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
