Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog
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Open Letter to City Councilman James Kenney
07/27/2012 - James White
This is in response to Mr. Kenney's July 25th letter, found here. It seems he decided to try to out do Boston with his invective and intolerance. And people say there is no anti-Christian sentiment being expressed! Amazing.Mr. Kenney:
Two thousand years ago a man named Jesus lived and taught amongst the Jewish people. He was asked one day about marriage and divorce. Historically, the Jewish view of marriage had been based upon the words of Genesis 2:24, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." History does not record for us anyone in the Jewish community who had ever suggested that these words be amended to read "father and father" or "mother and mother." In fact, history records for us no one at all who attempted to teach, as a Jewish teacher or rabbi, that the prohibitions against homosexuality laid out in Scripture should be abandoned or rejected. And though the Jews had, in their traditions, relaxed the stringent standards of those first words of institution of marriage in Genesis, Jesus' answer would have none of that. His words are well known, and I would refer you to them:
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:4–9)
Mr. Kenney, these words reflect the viewpoint of every single one of those who signed the Declaration of Independence, do they not? And how about every President of the United States up to, but no longer including, the present occupant of that office? Or more importantly, how about a very large number of the constituents in your own city who happen to take very seriously the teachings of Jesus?
Your letter to Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A of July 25th is, quite simply, sir, an outrage. It is an outrage in its incoherence and its underlying message. In sum, it is intolerant, bigoted, and filled with prejudice---all of the things you accused Mr. Cathy of communicating. Though I doubt you took the time to check the accuracy of the press reports of Mr. Cathy's statements, if you had, you would have known that he expressed with clarity, and care, a simple Christian viewpoint of marriage. His words were sober and fair, unlike yours. A comparison, indeed, of his words and tone with yours is amazing, to say the least.
I often wonder how people who promote the redefinition of marriage under the guise of "civil rights" can so abuse history, logic, and language. You accuse anyone who disagrees with you of intolerance. You say Chick-fil-A can "take a hike and take your intolerance with you." You do realize, I hope, how utterly intolerant your attitude is, right? You speak of his expression of his personal opinion as one of "intolerance and hate." You do realize, I hope, that your letter is an excellent example of intolerance and hate? You speak of discrimination, yet, if you are familiar with the actual meaning of the word, you do realize you are engaging in anti-Christian discrimination in your letter and your stance?
You clearly believe that the younger generation is enlightened and is "shedding the prejudices of past generations." When was the last time, sir, you talked to a member of the younger generation who had taken any serious time whatsoever to be familiar with the thinking, actions, morals, and world view of "past generations" so that their abandonment of their morals and ethics would have the slightest relevant weight or value? You do realize that you are revealing, with your words, a frightening willingness to condemn those who came before us, those who sacrificed and built this nation, and who did so utterly convinced of the necessity of morality and ethics, especially in the area of sexuality and the family? Have you read the writings of the Founding Fathers and their constant refrain that this experiment in liberty can never, never succeed if it is not accompanied by the highest standards of virtue and morality on the part of all of the citizens of the United States?
The reality is, sir, your letter is a shameful example of the anti-Christian intolerance and bigotry that has taken a very deep root in our society, and yet, I truly doubt you are even fully cognizant of that reality. I exhort you, sir, to consider well the responsibilities of your office and hence to refrain from the expression of such anti-Christian bigotry in the future. And more importantly, for the sake of all that is good and right, to reconsider your support for the redefinition of the very first institution established amongst men by their Creator.
James White
Phoenix, AZ
16:22:36 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -
An Open Letter to Mayor Menino
07/27/2012 - James White
On July 20th you sent a letter to the President of Chick-fil-A. In it you misrepresented Mr. Cathy's published statements, as has been documented by numerous news outlets. Mr. Cathy had expressed, in respectful and measured words, his Christian conviction, based upon the Christian Scriptures, that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, so-called "traditional" marriage. And it is a fact that Chick-fil-A donates some corporate profits to organizations that defend and promote the Christian view of marriage, just as many major corporations donate to organizations that seek to redefine marriage in opposition to Christian beliefs.You indicated to Mr. Cathy that his company is not welcome in Boston. You accused him of making "prejudiced statements" and even seemed to indicate that the entire company engages in "discrimination" and hence is not welcome in Boston. These are, of course, very serious charges.
So I would like to ask you, Mr. Menino, how you can substantiate these allegations in a logical, truthful fashion?
The fact is you do not like Mr. Cathy's beliefs. You are free to dislike them, but do you realize that his views are held by a very large number of Americans and that, up until very recent decades, represented the vast majority of the American population? That every single signer of the Declaration of Independence would have blushed at the idea of redefining marriage as the union of two men or two women? That every President of the United States up until the current President likewise viewed marriage, not as you, but as Mr. Cathy, that is, to be the union of one man and one woman? And I wonder, sir, if you considered how many believing Christians there are in your city who, likewise, follow the teachings of the faith on this matter? Are they now unwelcome to do business in Boston as well, I wonder?
My main question to you, sir, is, would Jesus be welcome in Boston under your leadership? What if He were to start teaching in the city square? You see, He upheld the law of God found in the Hebrew Scriptures, and identified those sacred writings as the very speech of God. No one in the Jewish community before Him, or for many, many centuries after Him, ever spoke against the positive teaching of the Scriptures found in Genesis 2:24 regarding what marriage was designed, by the Creator, to be, that is, the union of one man and one woman. There were no pro-homosexual advocacy groups in ancient Israel, and Jesus never for a moment gave the slightest indication of support for the overthrow of the institution of marriage as God had ordained it. In fact, He upbraided the men of His day for having relaxed the stringent guidelines God Himself had provided for this, the first institution God established amongst men, the covenant of marriage. Are you familiar, sir, with what Jesus said on the topic? Listen to His words:
And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
Jesus the Messiah, the founder of the Christian faith, believed that God defines gender, and gender roles, and that by His creative right. He described the family as God designed it to be, a father and a mother, producing life. The process then continues on, those children produced by that marriage themselves entering into that sacred union. He even said it is God who joins together man and wife. It is a divine act. That was Jesus' teaching.
So Mr. Menino, I have a simple question for you. Are you opposed to the teachings of Jesus? Would you call Him prejudiced? Was He engaging in "discrimination"? Would He be unwelcome in Boston today? It surely seems you are angry at His disciples, and do not wish them to have the freedom to express His teachings, let alone do business in your city. And finally, do you not see that in fact it is your attitude that is prejudicial, and that you, in reality, are engaging in discrimination, based upon your ethical and moral viewpoints?
James White
Phoenix, Arizona
14:07:11 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -
Gay is NOT the New Black
07/20/2012 - James White
Read, absorb, communicate, distribute, repeat.09:43:46 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -
The Divine Institution of Marriage: Our New Video with IV and Crown Rights
07/16/2012 - James White
This is our third collaboration together, and, of course, we really need your help to get this video out to as wide an audience as possible. Of course, please pray that this video will not be censored by those who wish to suppress the gospel and the Christian worldview.15:10:00 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -
Dan Savage Response - As Referenced on the Dividing Line
07/03/2012 - Tur8infan
A few seconds ago, Dr. White made reference on the Dividing Line to the following response to Dan Savage:-TurretinFan
11:42:00 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -
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