Forward," a show that was expected to debut in October on the nation's seventh most-watched cable channel.  According to Entertainment Weekly, the North Carolina brothers 'would have followed families creating their dream homes from fixer-uppers.'  After the network announced the show was on the fall lineup, the militant lobbying group Right Wing Watch labeled David Benham, son of well-known evangelical pastor Flip Benham, an 'anti-gay extremist' and reported on comments he made about homosexuality, abortion and divorce.  So, now, these militant groups are going to start judging us based on the past behavior of our parents?"  The article continues with Starnes "reaching out to the Benham brothers Wednesday.  'If our faith costs us a television show then so be it,' they wrote in a statement to me.  The brothers said, 'With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television, you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles, and dedicated professionals.'"  Friends, this is an article that needs to be read.  I will simply close with the statements, first of Janet Mefferd, a host on the Salem Radio Network: "This is an effort by LGBT movement to silence the voices of people who do not agree with them on this issue and to send a message to the American public that anybody who does not get on board with their point of view does not deserve a place in the public square."  Tom Tradup, Salem's vice president of news and talk programming said, "In the 1950's Sen. Joseph McCarthy terrorized Americans whose views differed from his - resulting in the infamous Hollywood blacklists and people losing their jobs in the radio and television industry.  Sadly, thanks to 2014-style McCarthyism, history appears to be repeating itself."

Story #3 - written by David Kupelian and titled, "Meet the New Fascists - And Their Victims."  The article can be found at www.wnd.com/2014/05/meet-the-new-fascists-and-their-victims.  This is a long article that highlights and documents what has happened within the past several years regarding persecution of Christians and their biblical beliefs by the militant LGBT community.  Several pages are given to such testimonials.  The author, David Kupelian is an award-winning journalist, and managing editor of WND, and author of the best-selling book "The Marketing of Evil."  Friends, I highly recommend this article to you.  I downloaded the article and made copies for some of the men in my church.  I wanted them to know that this is the world their children and grandchildren are growing up in.  It is so important that we take a strong stand upon the Word of God and its truths.  We cannot ever waver from them.  We might lose a television show or our business, but we do have this promise from God:  "Since God is for us, who can be against us?"  The answer - "no one!"  I think I am beginning to experience a little of what those martyrs of old felt as they were tied to the stack or thrown into the Coliseum.  Friends, simply changing the name does not mean that a sinful practice is okay.  Approving legislation that affirms a sinful practice does not make it right.   We either affirm the Word of God in its totality - I am not saying that we necessarily like what it says, but we know it is what God says - or we deny the Word of God in its totality.  I don't think we can "pick and choose" those things we like or dislike.  God has not given us that option. 

So, what is your choice?  What do you resolve in your heart to do?  Better make that decision now, because we all will soon be faced with having to make a choice on our stand for Christ and truth.