This week, on "The 3", my week-in-review feature, with 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community, along with information and commentary, we find a dangerous piece of legislation recently passed in California. Also, we celebrate a new nation that has been the site of some powerful work by a Christian organization. And, we discover how atheists were restricted in their attempt to share airborne messages over the Fourth.
3 - California lawmakers pass new law to teach "gay history"
A bill that would mandate the teaching of homosexuality in a positive light, as well as of the contributions of gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals, has passed both chambers of the California Legislature. This has enormous implications on the curriculum in the state and those that are charged with teaching it. Plus, because California has such a large population, textbooks that are written to conform to the new standards could be made available and passed on to other states.
CitizenLink had this report.
We keep our eyes on events in California because of the implications that activity there has on the rest of the nation. This bill is a prime example of how an agenda that stands contrary to our deeply-held Christian principles makes its way through the channels of government, and reminds us how that agenda could be propagated throughout the nation.
Randy Thomasson, President of SaveCalifornia.com said, "This sexual brainwashing bill would mandate that children as young as 6 years old be told falsehoods -- that homosexuality is biological, when it isn't, or healthy, when it's not...There's already a raft of school sexual indoctrination laws on the books. Impressionable children are already being sexual indoctrinated, but SB 48 would be the most in-your-face brainwashing yet."
This is yet another instance of the attempted normalization of the gay lifestyle, and an example of educators being mandated to go out of their way to teach historical events, not because of their overall significance to our nation, but because of sexual orientation.
2 - World's newest nation begins on Saturday, Christian ministry actively involved
For years, Franklin Graham and the ministry of Samaritan's Purse have been working diligently to bring not only relief, but peace, to the nation of Sudan. Now, the ministry joins with the residents of southern Sudan to celebrate a new nation, which will actually come into existence this weekend. South Sudan has emerged out of a tragic legacy of religious persecution, which has resulted in a huge refugee crisis. Samaritan's Purse has been in the process of bringing relief, including reconstructing churches, in the southern region of Sudan, as well as providing hundreds of thousands of Bible and training Bible study leaders.
Graham will be meeting this weekend with President Mayardit, the new President of South Sudan, as well as President al-Bashir of Sudan, with whom the Christian leader has met on previous occasions.
Samaritan's Purse had this press release.
It's gratifying to see when a Christian organization has been given a key and unique place in inter-governmental relations. Franklin Graham has gone above and beyond just addressing the humanitarian situation in Sudan, which of course has been dire, to actually work to bring peace between opposing factions. As Christians, we can be challenged to look for opportunities to be peacemakers, in the spirit of the Prince of Peace.
1 - Pilots refuse to fly "God-Less America" banners
As Christians united within and outside of their houses of worship over the Fourth of July weekend, a group called American Atheists planned to purchase ads that would be flown behind planes in some 27 high-profile areas across the U.S., with messages such as, "God-LESS America" and "Atheism is Patriotic". The display of these banners, of course, depends on the pilots actually flying the planes - and, according to the Christian Post, some 80 percent of pilots said they would NOT fly the inflammatory ads.
Red Calvert, a pilot and president of Pro-Air Enterprises in Indianapolis, told Belief Blog in
USA Today: "I respect our country and I respect our churches and we've got enough problems in our country without stirring up some more. If those people want to do something they believe in, fine, just don't include me."
I challenged my radio listeners to reflect on the Godly heritage of our nation during the week leading up to Independence Day. While there are those that would want to deny our rich religious heritage, which provides a foundation for our laws and principles of governing, the evidence speaks overwhelmingly that this is a nation that was established to glorify God. Sure, atheists have the right to practice their "faith", or more accurately, lack of religion, but it's important that they do not do so at the expense of people of faith and attempt to deny us our freedom of religious expression. And, it's important that Christians are well-versed and well-spoken as we discuss the Judeo-Christian heritage of America.
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