TRENTON, N.J. – Online dating service eHarmony said Wednesday it will launch a new Web site which caters to same-sex singles as part of a discrimination settlement with New Jersey's Civil Rights Division.
The settlement is the result of a complaint New Jersey resident Eric McKinley filed against the online matchmaker in 2005. McKinley, 46, said he was shocked when he tried to sign up for the dating site but couldn't get past the first screen because there was no option for men seeking men.
"It's very frustrating and it's very humiliating to think that other people can do it and I can't," he said. "And the only reason I can't is because I'm a gay man. That's very hurtful."
Neither the company nor its founder, Neil Clark Warren, acknowledged any liability. Under the settlement, eHarmony will pay New Jersey state division $50,000 to cover administrative costs and will pay McKinley $5,000.
McKinley called the settlement "fabulous" and said he was happy with the outcome. He's considering signing up for the new site once it launches.
Pasadena, Calif.-based eHarmony said it plans to launch its new service, called Compatible Partners, on March 31.
The site will be free for the first 10,000 users who register within a year of its launch. After that, pricing for the new site will be equal to that of eHarmony.
"With the launch of the Compatible Partners site, our policy is to welcome all single individuals who are genuinely seeking long-term relationships," said Antone Johnson, eHarmony's vice president of legal affairs.
Theodore B. Olson, an attorney for eHarmony, said that even though the company believed McKinley's complaint was "an unfair characterization of our business," it choose to settle because of the unpredictable nature of litigation.
"eHarmony looks forward to moving beyond this legal dispute, which has been a burden for the company, and continuing to advance its business model of serving individuals by helping them find successful, long-term relationships," Olson said.
The popular online matchmaker has been sued before for discrimination.
Last year, a Northern California woman sued the online dating service. She also alleged discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
In 2005, a San Francisco man filed a similar complaint to McKinley's, but the state determined no discrimination laws were violated.
Another California man sued eHarmony in 2005 for refusing to help him find a date. The company said there was one good reason for that: He was still married. That case was dropped on the eve of trial.
RSS
feet,
Amen. And when I see my brother sinning, I love him enough to warn him of the consequences...even if he doesn't like it, or tries to justify it.
god has created man thru the spirit of his son and called him very good. he has put his laws in his mind and heart. he has given him a heart of flesh. he has given him a redeemer who lives in him and a helper, the holy spirit to convict him of all truth.
he leaves man merely to acknowledge this in the life he lives with his neighbor.
whalver,
Yes that is true. But God still has not changed man's will. If He were so upset about mankind, He would have superceded man's will and forced them to do what He wanted.
But He can't. He will someday give each person the reward they deserve, for the works they have done...whether out of disobedience or obedience.
Prophet
I offer one final thought as we go into the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Gen 6:5 And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6 And Jehovah repented that He had made man on the earth, and He was angry to His heart.
Gen 6:7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air. For I repent that I have made them.
Eventually the man who's heart is not changed will meet an end. This is the removal of sin, and the sinner.
God Bless you Prophet. Perhaps we will continue this conversation another day.
"In regards to your scenerio, you have controlled both his will and his ability to act. What you have not done is to change his heart."
That don't make no sense. I haven't controlled his will, because his will is to kill me. All I've done is controlled his circumstance. Saying that I controlled his will would be to say that I could walk into the same room with him, give him a gun, and not have to worry that he'd kill me. It's a rather simple concept.
The only difference between man and robot is free will.
wrhalver, God bless your heart!
Yours too, Prophet, thank you for engaging in this conversation!
Thanks to you feet and Mike 22685, and all!
Thanks to God on High!
Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful all!
Prophet
You have said...
"But from what I've read, God does have control over Satan and his minions, but only to the point of casting them out and binding them. He even gives us that ability as well, through His name."
How is that God has control only to a certain point? God has given Christ full authority on Earth and in Heaven. There is nothing Satan can do outside of the authority of God.
In regards to your scenerio, you have controlled both his will and his ability to act. What you have not done is to change his heart.
Only God can change hearts. But we can be the instruments God uses to help lead a man to that change of heart.
The only difference between a robot and a man is emotions. We call it "having a heart".
Otherwise, God desires that we have the "robot mentality" to listen and obey without any thought or fear of being misled. Full complete trust with no concern about our own individual will.
whalver,
"Why did God not stop Satan from using the snake to tempt Adam and Eve into sin? Why did God not stop the snake?
Was God incapable, or did God have a plan that needed to be accomplished?"
Now you're getting deep. God created us to have a relationship with him, not be robots. But from what I've read, God does have control over Satan and his minions, but only to the point of casting them out and binding them. He even gives us that ability as well, through His name.
Let me ask you this: Let's say a man wants to kill me. It is his earnest will and desire to kill me. So I have him arrested and incarcerated. Did I control his will? Or his action? I did nothing to his will, because he still wants to kill me. But I did change the circumstances so that it made it difficult if not impossible to do so.
That's the way it is with God.
On a side note:
I would like to thank the Christian Post for keeping this article and blog linked on the main page for this long.
I do not know if this is because of the discussion that has resulted, or if the administrators have fallen behind in updating the main page links.
Either way, it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit continues to use this discussion to help us all grow closer to the Lord long after this article is buried in the CP archives.
God Bless.
Good Afternoon Prophet and all,
Thank you for responding, Prophet. My apologies I have been very busy preparing for a house full. My reasoning for asking was to simply help clarify the use of the word "judge" in this context. It seems "we" had a conflict with the use of the word and I was merely attempting to gain clarity. In this text we are to understand that God will indeed judge us for the purpose of discipline. In other words God does and will judge his children. Do you agree?
im addressing this:
After resisting God's Will throughout 5 Eygptian plagues Pharaoh heardened his own heart, God merely allowed him his own will.
Prophet
Allow me to ask you this question....
Why did God not stop Satan from using the snake to tempt Adam and Eve into sin? Why did God not stop the snake?
Was God incapable, or did God have a plan that needed to be accomplished?
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear"...
Feet, who is this Scripture applied to?
Why are you writing this? Please expand.
my understanding is that the "he" is god.
romans 11: 7What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day."[d] 9And David says:
"May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever."[e]
John 12:42
"42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:"
John 12:39-41
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn, and I would heal them."[a] 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
â€â€and I would heal them."[a] 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
reedit
John 12:39-41
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turnâ€â€and I would heal them."[a] 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
John 12:39-41
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turnâ€â€and I would heal them."[a] 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
forgiven,
What do you need clarification on? That sounds pretty straightforward.
God chastises (disciplines) us so that we will not be condemned (sentenced) with the world. The scriptures talk many times about how God disciplines us. I'm memorizing Hebrews 12 which says
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Hi Prophet,
Could you share your understanding into 1 Cor. 11:32 "When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."
Thank you.
So, since it is God's will that everyone comes to repentance....why doesn't He just force His will upon everyone?
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
First of all, we see in verse 5 that they were WILLINGLY ignorant. And in verse 9 that is is God's will that ALL come to repentance.
"i will have mercy on who i chose to have mercy."
"...he proactively hardened pharoah's heart."
Much in the same way that God will "give them over" as in Romans 1:28 He also hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 4:21) but not against his will.
After resisting God's Will throughout 5 Eygptian plagues Pharaoh heardened his own heart, God merely allowed him his own will. There wasn't a chance Pharoah was going to relent, he built up so much anger and pride at God all he could do is lash out at God in his impotent fury.
He wouldn't listen to God much the same way all those unrepentant sinners (homosexuals included) in Romans 1:20-1:32 will not.
God is a God of Mercy but also of Justice and you give God no other choice but to let you have your way by giving you over and heardening your heart.
How long will God strive with a man, Feet?
Christs was an example of a servant. Willfully submitting to God's plan.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Philippians 2:5-8
He willfuly submitted to God's plan.
"Sorry to post again, but this came to me as I was musing the Jewish exodus and all the precluded it. That is a good example. Why didn't God just force Pharoah to want to let Israel go? Because He couldn't. He sent plague after plague to try and convince the Pharoah that He was God and this is what He wanted, but He still couldn't make Pharoah do what He wanted. Not until the situation got so bad that the Pharoah thought he couldn't take any more. But even at that point, it was still the Pharoah's choice to let the Israelites leave."
reread the scripture, god was much more interactive than that..............he proactively hardened pharoah's heart..................to allow for the happening of the killing of the first born and to enable the passover happening.
Exodus 4:21
The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
Prophet
Was Christ a "robot", an example, or perhaps both?
As far as the scripture in Luke...again Jesus made the decision to follow God's will. Jesus had the choice and his choice was to follow God's will.
So, you're saying that it is possible to completely turn your will over to God, where God controls you and you are nothing more than a robot.
Let me ask you this:
Is it love to do what God tells you because you want to, or because you have to?
Prophet
One more thought.
Does it profit a man more to have confidence that God cannot control his will, or that man can and should turn his will over to God?
Luk 22:42 saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.
Yes, God did put a pillar before the Egyptian army. And again, it proves nothing more than God cannot control our will. He can control circumstances, but not our will. And, yes, God is in control of what's going on and always will be. I could elaborate, but then I would be delving into the argument of predestination.
God is in control of the circumstances in my life. But not in control of how I handle those circumstances.
Holio commented; "God did not call for us to sentence our brothers or sisters for failing."
We are not 'sentencing our brothers' rather we fail as Christians if we only cheerlead those already on the right path...but to rebuke our brother to keep him from straying off the path.
"And of some have compassion, making a difference:
"And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude 1 22
"Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." Romans 15:14.
"Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked." Psalm141:5
"Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear." 1 Timothy 5:20
"Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith..." Titus 1:13.
"Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you."
Titus 2:13
This is why these conversations here on this post is taking place, not to only edify those who are following but to correct those who are Falling (not just failing).
Let us not be as the unsaved warring among ourselves.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Anyone one of us will lose a battle here and there from time to time; God never promised we would not fail at times. However, we are suppose to remain rooted in His Word. How may prayed that he be strengthen before of after this battle that he be renewed? How may sought to correct him of his error or reminded him to be strong in time of crises. God did not call for us to sentence our brothers or sisters for failing; He called us to remind our fellow saint to continue in doing what is right.
Humm,
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another!
I have to get going. Can't really comment right now.
Prophet
Two thoughts to offer.
1) If you read the accounting very carefully, it is noted several times that it is God who hardened the heart of Pharoah in order to accomplish His will.
2) During the course of these events, God used a pillar of clouds to stop the forward advancement of the Eygptian army from Israel. The pillar was eventually removed allowing for the events leading up to the actual destruction of the army.
God is in control. God is always in control.
Sorry to post again, but this came to me as I was musing the Jewish exodus and all the precluded it. That is a good example. Why didn't God just force Pharoah to want to let Israel go? Because He couldn't. He sent plague after plague to try and convince the Pharoah that He was God and this is what He wanted, but He still couldn't make Pharoah do what He wanted. Not until the situation got so bad that the Pharoah thought he couldn't take any more. But even at that point, it was still the Pharoah's choice to let the Israelites leave.
A physical intervention is no different than a spiritual. Whether it was an angel, or a human, all he did was speak to Abraham. That's it. Period. He didn't grab his hand and force him to stop. He simple told him to stop, and Abraham chose to stop.
I'm trying to understand how you can miss something so simple.
Ah yes, the destruction of the armies of Egypt. Hmmm...nope still haven't gone against the will of man. That was an example of God doing something to someone for a desired result, but He in no way controlled their actions. Why didn't God just force them to decide to stop? Because He can't. As I said earlier, he can allow situations to happen to try and persuade a person, or people, to do a certain thing, but He can never force them to choose what He wants them to. Now what I want to see is God force someone to do something that they don't want to do.
Forgivensinner
Thank you...well stated
Prophet
You have said...
"You'll notice that the angel didn't physically intervene"
Why should a physical intervention be viewed any differently than a Spiritual intervention?
But perhaps we can see both when the nation of Israel and Eygypt witnessed the destruction of the entire Egyptian army when God willfully and forcefully freed His people from the bondage of Eygpt.
God's mighty hand was on display that day.
Ok, I am entrigued in the judgement conversation ~ thanks guys.
I'm definately thinking there's something here ~ in further study I've come across 1 Cor. 11:32 which is discussing the Lord's supper.
(using a commentary)
V31,32 The purpose of self-examination is to come to the table prepared in heart. Here Paul quickly adds that even when a Christian is judged by the Lord, this judgement is not punitive to destruction, but a form of fatherly discipline (Heb 12:5) to bring God's child to repentance, so that he will not be finally and totally judged with the unsaved world.
Just adding to the discussion, wrhalver seems to coming from this understanding of christian judgement. (not trying to put any words in your mouth, wrhalver.)
Yes, God told Abraham to do something. Abraham obeyed...God's will was not forced upon him. You'll notice that the angel didn't physically intervene, he simply spoke to Abraham. Abraham, as with Moses, had the choice to make. God didn't force him to do anything. This is confirmed by the angel's words "...for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
The angel was commending Abrahams willingness to do what God told him to, thereby showing that man still chooses what to do.
Prophet
Perhaps it would be good to look at the circumstances when Abraham was told by God to take his only son Issac into a mountain and sacrifice him.
We note that Abraham was obedient even to the point of acting with the knife.
But then an Angel of God was sent to intervene. This was a case of immediate intervention.
This is not always the case but the faith of Abraham needed to be proved, and it was proven.
As I'm sure you aware, this is one of the greatest accounts of faith under test in recorded biblical history.
God handled Moses case differently. Moses had something different to learn. Perhaps he needed to be reminded of who he was and who the Great I Am is, and who it is that sent him to Israel in the first place.
Shalom my friend.
whalver,
It was God's will that Moses speak to the rock. Did Moses? No. So God's will was not imposed.
DelightntheLord
Yes, Christ already paid the price.
We learn to accept it and seek after it in full.
wrhalver,
Did Jesus die for ALL your sins?
Or only some?
His Holy Spirit guides us in all truth, we cannot obey God in our own strength instead we rely on daily guidance from Him.
The punishment for our sin has been nailed to the cross...all of it.
More;
"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Romans 5:9
wrhalver,
Tested, chastened, disciplined but not judged. Judgment speaks of punishment. Why would God punish His children? He doesn't. Yes, we are to be obedient but we are not forced to be obedient, this is a function of our free will i.e. to follow..
The judgment spoken of in the OT is not what is spoken of in NT:
Jhn 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
wrhalver,
I am intrigued by this statement. Your reference to the obedience of Christ and Adam is a correlation I'd love for you to expound on. Would you, please?
Christ obeyed/Adam learned to obey.
wrhalver wrote: "The choice is ours. We can either obey as Christ did, or learn to obey as Adam did.
But make no mistake, God will continually remind us of the difference."
I have to say, this is a thought-provoking statement to say the least.
He is the Great I Am.
Obediance has its rewards both here on earth and in eternity.
Disobediance also has its rewards both on earth and for eternity.
The choice is ours. We can either obey as Christ did, or learn to obey as Adam did.
But make no mistake, God will continually remind us of the difference.
Scripturally speaking, as I understand, the only thing God cannot do is lie, but God will not force his children to love Him. God will not have His children come to Him this way. He has promised through His Holy Word life, in Him and with Him. It is up to us to follow the prescription.
DelightntheLord
You have said....
"The true Christian is not appointed to judgment, that is reserved for the world"
This would suggest that a true Christian cannot error. We know this is not correct. A true Christian is still subject to being tested of God.
In the example given of Moses, Moses was tested and failed. The judgement given by God was that he could not cross over the river Jordan with the rest of the Israelites.
In this case the act of disobediance by Moses was judged. Most certainly God's will was imposed. Moses could not change that judgement.
Let's pray that more people would come into biblical harmony instead.
wrhalver,
You might have 'judgment' confused with:
Hebrews 12:8 "But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."
wrhalver,
I admire your zeal but your idea of the Nature of God is unscriptural!
The true Christian is not appointed to judgment, that is reserved for the world.
The only judgment we will face is the Bema Seat judgment ; as in the Olympics this is a reward judgment; the crown of life, etc. Jesus took away our rightful judgment when He died and Rose again. Hello?
I'd quote scripture to back up my biblical claim...but I find that a lot of folks on this board don't read seriously.
As far as free will? I didn't give that up when I devoted myself to Jesus Christ. God doesn't want automations, He wants us to love Him and out of gratitude we do!
You can't force LOVE.
Judgement is a result of our disobedience. It is not the forcing of His will upon us. He told Moses to speak to the rock at Meribah. Instead, Moses struck it. Why didn't God "force" Moses, and impose His will upon him, by making him speak to the rock. Actually, why did God even tell Moses to speak to the rock. Why didn't He just make him, without even telling him?
God cannot make us do what He wants. The beginning of Romans 2 talks about how people's hardness of heart (willing disobedience of God's will) stores up judgement for them.
God can bring situations into a person's life to try and direct them, but He cannot force them to choose one way or another.
Example: At one point I was unfaithful to my wife. Do you think that was God's will? I'm in the ministry. I really don't think it was God's will for me to do that. The conviction of the Spirit apparently wasn't enough to move me to do what was right. So he allowed small situations to occur to try and get my attention, to deter me from persuing it further. That didn't work. So, instead, He allowed the situation to develop until it come to light, and my wife found out. Again, it was up to me whether I repented and turned, or whether I continued. I thank God that I decided to repent and turn. God couldn't force me to stop sinning. And God can't force His will on us. That's not love. And God is love.
If those at eHarmony are Christians, then they should not support the gay agenda by giving in to their demands.
I know it must have been a hard and difficult thing for them to do, But I think I would have rather closed the thing down.
I would have rather shut the doors for good, than to give in to the demands of the homosexuals.
And please don't think that this was a victory for the gay agenda, They only put one more nail in their coffin, God is going to judge the sin of homosexuality.
Prophet
If you wish me to directly address your use of the word "force", then yes God can force His will upon us.
God can force us to do as He desires. In biblical terms this is called judgement.
But judgement only comes when it is proven that we have chosen not to listen and obey.
The purpose of judgement is always to remove sin, and the sinner as God sees fit.
Now why would you circumvent that question?
Prophet
God's Word always prevails.
Whether we choose to obey now, or learn to obey through error, His Word is the final Word.
Whatever it takes for God to draw his own closer to Him, it will be done.
what we have here is a faliure to excommunicate
So God can force His will on us? Force us to do what He wants?
Prophet
It is to God's choosing as to how and when He intervenes in a situation.
Please allow me to use this analogy.
The last thing parents want is for their children to make mistakes. And sometimes parents intervene too much which does not allow their children to learn on their own.
Christ wanted us to see God as our Father. He may choose to intervene, but He may also choose to test us and see how we respond.
I think you missed my point. My point wasn't directed at the founder of eHarmony. Yes, he had the choice of what he did. I was responding to Minni's question "Shouldn't you all have just prayed to have the judge rule in eHarmony's favor by the power of god?" God can impress upon the judge a certain thought or idea, but He cannot make him follow that thought or idea. I guess I would pray that God would impress upon the judge to rule in favor of eHarmony.
God can do all things...except make us do what we don't want to.
Prophet
You have commented....
"God cannot go against a person's will. And if it is the judges will to rule against eHarmony, then God cannot change that. But He can take the results and make something good out of it."
Your comments are of great concern.
We must understand the principles of God's intervention in our lives.
It is not a question of what God can and cannot do. It is a matter of what God does and does not allow.
Christians must learn not only to obey God, but also why Christians must obey God.
If Christians were truly offended by the direction eHarmony was taking, they should simply turn away and seek other means of relationships.
If the founder(s) of eHarmony are supposedly Christians, then they have already turned away.
There are already separate websites for their immorality. This is a sick and bizarre lawsuit threatens to destroy the social fabric of this nation. Regardless how they attempt to rape the minds of the American public with their shame, homosexuality will never be normal accept unto the insane.
"Shouldn't you all have just prayed to have the judge rule in eHarmony's favor by the power of god?"
That would be a bit arrogant on our part don't you think? The Bible talks about 'if my people who are called by my name humble themselves...and turn from their wicked ways...." Now, with that in mind and the fact that this is a democracy...if "my people" (84% of Americans polled) would vote like it then it wouldn't be an issue. Why should God act when most Americans won't lift a finger when it comes to Godly morals and values in society?
minni,
God cannot go against a person's will. And if it is the judges will to rule against eHarmony, then God cannot change that. But He can take the results and make something good out of it.
minn, no, we should have been praying that God's will would be done in this matter and that eHarmony would have the courage to trust Him by staying true to God's truths in this matter.
Shouldn't you all have just prayed to have the judge rule in eHarmony's favor by the power of god? One...two...three done. Seems like that would have been the easiest way out of this.
pray,
That was the funniest thing I've read in long time!
@Forgiven
"I heard sermon once that spoke to all young men to pray that God would make them like Adam and cause them to fall into a deep sleep (to the burning) and wait on God to present their Eve to them. "
Honey if that is the case "my adam" must be narcoleptic...lol
"to all young men to pray that God would make them like Adam and cause them to fall into a deep sleep"
It would sure deal with the teen pregnancy problem! Still, wait on the Lord and lean not on your own understanding comes to mind.
Daniel Paul,
I heard sermon once that spoke to all young men to pray that God would make them like Adam and cause them to fall into a deep sleep (to the burning) and wait on God to present their Eve to them.
filth has taken over everything. but you can keep it out of your home.
That's it! I'm done with eHarmony and their twenty-seven levels of compatibility!
In my case I just waited for God to bring the right woman to me. People in our singles group (about 150 people) thought I was nuts! (Well, more so than usual.) It was quite a shock when Jenni showed up one Sunday! Everyone was going "no...can't be". I figure if God had someone special for me to marry then He was more than able to bring her to me at the right time. ... He did. God not only beat eharmony for matching but worked in both of our lives to shape us for each other. Now that's something no dating service can do.
"It is not promoting anything. I, for one, boycott eHarmony "
You got a thumbs up from me for this one.
You know what if they want to push the issue let us P.U.S.H as well. We can Pray Until Something Happens. We can seek GOD for strategy like the Israelites did around Jericho. C'mon folks, If GOD be for us who can be against us, don't be intimidated. Let us seek GOD and find out how we can push our issues. And you know what , if all the gays got saved then that would surely make their agenda come to naught. SO let us pray for them and witness , we can do this man yayah Go Body of Christ
Yes, SW, you are right it was a settlement and not a judement. Although, I do believe this establishes a new kind of problem for businesses. This judge, IMHO, abused his position and intimadated and extorted Mr Warren.
It is not promoting anything. I, for one, boycott eHarmony just as many of you boycotted McDonalds. Companies like eHarmony and Exxon/Mobil shouldn't be sued, but you will never see them get a dime from me!
There is much good that eHarmony has done in bringing many Christian marriages and relationships into being.
Neil Clark Warren has invested much of his time, talents, energies, & finances into building this privately-held business. I cannot begin to understand the conflicting emotions that must have gone through his heart in the midst of the legal challenges.
Still, in spite of the positive influences brought out through eHarmony, the company has compromised its moral principles. It has now become a tool used in part to promote an immoral lifestyle.
eHarmony could have put up a legal fight. It could have pulled out of New Jersey. It could have stood its moral ground. They had a legimate legal defense. Instead, they caved in & the moral compromise has opened the door for further legal attacks on other Christian ministries.
The cultural repercussions may be potentially quite significant in the end, given the political climate that we are about to enter through the next 4 years.
The Salvation Army drew the line & refused to accept government funding rather than compromise its moral principles. The Catholic Adoption agencies in Massachussetts refused to faciliate adoptions of same-sex couples, by closing down instead.
I encourage eHarmony to pray & renew its courage in the Lord. No matter how much good that God can use in a ministry, once moral compromise has occurred, it's testimony is forever stained. It would be better to totally close up shop than to be a willing participant in the facilitation of evil.
This was a legal settlement, not a judicial ruling. This was totally voluntary on eHarmony's part. This was not imposed on eHarmony through a judge. eHarmony weighed out the costs, time, & energy of litigation, deciding to cut their financial losses. It was a major decision with bottom-line finances in mind.
delight, flagging is used when a poster violates the please help line, but sometimes another post will get ticked at another poster and flag them which often times can lead to a flagging frenzy, but sometimes, normally a new poster, a poster will try to give a thumbs-up or down to another poster and will accidently flag the other poster, but flagging is really only to be done when a post violates the please help line.
Thanks so much!
I'm gonna put this to rest tonight...see how it turns out tomorrow.
This is kind of addicting. Who knew. Goodnite.
Sorry, Delight,
I went off on my own tangent. It was a side thought b/c of the word free.
Watch out msnchris...they're touchy here tonight. I was flagged and I'm so much nicer than you.
SELL OUTS!
EHarmony should have the integrity to close shop, than to sell out to these Homofacists!
Forgiven, I looked that verse up to see the context and I'm not sure exactly how it was meant in the context I understand.
Is there a way of expanding your idea so that I may be enlightened. Maybe it's just me, I sometimes get a little outta context or maybe I should review the posts.
Thanks, Bro.
This talk of free is bringing to my mind 1 Peter 2:16 "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God".
To repeat and repost my point:
Homosexuals are not interested in using this dating service in the same way they realy do no want to get married. They just want attention for themselves. Why else would they get all dressed in ridiculus costumes and parade.
Or was it some heavy handed tactic from the small population here of gays?
"No longer is free enterprise free"
So, right, Forgiven...and it would seem that free Speech is no longer free, either!
What's this flagging thing anyway...I'm new.
How can someone who just disagree have the write to delete a comment when the comment was within the rules of the website.
what are we, communist China?
I don't agree with Christian using these services anywya, but this is insane. What about these services
qualityprofessionalsingles.com (unfair to blue collar)
blacksingles.com (unfair to whites)
The man who won the lawsuit will soon realize that the new site amounts to "separate-but-equal." That will be the basis for his next lawsuit.
Hate to say it, but we're losing the Constitutional right of free association. After homosexuality, what? And then too, it won't be eHarmony in their sights next, it will be pastorates.
Okay, why was my brother Delight flagged?
Delight, good evening.
chicago did post that he believed the man that brought the lawsuit did only to kick up dust. The man did not have any intention to use the services just create a problem. And a problem, as I see it, was created. No longer is free enterprise free. What happened to key demographics? Gone. This ruling needs to be overturned or businesses all over the country are not going to fail because of the economy.
Why is chicago getting flagged? We are having a conversation here.
Why indeed.
Thanks chicago
I'm going to sue Mikey D's because they don't carry pizza and I love to eat pizza. I'm being discriminated against because my personal preferences aren't being met!
"It's well-known that it has catered to heterosexuals only."
E-Harmony will still only be for heterosexuals. They are setting up a completely different site for the gays. Still, given the compatability formula they use I don't know there will be too many matches.
Hey, chicago
For some reason your earlier post was flagged. I see you've reposted.
I still believe you've brought up a good point, which begs the question; Will Mr. Warren be lawfully able to close down this division if it does not meet necessary sales?
Also, why bring forth the lawsuit for that matter?
>> Another California man sued eHarmony in 2005 for refusing to help him find a date. The company said there was one good reason for that: He was still married. <<
No-body loves me.
Every-body hates me.
I'm gonna eat some wor-r-r-rms!
So much for E-harmony's family values and Christian orientation. Now we learn the truth. It's just about seeing how much money the company can make, principles aside. The world and world system hates Christians, despises the name of our Savior Jesus, and is repulsed that God would give us only one way into Heaven. Well, He is God. He can do as He chooses. He gave us only one way, through Jesus, and told us we could expect persecution. It is probably good that E-harmony has been exposed for having no family values.
I don't think Warren or anyone else has to worry about gays using eHarmony. It's well-known that it has catered to heterosexuals only. Any gay person using eHarmony would just be wasting their money.
I am definitely withdrawing from Eharmony now. We need to take a stand church or line up at the Satanist cathedral cause you serve one or the other. Which church do we go to anyways? JESUS is LORD and marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN period. We need to remember that we are not of this world but of the Kingdom of GOD and HE already owns everything. Isn't it available to all of us ? Why succumb ? We need to prepare for battle but we already won the war. GLORY TO GOD
Isn't this suit kind of like claiming discrimination because a specialty store didn't have what I wanted?
This is just another example of the homosexual agenda to criminalize anything that disagrees with them and their lifestyle.
The question will be if the Eharmony system will match anyone based on the formula they use.
Today, eHarmony. Tomorrow, the church you attend.
The wisdom of this type of activity being labeled "Christian" is questionable anyway.
We Christians need to realize that Satan does not want anything in this world that even hints of God's morality, so this should not have been a surprise, nor Mr. Warren's willingness to so quickly buckle under given his penchant for syncretism - mixing atheistic psychological theory with Christian psychology, and his apparent willingness to earn a buck from that.
I was surprised that E-Harmony was limited to heterosexual activity anyway. I didn't know because my wife wouldn't allow me to sign up...she is funny about things like that ;-}
The homosexuals are like a barbarian horde, coming in at full gallop. This is just another sign of the times in which we're living in, but cheer up church, our redemption draws nearer and nearer!
(Gen 19:5 NASB) - and they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them."
(Lk 17:28-30 NASB) "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
The gay agenda pursues. "Yeah, let's ruin a man's business because they don't cater to me!" Blah Blah...
Seriously folks, it's only going to get worse. I'm curious though, does eHarmony have shares or is it a purely private business?
Oh and on another note...why does this new site have to come out on my Birthday? I mean, c'mon. Way to ruin a good day!!
Warren is a Christian but changed the focus of his matchmaking service from Christian to any religion. I had no idea he had done this until I decided to check the site out to total curiosity. He was going for anyone that wanted a heterosexual relationship, not just Christians. In a secular context the same-sex people could sue for discrimination it appears. Maybe if he had kept it as a Christian matchmaking service he would have had better standing in court. He might have won on the basis of freedom of religion. Other businesses won these types of lawsuits. I know the ACLJ has won a good number of cases. At one point he was in CA. I would think he could have forwardly projected this possibility. Oh well.
chicago, you bring up a good point.
Now, will Mr Warren be lawfully able to close down this division if it is not meeting necessary sales?
James,
Mr. Warren has already made his choice. Whether he, or others want to admit it, he is now solidly in the corner of the homosexual movement by doing so.
I wouldn't cave in over preferences this is ridiculous. I would rather shutdown my business. Mr. warren is a christian and that is why it was not offered. Mr. Warren should not cave in and if his hand was forced by the judge, he should gracefully close his doors. Greed has taken a hold of him if he refuses to obey his Lord
Great point, Forgiven.
The Homosexual Movement continues to use heavy handed tactics to push their way into the mainstream.
And why not, the Courts are on the side of every vile thing this group chooses to promote.
So providing particular services to particular demographics are becoming unprotected as well?
How is forcing eHarmony to provide a service for a different demographic free enterprise? Why not pose a proposal or seek out its own nitche rather than suing for discrimination?