A new multimillion-dollar ad campaign is being launched this week to change the hearts of undecided Californians to garner support for same-sex "marriage."
Beginning Thursday, television ads will try to "open hearts and minds" as it portrays a bride who, on her way to the altar to marry the groom, gets obstructed by cars, a broken heel, a tree, the flower girl and a grandma who trips the bride with her cane.
"What if you couldn't marry the person you love?" the 60-second TV spot reads at the end. "Every day, gay and lesbian couples are prevented from marrying. Support the freedom to marry."
The commercial is scheduled to air on Thursday in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs.
"We wanted to connect to the people of California on an emotional level, on a level they can identify with," said Seth Kilbourn, political and policy director of Equality California Institute, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Equality California is the gay rights advocacy organization coordinating the campaign called "Let California Ring."
Conservatives hope Californians will see that the institution of marriage is beyond an emotional issue.
"The homosexual community continues to attempt to attract the emotions of society," said Ron Prentice, executive director of the California Family Council, which supports traditional marriage. "Our hope is that society will recognize that the meaning and purpose of marriage is more than an emotional argument."
The "homosexual lobby is dismissing the foundational purpose of marriage and what's best for children and society," he added, according to the Chronicle. "Children deserve both a mother and a father."
In addition to the TV ad, thousands of volunteers are expected to conduct house parties, knock on voters' doors, and give speeches to promote the push and help "spark a million conversations" about the freedom to wed.
Equality California executive director Geoff Kors says the long-term goal for the campaign is to have the majority of Californians support the freedom to marry, according to Sacramento Bee.
More specifically, the campaign is intended to move the state "over the tipping point," targeting people on the fence, added Kilbourn.
A poll last year by the Policy Institute California showed that California voters are almost evenly split on the issue of same-sex "marriage." Forty-eight percent oppose homosexual "marriage" while 46 percent expressed support. In 2000, over half (55 percent) of the voters were against it.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to veto a measure in the next few days that would allow same-sex "marriage" in the state. The bill, AB43, was passed by the state senate last month, approving the replacement of the words "a man and a woman" with any "two persons" in California's marriage laws.
Schwarzenegger had vetoed a similar bill in 2005. Traditional marriage supporters have urged believers to call the governor's office to urge him to veto the latest bill.
Currently, Massachusetts is the only state where same-sex "marriage" is legal.
Comments
Only the Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can cleanse us of all unrighteousness and filthy sin - this does include many other things, but as it pertains to this article - adultery, fornication, and yes, homosexuality. Too many in today's church want to cover up sin, and be politically relevent to today's "culture". They water-down the Wrod of God, and twist it to make it seem more "pleasant" to the ears. Many people want to hear what feesds their ego; they don;t want to hear the truth that transforms lives for their own good and for God's pleasure.
The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us are without sin. The Good News is that Jesus Christ became God in the flesh for us! He decended from his exalted heavenly place, and willfully shed His Prescious Blood and gave up His life so that we may have a relationship with God the Father our Creator.
We need to first acknowledge that we are all sinners; we need to repent - that is to literally and willfully choose to turn away from our old life of living in sins; we need to ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior of our lives (this means we hand over our free will to Him, and choose toi obey His commands and teachings). We must put our total trust and confidence ino Him, and then follow Him.
The question is, have we trully repented, and turned back from our sin. That is to say, if we're willfully, and rebelliously living in sin, have we made a conscious choice to turn from that sin, die to ourselves, pick up our crosses daily and follow Christ?
None of these sins are unpardonable, but God has given us a free choice. We must choose this day whom we will serve. Are we going to choose to gratify our flesh and live in sin, or are we going to die to ourselves, and choose to follow Christ Jesus?
Whoever doesn't truly know Christ on this site, please give your life to him. You will not regret it. He will never bring up your past. We all have pasts, but God can make you a new person, and as you continue to seek after Him and as you surrender your life to Him, He will continue to mold you and make you into the vessel of honor He wants you to be. I hope this touches someone out there, and may the Lord turn your heart to repentance. God Bless You.
Are you that ignorant of the bible, that you copy and paste the same OT passages all over this web site? Those old laws were taken care of at the cross. This disgusting, degenerate lifestyle of sodomy that you are apparently championing is condemmed as an abomination numerous times in the new testament. Try reading it sometime.
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16)
Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
OpenlyGay,
Christ answers that question right here: “THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE BORN THAT WAY FROM THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB; AND THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE MADE THAT WAY BY MEN.”
*Answer – Jesus was not talking about homosexuals but Eunuchs who DO NOT have Sex.
If one is a “Eunuch” and not attracted to someone of the opposite sex, should they be forced to live a life of celibacy?
*Answer – Yes, a Eunuch does not have Sex.
Your statement: God answers this question in Isaiah 56:3-5 when he says that a eunuch is not “only a dry tree.”
Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." and let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree." For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant - to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
This story has to do with a Eunuch keeping himself Celebate for God and having no Heirs to pass on his inheritance, which in Israel was the most important thing to do. The whole Bible is based on Geneology from Adam and Eve to Jesus the Messiah and all the families of the Seed of Abraham.
Here God is guaranteeing those who abstain from procreating, and who love Him that even though they have no children to carry on their name, God will memorialize their names on His own house.
Is gay marriage really that scary? Yes, it would force society to go against God’s commandments and endorse a sin as a Holy Union. All of us would have to pay the price. It also violates God’s Inheritance Laws. If two men marry, their legal contract (covenant) is binding on earth as it is in Heaven. God honors and blesses marriage contracts but He cannot go against His own commands, and it’s an insult to try and force Him to do so. I would be very afraid, if I were you. You are pushing the limit.
To OpenlyGay-Christian, You have some really good questions and many good answers came forth. I would like to bring a correlation to these Sexual Laws. God Himself says that if these are violated people would die. But if Israel keeps His commandments none of the diseases would come upon them. Exodus 15:26
Have you noticed that the more decadent our society becomes violating these laws, the more terminal diseases people die from? It would be interesting to find out what the causes of death are for people committing adultery. We already know that homosexuals have had the highest incident of AIDS. In the past it was Syphilis that plagued and killed them.
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately. *Possible Answer: Today women have a high rate of death from breast and ovarian cancer. Statistics prove many of today’s western women are not virgins when they meet and marry their husbands.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death. *Possible Answer: Again high rate of breast cancer in women, prostrate cancer in men. Other diseases in the reproductive organs.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced. *Answer- Jesus agreed but said God allowed it through Moses because of the hardness of their hearts. Result: Divorce has ravaged our Nation and left millions of Fatherless children.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed. *Answer again could be Cancers in both sexes, reproductive organs or a variety of blood disorders.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir. *Answer: NO, you missed the point. Because of the importance of Inheritance Laws and the Double Portion Right of the First Born, the scripture says that only the brother who was next in line by age would raise up children with her. In this story each of the brothers died before giving her children.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.
*Answer: Unknown, I will research it.
You’re correct, we can’t pick and choose, for all of us the wages of sin is death. Jesus said “If anyone loves me, he will keep my Word. John 14:23. We can’t say we love Him and continue in sexually immoral practices. Unless we stay in His Will, we will die in our sins. We can give Him lip service all day long but He reads our Hearts and God will not be mocked. Do we love Him enough to give up our sin?
Judy.
If you will look, you will find that not only was Old Testament scripture quoted, but so was New Testament scripture. I used Scripture (Old Testament AND New Testament) to show that God thinks homosexual sex is a sin.
Yes, Jesus showed love; he also showed patience for those who would listen. But his patience had limits; he also showed the fact that he does not approve of sin. I'm not pretending I'm perfect or without sin (in fact, I've admitted my sin).
But calling sin sin is not casting stones. That's a straw man argument. Its empty and is little more than attempt at peace keeping (not peace making) or to deflect someone from calling someone on where they are wrong. And from God's perspective (according to God's word), homosexual sex is wrong.
I'm not perfect, and I'm not Christ, but I try to follow His model - I've simply pointed out truth - something Christ had no problem doing, and something scripture tells us to do. I've been gentle but consistent.
But if you think I'm mistaken in what I've done or said, then please read all the comments on this story and let me know where I'm mistaken.
I seem to recall something in the Bible about Jesus stopping the stoning of a woman for adultery -- but told her to go and sin no more. Is not that a lesson in redemption and forgiveness? Also, did not Jesus ask the person who had never sinned to cast the first stone? Why so much quoting of the Jewish law instead of the Christian law in a Christian room?
OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian, you are rehashing arguments that have already been dealt with. And now you are using another deflection instead of sticking to the issue at hand. You are trying to move the argument onto a different topic in hopes of shutting me up.
The difference between you and me is that I admit I'm a sinner. You seem to cherish your sin. I became a new creation when I accepted Christ. I have repented and changed my ways. No one should divorce except for the reasons that God gives. And those who do divorce should chose a life of celebacy.
But that does not change the fact that God has said what will happen to those who choose a life of sin without repentance.
You might wish truth to be relative, but what ever you choose to believe does not actually change the truth, which you apparently will find when you face Christ's judgment.
I wish all people would accept Christ on His terms and not theirs. Its sad that they dont. But its ther choice. I have lots of experience with people who do what you are doing, and its perfectly understandable. Its just unfortunate those choices to sin affect others in ways I've already discussed.
Thank God the Bible is the living word of God and the interpretations can and do change with society...otherwise, as amym14535 says, there are a lot of other things we no longer follow that we should expect to answer for...
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.
wbmoore - are you divorced and remarried? Are you willingly committing adultery and living a life of sin or are you celibate? Since you believe that gays should choose a life of celibacy, why not all those divorced as well?
How is it that some are allowed to pick and choose what to follow and others aren't allowed to see a different interpretation of scripture. You are free to find your own truth - I have found mine and that is between myself and Jesus Christ.
OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian, you're back to accusing me of fear and hate and not loving - simply becaue I don't agree with you. These are simply deflection tactics. They do nothing to help. I'm tired of being accused of not loving gays or being afraid or hating. None of those are true. They aew slanderous. I don't appreciate it.
OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian,
You're confusing eunuch with homosexual. A eunuch was someone who He could be a man who is missing testicles by some process other than castration, such as crushing, or by atrophy due to illness, or one who was simply born without testicles. Such a eunuch would be, technically speaking, not castrated. But he would still be a eunuch. Such a person does not burn with sexual passion - for men or women.
A homosexual is a man who lies with a man or a woman who lies with a woman. God defined that are bad. God defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
Whether or not a homosexual is born that way o not is a rabbit trail. Children are born addicted to crack due to the sins of the parents, but this does not mean its a good thing.
But even if gay marriage law passes, this does not mean it will be considered marriage in the eyes of God. you an call it daylight outside when its pitch black midnight, and what you call it will not change the truth. the fact of the matter is i'marriage' between a man and a man or a woman and a woman is not what God defined as marriage, therefore, it is not marriage.
God said any sex between people of the same gender is wrong.
Romans 1:25-32 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
The verses in the old testament you quoted show what God feels about sex outside of marriage. The old testament is chock full of concrete examples of spiritual truths. . People thought the law was intended to punish, but in reality, the law was put in place to show the people they were unable to enter heaven on their own.
Galations 3:19-25, "What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."
The law was intended to point us to our need for Christ. The law was fulfilled by Christ's death. Thus, we are no longer bound by the law. However, this does not mean that God feels any differently about sex outside of marriage.
As for Revelation 21:5-8, its clearly speaking about sexually immoral people going to the lake of Fire - the second death. Sexually immoral speaks to what was considered sexually immoral at the time it was written by the intended audience. It was written to Jews who were aware of what the old testament said concerning sex. And you missed quite a few verses that speak about sexual behavior God does not like.
sex with animals: Ex 22:19; Lev18:23, 20:15-16
sex with people of the same gender: Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10
adultery: Gen 20:1-7; Deut 5:18; Heb 13:4
fornication: 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:2
incest: Lev 18:6-15; 20; Deut 27:20-23; 1 Cor 5:1-13
Wbmoore – thanks for bringing up the subject of Eunuchs. Let’s review the history of the word:
Word History: The word eunuch does not derive, as one might think, from the operation that produced a eunuch but rather from one of his functions. Eunuch goes back to the Greek word eunoukhos, "a castrated person employed to take charge of the women of a harem and act as chamberlain." The Greek word is derived from eunē, "bed," and ekhein, "to keep." A eunuch, of course, was ideally suited to guard the bedchamber of women as a Eunuch was incapable of having sex with a woman either because of physical or mental castration (otherwise known as a lack of attraction.)
A Eunuch is one who is incapable of reproduction – is it possible that a Eunuch could be born that way? Most people think of Eunuchs as being castrated males – is it possible that eunuchs could also be incapable of reproduction because they simply lack the sexual desire for women?
As Christ said in Matthew 19:12
"For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."
Christ answers that question right here: “THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE BORN THAT WAY FROM THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB; AND THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE MADE THAT WAY BY MEN.”
This answers the age old question – are homosexuals born that way or is it environmental? It’s both – Christ said so himself.
If one is a “Eunuch” and not attracted to someone of the opposite sex, should they be forced to live a life of celibacy?
God answers this question in Isaiah 56:3-5 when he says that a eunuch is not “only a dry tree.”
Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." and let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree." For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant - to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
What if God and Jesus are talking about homosexuals here? That we are promised by him to be given an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
I love how there are always accusations about how we, the “homosexual community,” are distorting and twisting God’s word for our own benefit. Isn’t it possible that you are doing the same simply to mask your own fears and hatred.
The Bible has been used for centuries to justify evil – from witch hunts to crusades to supporting slavery in the United States to trying to ban interracial marriage.
How about we Christians start acting out of love – as our savior would have us do - and place our fear and hatred of others away.
Is gay marriage really that scary?
Arnold is back, and if he approves, well how can I question the wisdom of a Republican?
This will help all the lawyers that have suffered a loss in business due to co habitation.
They need homosexuals to hang thier launder out to dry, it has been in the closet so long.
The fact remains the law is ignored when it will help the average guy, and change to help the Queer guy, because that is the way of evil. Help cancer, addict people to sin, slow death and dependence on unaccountable goverment. Hello Satan.
wbmoore,
to read the bible is to understand it. in the verse you just provided for me, i see nothing about homosexual behavior. i am NOT saying you are twisting the words or verses of the bible.. i am simply saying i do not think you fully understand what is being taught. also, if this is such an issue.. why do we not go by all of the teachings of the bible? things we NOW consider wrong are stated in the bible to have ACCEPTABLE. such as:
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.
You people really make no sense to me. You seem to pick and choose what scriptures and the bible you want to go by. I think you just use the bible as an excuse, really.