Same sex marriage and abortion - what now?

It is now apparent that same sex marriage and abortion will be undemocratically foisted upon Northern Ireland as a result of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019. This will be a matter of great sorrow to all true believers in our province; both that the God ordained institution of marriage will be marred by the oxymoron of gay marriage, and also that any protection for the life of the unborn child will be removed. Whilst it is easy to focus our attention on where the blame should lie in these matters, and there are those who will certainly answer to God for their actions, the real question for the church is what it should do now. For long we have sought to prevent these things taking place, so does their pending implementation now mean that the battle is lost and our fight is over?

Do Christians impose their views?

How many times have we heard the complaint that Christians are guilty of imposing their views on non-believers. When Christians refuse to support same sex marriage we are accused of imposing our views, likewise when we oppose Sunday opening, and even when we seek to carry out public evangelism. Every time a Christian speaks out against unbiblical laws and practices they are met with the accusation that they are forcing their religious views on the rest of the population. Is this accusation true; are Christians really guilty of forcing their beliefs on other people? Is same sex marriage prohibited in Northern Ireland because Christians impose their views on others? Are people in the United Kingdom being forced to accept the views of a minority of Christians?

After Ashers - what now?

In the past week two significant events have caused grief to many Christians; the defeat of Ashers Bakery in their court case with the Equality Commission and the yes vote in the gay marriage referendum in the Republic of Ireland. During and shortly after the build up to the Ashers court case Christians across Northern Ireland have voiced their support for the company, attended rallies and pledged to buy their products. So too in the Republic of Ireland there have been those who have campaigned vigorously to maintain the biblical definition of marriage. Yet on both occasions those on the side of truth have suffered defeat. Like the psalmist David we have cried 'let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me' yet as we look around us we see the enemies of the gospel rejoicing in their victories, and declaring their intention to further pursue their anti-God agenda. In the face of an ever militant homosexual lobby we must ask ourselves, what should Christians do now?

Irish Presbyterian Elder investigated over Gay Marriage views

A report carried in today's Belfast Newsletter has highlighted the fact the Alliance Party leader David Ford has stepped aside from his position as a ruling elder at Second Donegore Presbyterian Church whilst the Templepatrick Presbytery investigates his support for Gay Marriage. Despite the opposition of the Presbyterian Church to the introduction of Gay Marriage, Mr Ford a long standing member of the denomination, declared his support for the move last September despite having previously been opposed to it. What action will be taken against Mr Ford by the Presbytery remains to be seen, however it clearly runs contrary to the teaching of scripture for anyone to remain a member of, much less be an office bearer in, a Christian church whilst espousing their support for this legislation.

The issue raises many questions for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland given that other members of the denomination have also voted in favour of Gay Marriage, most notably Naomi Long MP, a deacon in Bloomfield Presbyterian Church. Ministers such as Simon Henning of Ballyblack Presbyterian have also shown their support for the homosexual agenda in the past, despite the teaching of God's Word. Our preferred outcome for such cases is not that these people would be thrown of their churches, but that they would repent of their erroneous views. If however no repentance is forthcoming, then there is no option left but for the church to enforce discipline. What will happen to David Ford? We shall wait and see.

The Newsletter article in relation to this can be read here:

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/david-ford-steps-down-as-church-elder-amid-gay-vote-probe-1-5029962

Another article on the matter as carried in the Antrim Guardian can be read here: 

http://www.antrimguardian.co.uk/articles/news/33411/church-rebellion-over-gay-marriage/

Why the homosexual lobby is winning the battle for Britain's morality

If the Her Majesty's Government has its way, it will be very soon passed into law that marriage can be defined as a union between two men, or between two women. The traditional, and more importantly, the biblical definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman will effectively be consigned to history, a change that will have great implications for society. Such a move would have been unthinkable only a generation ago, indeed even when civil partnerships were introduced eight years ago the assurance was given that it was not gay marriage. However just a few years on polls have found that 60% of people support the introduction of gay marriage. Even here in Northern Ireland where the gay marriage legislation will not come into effect there is, in truth, little opposition to it. Our province, which just over 30 years ago still considered homosexuality to be a criminal offence, is now open to it, with even professed Christian ministers being found among its supporters. Everywhere we look the sin of Sodom is promoted and recommended and the battle for the morals of our land appears to be lost as biblical principles are trampled under the cause of equality and human rights. The every demand of the homosexual lobby is met with open arms by our government and by the population at large, indeed it has come to the point where to be homosexual almost has an air of trendiness to it and to display any opposition is to bring the accusation of bigotry. In such a state we must ask ourselves how it has all gone so wrong, how have we lost the battle for the morality of our nation?

The bias of the media

One factor which has contributed to the rise in acceptance of homosexuality is the increase of it's promotion through the media. So much is homosexuality pushed into the faces of people today that they have become accustomed to and accepting of it. That which only a short time ago was outlawed in our land is now a source of entertainment, indeed hardly can we turn on the television but we are bombarded with homosexual story lines and homosexual celebrities. So called stars such as Elton John and Gok Wan regularly fill our television screens and every soap opera has its homosexual characters to keep us entertained. In 1994 when Brookside screened the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television it generated considerable headlines, however today homosexual story lines are the norm. A BBC report commissioned in late 2012 has even recommended that the organisation should be more creative and bolder in how it depicts homosexuals in it's programming, it has even said that children's television should be used to help familiarise children with homosexual characters from an early age. What a sign it is of how far our country has fallen that the innocence of children would be exploited by those who seek to advance their own perverse agendas. Yet what is saddest about the promotion of homosexuality through the media is that it has not changed the viewing habits of many Christians. Although their favourite soap operas, dramas and sit-coms have become the medium of promoting the homosexual agenda, yet they still find themselves glued to them every night of the week. Such a reality is but indicative of the fact that, in truth, many Christians are indifferent to the advancement of the homosexual cause that is so evident around us.

The indifference of Christians

It is a great indictment on the Christian church today that so many are indifferent to the advances of the homosexual lobby and to its dangers. Whilst it is not a great surprise that liberals and modernists have supported it demands, it is more sad that the majority of so called evangelicals, those who ought to be at the forefront of opposition to moral decline, have been found wanting. In word they may be opposed to it, yet in deed so few are found to make any true stand against it. When the 'Gay Pride' parade is held in Belfast each year there are but a smattering of Christians prepared to make a visible witness against, their numbers being vastly overwhelmed by the general population who come out to support it. Many believers are found at home, opposed to it in principle, yet not found to be putting that principle into practice. The word of God is clear that Christians are 'the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted'. Where the majority of evangelical believers have failed to take a stand against moral decline, what hope is there that others will do so. The silence and inactivity of many Christians can only be explained by the fact that they do not realise the inherent dangers in the current rise of homosexuality. Like Lot they have lived in Sodom, surrounded by and accustomed to its sin, but undesirous of speaking out against it. If the Christian response continues to be as it has, what can we expect but that our country will fall further into the abyss morally, each generation becoming more wicked than the previous.

The failure of politicians

When the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association was established in the late 1970s to push for the decriminalising of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, it was met with the response of the 'Save Ulster from Sodomy' campaign. Christians politicians were vehemently opposed to the suggestion of homosexuality being legalised. Yet fast forward a few decades and the response has been considerably diluted. Whilst many of Northern Ireland's politicians do still oppose homosexuality and have voted against gay marriage, the signs are there of a significant shift in their attitudes. When the civil partnership bill was introduced in 2005 it passed through every Northern Ireland council without hindrance. Barely a voice was raised in protest, the attitude being taken by many of 'what can we do'. The seeds of this failure are now becoming clear for all to see, with funding for homosexual groups continuing despite the presence of Christians in our government. Last years Belfast Pride event had representation from all the major political parties; with UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance members walking in the parade, and the DUP Lord Mayor taking part in a question panel. The first step for that party, sadly it is likely to be one of many steps on a downward slope. What is clear for all to see is that politicians here, and across the United Kingdom have failed in their duty to uphold moral standards. Their failure has contributed to the advancement of the homosexual agenda and will be doubtless have great consequences for the generation of children growing up today. 

In the midst of all this we must ask ourselves, what can we do? 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.' We must give ourselves to prayer, we must bear a clear witness for biblical standards and must be that salt, that light which is so greatly lacking in our land. Only the Lord can turn our land once again to him, can direct our politicians aright and can reform the morals of the people. We pray that he would do so, that we would not be as Sodom and Gomorrah, but that we would be spared and delivered from the wrath of God.