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http://americansfortruth.com/news/peter-jones-are-we-going-to-san-francisco.html
Peter Jones: Are We Goin’ to San Francisco?
By Dr. Peter Jones
Published by CWIPP, Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet
In
1974, when I left the States to teach in “godless” France, the cultural
revolution was a Left coast/San Fran’ phenom’, and America was still
“Christian.” When I returned in 1991, I was in for culture shock, but
still never imagined what lay ahead.
One man warned us. In 1978,
Pastor Charles Mcllhenny recorded his experiences after his church fired
a homosexual organist (When the Wicked Seize a City). Church property
was repeatedly vandalized and his family almost killed by a firebomb.
“Law enforcement” never found the culprits. Mcllhenny used San Francisco
as a striking example of what America might become. Are we “goin’ to
San Francisco?” as the 60s hit song asked?
Last May, San
Francisco elected Theresa Sparks president of its Police Commission.
Theresa is a transgendered Vietnam veteran, twice-divorced and father of
three grown children. In 2003 s/he was both the chief executive officer
of the sex-toy retailer Good Vibrations, and the city’s Woman of the
Year. It may be “only San Francisco,” but remember that Nancy Pelosi,
congresswoman from San Francisco, is third in line for the presidency.
As the 1967 song predicted: “All across the nation such a strange
vibration…There’s a whole generation with a new explanation…”
The “new explanation” appears in a May 2007 Gallup poll:
57% of Americans now view homosexuality as “an acceptable alternative lifestyle” (34% in 1982)
Here is this “whole new generation”:
75% of 18-34 year olds, and 72% of Democrats consider homosexuality an acceptable alternative lifestyle
Homosexuals
represent only 2% of the population, but culture unwinds once sexuality
is “liberated.” The worldwide unwinding is fanned by the media. The Los
Angeles Times recently ran a front-page article on gays in sport,
concluding that it is no big deal. The BBC World Service series on
“Coming Out,” communicated a similar no-big-deal message. Is it a big
deal?
I see the change everywhere I go. In October, 2007, I will
teach on homosexuality in Bogotá, Colombia, a city that wants to become
the gay capital of the world. In Brazil I learned that the legislature
was criminalizing “anti-homosexual speech.” Homosexuality has a powerful
voice in the EU and at the UN. Much of the world is changing. Here’s
how it happens:
Language Changes: “Free speech” is curtailed by
those who define “hate speech.” Members of the European Parliament from
France, the Netherlands and Italy vilified Poland as “hateful” and
“repulsive” for refusing to promote homosexuality in schools.
Education
Changes: In 2007 the California Senate passed Bill SB 777, prohibiting
all classes, school activities, textbooks, and teachers from instruction
that “reflects or promotes bias against” homosexuals, transgenders, and
bisexuals in public schools (including kindergarten). The executive
committee of the National Education Association is urging its members to
make sexual orientation training a requirement for those earning a
license to teach.
Therapy Changes: The American Psychological
Association is considering a denunciation of any attempt by therapists
to change sexual orientation.
Church Changes: In 2004, Gene
Robinson, a homosexual priest, living publicly with a male lover, was
ordained bishop in the Episcopal Church, setting off a fire-storm of
controversy in the world-wide Anglican communion.
Public Service
Changes: Dr. James Holsinger, a quality candidate for Surgeon General,
committed one fatal error- he once opposed a decision that sought to
name a practicing lesbian as an associate pastor. Holsinger’s fate may
indicate that the place of biblical Christians in government service is
in jeopardy. [Editor’s note: see AFTAH’s post on Dr. Holsinger’s
less-than-bold testimony at his confirmation hearings before the
Senate.]
Law Enforcement Changes: How a transgendered promoter of
sex toys enforces public morals in the Bay Area may become a prototype
as gay and lesbian judges are appointed all over the country.
In
all these areas the 2% determine how the 98% must behave. How, do
Christians live in a “San-Francisco” world? What should YOU do?
Vote (but don’t count on it);
Understand
sexuality in its theological context, as a part of the defense of the
honor of God as Creator and the dignity of man in the image of God, in
order to make sense of the Gospel message in today’s world;
By
the power of Christ and his Spirit, preach and witness to this Gospel
publicly for all you are worth, both as churches and as individual
believers. We cannot allow our mouths to be closed. As Paul said: “Pray
for me that I might open my mouth with boldness…to speak what I must
speak” (Ephesians 6:20);
If necessary, go to jail. A Brazilian
Christian in Rio this Spring asked me: “What should we do in light of
this new law prohibiting anti-homosexual speech?” I replied: “Are you
ready to go to jail?” which is precisely where Paul was!
Do you still say, “This will never happen in my town. I don’t live in San Francisco!”?
——————————
Dr.
Peter Jones (peter@cwipp.org) is Executive Director of CWIPP (Christian
Witness to a Pagan Planet). Dr. Jones was Professor of New Testament at
Westminster Seminary in California for 12 years. He presently serves on
the executive committee of the World Reformed Fellowship. CWIPP seeks
to explain the two religious options vying for the modern mind
(Christianity and Paganism) in order to equip the church to answer, in
the power of the gospel, the questions emerging in a culture dominated
by planetary paganism, for the sake of her evangelism and her
intentional Christian living.
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Pray an Our Father now for reparation for the sins committed because of Francis's Amoris Laetitia.