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Same-Sex Marriage Defeated in New York
CBN:New York legislators have defeated a same-sex marriage bill and the vote was not as close as many people expected.
Thirty-eight state senators opposed the legislation and only 24 supported it.
New York senators who supported the same-sex marriage measure overcame major hurdles to get the issue to the floor of the state senate. But in the end, the majority vote to defeat the bill was overwhelming. And senators crossed racial, ethnic, and party lines to do it.
Sen. Ruben Diaz, a pastor of the Christian Community Neighborhood Church in the Bronx, is among the 38 lawmakers who helped defeat the measure.
The Pentecostal pastor argued he could not check his Christianity at the door.
"I am the church. I am the state. How can I separate myself from myself?," he explained. "When I come through that door, I leave my Bible outside. Don't please, don't. That's a wrong statement to say. The Bible should never be left out."
The debate was also emotional for senators on the opposing side. Sen. Thomas Duane, an openly gay member of the New York State Senate, introduced the bill.
"It would make me equal in every way to everyone in this chamber," Duane said.
Supporters of traditional marriage are hoping the New York vote will send a message next door to New Jersey -- where leaders are considering taking up the issue as well.
CBN News recently spoke with Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms.
"Part of our strategy was, we knew if we could hold the line here in New York that we could effectively block same sex marriage in two states," McGuire said. "And I think we've done that. We sent a message to New York, but also a message to a lot of New Jersey who are watching what happens here."
It's possible that the bill could come up again before New York legislators. But next year is an election year, so it may be a long time before the issue is raised again in the Empire State.
Source:- CBN
This entry was posted on December 8th, 2009 at 02:53:54 am by admin and is filed under News, Church, Opinion - View.
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9 comments
Comment from: Saint Fatuma Wakjira [Visitor]
I totally agree with Pastor/Senator Diaz. We are Christian every where at all times. There is no separation between faith and practice, "church" and state in my life. One's faith drives his action.
Well, the Almighty Creator, God of the Bible is not shaken by man's folly. The sinner can be all he wants and do what all he wishes within the limits of God's permissive will. It is not God's perfect will for any one to be lost in his sin (Jn.3:16). God wants men everwhere to repent, whether in the senate or kindergarten.
What should a born-again, Spirit-filled amabssador of Christ do in this situation? Just like the pastor, we have to speak the truth in love. Sadomy is sin that provoked God's judgment. It is not love but toward God and humanity. God, becuase, it tries to humiliate God, making Him ashamed of His creation. Humanity, because it goes against the natural phenomenon, man-woman relationship and undermines continuity of life. It is detrimental to the human race. The God of the Bible is very clear about it. May God have mercy on us for our silent withrawal. Yes, God loves sinners but not sin; so do we, believers.
Well, the Almighty Creator, God of the Bible is not shaken by man's folly. The sinner can be all he wants and do what all he wishes within the limits of God's permissive will. It is not God's perfect will for any one to be lost in his sin (Jn.3:16). God wants men everwhere to repent, whether in the senate or kindergarten.
What should a born-again, Spirit-filled amabssador of Christ do in this situation? Just like the pastor, we have to speak the truth in love. Sadomy is sin that provoked God's judgment. It is not love but toward God and humanity. God, becuase, it tries to humiliate God, making Him ashamed of His creation. Humanity, because it goes against the natural phenomenon, man-woman relationship and undermines continuity of life. It is detrimental to the human race. The God of the Bible is very clear about it. May God have mercy on us for our silent withrawal. Yes, God loves sinners but not sin; so do we, believers.
12/08/09 @ 05:30
Comment from: Amare [Visitor]
Dear SFW:
I agree with most of your statements above. Yes, we should love sinners; however, I'm not sure if I agree with you on The Almighty loving sinners. If God loves sinners, he wouldn't have destroyed the people of Sodom & Gamorah in the first place [But remeber that God took Lot out of the fire. Why? Because God LOVES Lot]. If you want to see this further, there wouldn't be a Judjement Day if God loves sinners. But there is! There is judjement Day that is coming, and in that Day the ungodly (you can label them sinners) will be destroyed by The Almighty! They will perish! So I ask you, how could God destroy them if He loves them?
As per this understanding [God loves everybody: sinner or believer, doesn't matter], I don't think we can say God is a "just" God; because He either has to save every single human being ever created or he is unjustly judjing sinners whom he loves? Don't you think this is contactory? Can you say "I pass judjement on you, because I love you?"
I can furnish many Scriptural passages that support the statement "God HATES sinners", but for today I'll just attach the following for your review:
"The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalms 1:4-6
As afootnote I want to add the following: you might ask me "weren't you a sinner before you were saved?" I say "absolutely yes! I was a sinner; however, not now! because my past, present and future sins are already paid by The Lord Jesus! And God surely LOVES me and won't judje me!"
God bless!
I agree with most of your statements above. Yes, we should love sinners; however, I'm not sure if I agree with you on The Almighty loving sinners. If God loves sinners, he wouldn't have destroyed the people of Sodom & Gamorah in the first place [But remeber that God took Lot out of the fire. Why? Because God LOVES Lot]. If you want to see this further, there wouldn't be a Judjement Day if God loves sinners. But there is! There is judjement Day that is coming, and in that Day the ungodly (you can label them sinners) will be destroyed by The Almighty! They will perish! So I ask you, how could God destroy them if He loves them?
As per this understanding [God loves everybody: sinner or believer, doesn't matter], I don't think we can say God is a "just" God; because He either has to save every single human being ever created or he is unjustly judjing sinners whom he loves? Don't you think this is contactory? Can you say "I pass judjement on you, because I love you?"
I can furnish many Scriptural passages that support the statement "God HATES sinners", but for today I'll just attach the following for your review:
"The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalms 1:4-6
As afootnote I want to add the following: you might ask me "weren't you a sinner before you were saved?" I say "absolutely yes! I was a sinner; however, not now! because my past, present and future sins are already paid by The Lord Jesus! And God surely LOVES me and won't judje me!"
God bless!
12/08/09 @ 17:41
Comment from: Saint Fatuma Wakjira [Visitor]
My brother,
If we say God hates sinners, then who can stand before an angry and hateful God. I am a sinner. The whole world has sinned because of Adam's disobedience. That is what we call the original sin. We are guilty by inheretance. That sinful nature is always in constant war inside me, as Paul discusses in Rom. 7. But because of the redemption wroght by Jesus who fulfilled the law and imputed his righteousness to us, we have been justified and made righteous through Him.
God is just and he hates sin. Sin is transgression against God. Where there is sin, unless God's mercy and grace abound, God's wrath must fall, because God cannot contradict Himself. He does not wish any to perish. He does not want anyone to persish. Now that is out of love. He loved us, sinners, to the extent us He sent His Son on our behalf (Rom. 3:23, Jn. 3:16) That is why we need to confess our sin and be born again by His Spirit into His family so we would escape His justice .
When I say He loves sinners, I mean that He loves for them to be saved. He does not like our sin but He wants us, sinners to be saved by surrendering to and trusting in His mercy and grace(Eph. 2.8-10, Rom.6, Rom. 8).
For believers, it is like you love your children but you have to discipline or punish them for their own good. Christ encourages sinners to come to Him (Mt. 11:28).
Did you love God and come to him or did He reach out into your your soul and spirit to save you? Did He save you when were already a righteous person or when you were still a sinner? If loved to save you while you were a sinner, then He loves you, not your sin. He provided the Cross to deal with your sin. God's wrath against your sin was averted by the Blood of Jesus. It shows that, as a sinner you do not deserve His salvation, free gift of eternal life. He saved you by His grace, not because He hated you but He loved you in the first place. Now, the difference is that I am a saved or forgiven sinner and the one who rejects Christ is an unforgiven sinner. I walk in light of His word and relationship with the Savior but the unforgiven one walks in darkness and judgement without Christ.
God bless you, my brother.
If we say God hates sinners, then who can stand before an angry and hateful God. I am a sinner. The whole world has sinned because of Adam's disobedience. That is what we call the original sin. We are guilty by inheretance. That sinful nature is always in constant war inside me, as Paul discusses in Rom. 7. But because of the redemption wroght by Jesus who fulfilled the law and imputed his righteousness to us, we have been justified and made righteous through Him.
God is just and he hates sin. Sin is transgression against God. Where there is sin, unless God's mercy and grace abound, God's wrath must fall, because God cannot contradict Himself. He does not wish any to perish. He does not want anyone to persish. Now that is out of love. He loved us, sinners, to the extent us He sent His Son on our behalf (Rom. 3:23, Jn. 3:16) That is why we need to confess our sin and be born again by His Spirit into His family so we would escape His justice .
When I say He loves sinners, I mean that He loves for them to be saved. He does not like our sin but He wants us, sinners to be saved by surrendering to and trusting in His mercy and grace(Eph. 2.8-10, Rom.6, Rom. 8).
For believers, it is like you love your children but you have to discipline or punish them for their own good. Christ encourages sinners to come to Him (Mt. 11:28).
Did you love God and come to him or did He reach out into your your soul and spirit to save you? Did He save you when were already a righteous person or when you were still a sinner? If loved to save you while you were a sinner, then He loves you, not your sin. He provided the Cross to deal with your sin. God's wrath against your sin was averted by the Blood of Jesus. It shows that, as a sinner you do not deserve His salvation, free gift of eternal life. He saved you by His grace, not because He hated you but He loved you in the first place. Now, the difference is that I am a saved or forgiven sinner and the one who rejects Christ is an unforgiven sinner. I walk in light of His word and relationship with the Savior but the unforgiven one walks in darkness and judgement without Christ.
God bless you, my brother.
12/09/09 @ 11:53
Comment from: Amare [Visitor]
Dear SFW:
Thank you for the above response. However, you still argue that "God hates sin, but loves sinners"; unfortunately I disagree with you, and I still say that "God HATES both: sin and sinners." I want to remind you [again] that I am not talking about believers whose sins are already forgiiven. I want to refer you back to what I put as a footnote; you're simply repeating what I said about those whom are in The Lord Jesus Christ, whose sins are forgiven. And I'm not talking about "chastisment" either, but I am talking about "the judjement of God" on sinners for their sin. What I'm talking about is The Justice of God; and I think that you've overlooked my point here.
Well, SFW:
You can rationalize as much as you want and/or we can argue till our faces turn red; however, we don't have the slightest power to either SCRATCH or AMEND what is already WRITTEN. For example, forgetting my argument [me saying "God HATES sinners"], I don't know how you would understand and/or interprete the following verses?
Psalm 5:5 (KJV) "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: THOU HATEST all workers of iniquity."
11:5 "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence HIS SOUL HATETH."
I don't know how clearer should Thee Word of God be? In addition, this [God HATING sinners] does not make Him in anyway "a hateful God" as you put it above. On the contrary, this makes Him at least a: (i) "just"; (ii) true "merciful"; and (iii) "soverign" God. His justice is seen by punishing sin [& sinners]; His mercy is seen in ovelooking the sins of the Chosen, because the mercy is totaly undeserved mercy; and His soverginity is seen because there is no single power in heaven or earth who can question His Will!
To expand the "sovereign" Nature of God, please look at Romans 9:13; where God says "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I HATED." [A question for you: If God only hate sin, and does not Hate sinners, why did God love Jacob & "HATE" Esau?] When did God say this? I'm sure you say before the children were even born, right? God does this simply because [v.15] "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." By the same token, every single human being created is either on Jacobs side [whom God loves; unfortunately these are few or 'ramnant'] or are either in Esau's side [whom God hates].
You might say "why would God do this?" And my reply is "I don't know!" You might also say "This is unreasonable!" or raise another question/argument; but I say to you: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" [V.20]
May God bless you too!
Thank you for the above response. However, you still argue that "God hates sin, but loves sinners"; unfortunately I disagree with you, and I still say that "God HATES both: sin and sinners." I want to remind you [again] that I am not talking about believers whose sins are already forgiiven. I want to refer you back to what I put as a footnote; you're simply repeating what I said about those whom are in The Lord Jesus Christ, whose sins are forgiven. And I'm not talking about "chastisment" either, but I am talking about "the judjement of God" on sinners for their sin. What I'm talking about is The Justice of God; and I think that you've overlooked my point here.
Well, SFW:
You can rationalize as much as you want and/or we can argue till our faces turn red; however, we don't have the slightest power to either SCRATCH or AMEND what is already WRITTEN. For example, forgetting my argument [me saying "God HATES sinners"], I don't know how you would understand and/or interprete the following verses?
Psalm 5:5 (KJV) "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: THOU HATEST all workers of iniquity."
11:5 "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence HIS SOUL HATETH."
I don't know how clearer should Thee Word of God be? In addition, this [God HATING sinners] does not make Him in anyway "a hateful God" as you put it above. On the contrary, this makes Him at least a: (i) "just"; (ii) true "merciful"; and (iii) "soverign" God. His justice is seen by punishing sin [& sinners]; His mercy is seen in ovelooking the sins of the Chosen, because the mercy is totaly undeserved mercy; and His soverginity is seen because there is no single power in heaven or earth who can question His Will!
To expand the "sovereign" Nature of God, please look at Romans 9:13; where God says "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I HATED." [A question for you: If God only hate sin, and does not Hate sinners, why did God love Jacob & "HATE" Esau?] When did God say this? I'm sure you say before the children were even born, right? God does this simply because [v.15] "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." By the same token, every single human being created is either on Jacobs side [whom God loves; unfortunately these are few or 'ramnant'] or are either in Esau's side [whom God hates].
You might say "why would God do this?" And my reply is "I don't know!" You might also say "This is unreasonable!" or raise another question/argument; but I say to you: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" [V.20]
May God bless you too!
12/09/09 @ 14:40
Comment from: Saint Fatuma Wakjira [Visitor]
Thank you, my brother, for your comments. I choose not to go too deep into theological arguments that would not benefit our readers. I was trying to discuss the issue at hand. My premise is looking back the Old Testament from the New Testament's perspective. All of my references were from the New Testament. I choose to understand the Old Testament from what the New Testament inteprets. I am yet learning how I need to do it. There are a lot of things my small mind cannot conceive. At times, raionalization does not help either. But, with all certitude, I can say that God loves sinners, all His creation. We can talk about the probates but I choose to preach and teach the love of Christ, the gospel of God's grace and mercy to all humanity for I do not know who is elected and who is not. I believe in Jn. 1:12, "Whosoever beleives". Frankly, I do not want to argue this way trying to prove my point, lest I mislead someone. With all due respect to you, let me humbly differ from you in this one.
You said,"You can rationalize as much as you want and/or we can argue till our faces turn red." By the way, I am Ethiopian (black) and my face will not turn red in any argument. I prefer to believe the Bible and be faithful and obedient to what I understand. Mistirun Legeta!
Coming back to the point under consideration, homsexuality, like adultery or murder is a sinful behavior. Those who practice it need God's forgiveness and deliverance. I know Jesus will deliver them if they give their life to Him. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.
You said,"You can rationalize as much as you want and/or we can argue till our faces turn red." By the way, I am Ethiopian (black) and my face will not turn red in any argument. I prefer to believe the Bible and be faithful and obedient to what I understand. Mistirun Legeta!
Coming back to the point under consideration, homsexuality, like adultery or murder is a sinful behavior. Those who practice it need God's forgiveness and deliverance. I know Jesus will deliver them if they give their life to Him. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.
12/09/09 @ 23:35
Comment from: Amare [Visitor]
Dear SFW;
Thank you also for your comments. God bless you for being honest in your answers too. Even though it is hard for me to see why the arguments (I rather call it a healthy debate) would confuse our readers, I accept your statement of "not to go further deep in theological arguments". It is my sincere belief that the more deep & clearer we see The Holy Scriptures, the more we are close to (a step closer) the real TRUTH. As you know, you understand The Word of God "brick-by-brick" and "line-by-line" and "here-a-little, and there-a-little" [see Isaiah 28].
Anyways, I was just defending what the Word of God saying about "sin & sinners" [which I also humbly differ with your view]. On the other hand, I agree with you that we don't have the slightest idea who the elect are.
I'm sorry if I offend you when I said "till our faces turn red". It is just a "saying"; I hope you've haven't streched its meaning. I am also an Ethiopian [& Black]; but I want to remind you that we have a similar saying in Amharic: "fittu berebere mesele!"
In conclusion, if I may, let me add the following: As much as the Word [in I Corth.6:9-10] declares: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
In verse 11 it reminds us that : "And SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Thus, I also agree with you any living sinner [including a homosexual] has an EQUAL opportunity to be forgiven by God, and be SAVED.
May God bless you richly!
Thank you also for your comments. God bless you for being honest in your answers too. Even though it is hard for me to see why the arguments (I rather call it a healthy debate) would confuse our readers, I accept your statement of "not to go further deep in theological arguments". It is my sincere belief that the more deep & clearer we see The Holy Scriptures, the more we are close to (a step closer) the real TRUTH. As you know, you understand The Word of God "brick-by-brick" and "line-by-line" and "here-a-little, and there-a-little" [see Isaiah 28].
Anyways, I was just defending what the Word of God saying about "sin & sinners" [which I also humbly differ with your view]. On the other hand, I agree with you that we don't have the slightest idea who the elect are.
I'm sorry if I offend you when I said "till our faces turn red". It is just a "saying"; I hope you've haven't streched its meaning. I am also an Ethiopian [& Black]; but I want to remind you that we have a similar saying in Amharic: "fittu berebere mesele!"
In conclusion, if I may, let me add the following: As much as the Word [in I Corth.6:9-10] declares: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
In verse 11 it reminds us that : "And SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Thus, I also agree with you any living sinner [including a homosexual] has an EQUAL opportunity to be forgiven by God, and be SAVED.
May God bless you richly!
12/10/09 @ 11:11
Comment from: Saint Fatuma Wakjira [Visitor]
Dear Brother Amare:
Thanks a million!
I am sure we would agree on most of the things we raised here had we sat for a coffee break. We know the difference between God's Love and His Justice. We also know that God is both love and just. These attributes are not mutually exclusive. I believe God is wholly love and wholly just, not a fraction of each. My theology is based on my little understanding of God who revealed Himself in His word and in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is not perfect. But, I am growing, that is for sure. You are a blessing to me. I am ready to learn from you. I lean more toward God's attribute of love more so than His justice. This motivates me to present the gospel to the lost sinner. It is urgent that the world should know the the Love of God manifested in His Son. Christmas is nothing but the story of God's amazing love, redeeming the world from His justice through His mercy and grace.
Let me share with you that I have encountered some pastors who debated vehemently that homosexuality is not sin. I love those pastors but hate their sin. I tlod them that they live in sin and need to repent. I cannot tell them God hates them because "He does not want any to perish". He is a loving and merciful God. He provided salvation and deliverance through His Son.
Merry Christmas to You and our dear readers including ethicross.com.
God bless you.
Thanks a million!
I am sure we would agree on most of the things we raised here had we sat for a coffee break. We know the difference between God's Love and His Justice. We also know that God is both love and just. These attributes are not mutually exclusive. I believe God is wholly love and wholly just, not a fraction of each. My theology is based on my little understanding of God who revealed Himself in His word and in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is not perfect. But, I am growing, that is for sure. You are a blessing to me. I am ready to learn from you. I lean more toward God's attribute of love more so than His justice. This motivates me to present the gospel to the lost sinner. It is urgent that the world should know the the Love of God manifested in His Son. Christmas is nothing but the story of God's amazing love, redeeming the world from His justice through His mercy and grace.
Let me share with you that I have encountered some pastors who debated vehemently that homosexuality is not sin. I love those pastors but hate their sin. I tlod them that they live in sin and need to repent. I cannot tell them God hates them because "He does not want any to perish". He is a loving and merciful God. He provided salvation and deliverance through His Son.
Merry Christmas to You and our dear readers including ethicross.com.
God bless you.
12/11/09 @ 11:01
Comment from: Mekskelu Kerstos [Visitor]
Brother and sisters
Sodomy is sin both in old and New testament.But God sent Jesus to redeem all the fallen people and there is no difference between any sin.Those promiscus people who listen the gospel and reject the savior from their sin and sinful life style already judged,John 3;17.However we have to be wise as not to judge any one as the judge is Christ .Those people created abnormal as hermaphrodites or with hormon deffiecny seeking same sex attraction sholud not be condemned but presented to God their owner.Some of the preachers preach against sodomy more than any other sin that is wrong.Hated is killing and if we hate the other humanbeing we sin more but it is better to hand all such issues to God almighty for His healing.
Sodomy is sin both in old and New testament.But God sent Jesus to redeem all the fallen people and there is no difference between any sin.Those promiscus people who listen the gospel and reject the savior from their sin and sinful life style already judged,John 3;17.However we have to be wise as not to judge any one as the judge is Christ .Those people created abnormal as hermaphrodites or with hormon deffiecny seeking same sex attraction sholud not be condemned but presented to God their owner.Some of the preachers preach against sodomy more than any other sin that is wrong.Hated is killing and if we hate the other humanbeing we sin more but it is better to hand all such issues to God almighty for His healing.
12/20/09 @ 23:24
Comment from: Saint Fatuma Wakjira [Visitor]
Meskelu,
You are right, we are not judge the sinner but his sin. Unless we judge sin to be sin and act accordingly, we cannot preach the gospel. The gospel has already judged sin whose wage is death. The remedy it presents is the grace of God manifested in His Son, Jesus Christ. So homosexuals like liers, thiefs, murderers, adulterers, etc., should come to Christ for His mercy, accept Him as their Savior and Lord.
Sin is sin, however insignificant it may seem. Consider the prevalent sin of telling lies for a likely good cause. Many church goers take it for granted that such sin is permitted, say, as long as I can help someone, I can lie to the authorities, etc.; but it is no different from homosexuality or murder. What hypocrasy, another sin!
God bless.
You are right, we are not judge the sinner but his sin. Unless we judge sin to be sin and act accordingly, we cannot preach the gospel. The gospel has already judged sin whose wage is death. The remedy it presents is the grace of God manifested in His Son, Jesus Christ. So homosexuals like liers, thiefs, murderers, adulterers, etc., should come to Christ for His mercy, accept Him as their Savior and Lord.
Sin is sin, however insignificant it may seem. Consider the prevalent sin of telling lies for a likely good cause. Many church goers take it for granted that such sin is permitted, say, as long as I can help someone, I can lie to the authorities, etc.; but it is no different from homosexuality or murder. What hypocrasy, another sin!
God bless.
12/22/09 @ 05:26
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