Homosexual Agenda Overlap Moral Abolutes ping. (Let me know if anyone wants on/off/back on either pinglist.)
Take especial note of comment #5.
It's easy for some people to slough off incidents like these, or like the assault on Koresh and the Branch Davidians - they were "nutcases" or "fanatics". Well, maybe they are, and maybe they aren't. Do we trust the MSM to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
And as I commented to another freeper: (on one of the other threads about this)
To: FierceDraka
[FierceDraka's comments] "You're right - religious fanatics are quite dangerous and have no place in polite society. By fanatics, I mean pushy, arrogant thugs who scream at people to repent or else - not sincere believers who live by the best tenets of their particular faith."
[My response] "I am no admirer of the type of fanatics you describe. But one person's fanatic is another person's sincere believer. You use the words "arrogant thug" - you mean preachers who beat people up, or do you just mean anyone who isn't polite and quiet sitting at home?
The problem with your statement is that the world is not always polite, and to make it polite, many of us will have to be sedated, incarcerated, or submit to electro-shock therapy.
Exactly who would be deciding who is a sincere believer and who is a religious fanatic?
Is freedom of speech only for those who speak in correct grammar, measured tones, and off to the side every other Tuesday?
Thought you would enjoy this interview with Marcavage....
Michael Marcavage wasn’t hard to recognize when I met him for lunch Friday. He was the one in the "Repent America" cap. That’s the name of the evangelical group he runs in Lansdowne. Marcavage, 24, is currently facing three felony charges and a host of misdemeanors for doing little more than exercising his First Amendment rights at a gay pride festival in Philadelphia. But more about that blatant violation of this group’s free speech rights some other time.
Me, I wanted to see if Marcavage was as big a nut as he has been made out to be. So I invited him to lunch for a little Q and A.
He ordered a cheeseburger, I ordered a club sandwich and we got down to it.
Q: Do you think your tactics -- the photos of the aborted babies and your appearances at the gay rights rallies -- are effective in changing hearts and minds?
A: Without question. When we go out into the public square and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and speak to the issues of our day -- abortion, homosexuality, sin issues -- we do it in a way that is in according to the scripture. Isaiah 58:1 says "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." The Bible calls for us to show people their transgressions.
Q: But how do you know it’s effective?
A: We see people whose hearts are changed. We see people in tears, people who decided they don’t want to be supporting this any longer. People who want to come out of the lifestyle of homosexuality. I get e-mails and phone calls from people who are struggling with homosexuality, and people contacting me who have been hurt by abortion. So it is effective.
Q: You’ve been arrested about a dozen times. Do you like getting arrested?
A: No. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy spending time in jail. But I take great joy in that I’ve been able to serve the King in this way. Being arrested for a faith, that is something the scripture tells us we should take pleasure in.
Q: Would violence ever be justified to prevent abortion?
A: We need to do whatever we can to protect unborn children. I don’t think (violence) is wise. I believe unborn children deserve the same protection as born children. But I don’t advocate violence. I don’t think it’s right.
Q: Do you think the media has been fair to you? Do you use the media to get your message out?
A: I never seek out media, other than notifying what happened at a particular time. I think it is important that people are aware that certain things have happened, especially regarding the erosion of freedom of speech and the exercise of religion here in America -- the attack on Christianity. Christianity is being criminalized by the homosexual agenda. No question about it. When you look at the agenda, you’re now "speaking hatred" by simply declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Philadelphia ..we were in the midst of many people who were enraged, blowing whistles loudly, following us, harassing, obstructing, impeding our way. This was not addressed by the police. And now we are being aggressively prosecuted by city officials. I think that is an example of how Christianity is being criminalized.
Q: Do you have a problem with Lansdowne having an openly gay councilman?
A: I do have a problem with an openly homosexual councilman. You know William Penn has a great quote about those who rule must rule in the fear of God and must be ruled by God. I believe we need godly governance. And we need people who are going to fear God.
Q: Sounds like you want a theocracy.
A: I don’t know if that is the proper labeling of what I’m seeking. But I do know that we must honor God, because he is obviously the creator, the force of all truth.
Q: You cite the Bible a lot when condemning homosexuality and abortion. But doesn’t the Bible also say that it will be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God? Why not take that message to rich people, or is greed not a serious enough sin?
A: Well, it is. And so is drunkenness, so is adultery and so are all these other things. But what’s unique about abortion and homosexuality is they’re celebrated so openly in the public square ..which makes them the most threatening.
Q: Some people perceive what you do as hate speech. Why are they wrong?
A: Because we come in love. They may perceive it to be "hate speech" because it speaks directly to their sin. For instance, if my neighbor is an adulterer, would it be loving for me to ignore that situation while I know that he’s cheating on his wife? I think it’s loving to go that neighbor and tell him that what he’s doing is wrong, that it’s a sin.
Q: What’s wrong with minding your own business?
A: Because minding your own business is not love. If you love someone, then you want them to understand that if they don’t turn from their sin, they are going to end up in hell for all eternity. I don’t think that it’s loving to say nothing.
So, to the question: Is Michael Marcavage a nut? I think the answer is: absolutely. But no more than your average Flyers or Eagles fan. Or gay-rights activist. To steal a line from their playbook: Get over it.
Gil Spencer’s column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail gspencer@delcotimes.com.