Same-Sex Marriage Support Reaches All-Time High
Support for same-sex marriage in America has reached an all-time high, according to a new Gallup poll, just as the U.S. Supreme Court is considering an historic decision on the redefinition of marriage in America.
The poll found that a record-high 60 percent support same-sex marriage in the United States, up five percent from last year and at its highest since surveys began to address the matter in 1996, according to Gallup pollsters.
The American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net) says the numbers are dismaying, as fewer and fewer are committed to preserving God’s definition for marriage as between one man and one woman.
“These are indeed sensitive topics, but pastors cannot allow fear or unease to sway them from God’s calling—to lead congregations according to God’s word,” said APN President Sam Rohrer. “Many pastors are afraid to ruffle feathers by talking about issues such as same-sex marriage, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, pornography, divorce and infidelity, the breakdown of the family, abortion and responsible stewardship, among many others. But pastors have a biblical responsibility and a charge from God to address these sensitive issues with their congregations. Scripture is very clear in James 3:1 that those who teach will be judged more strictly, and leading congregations astray by ignore biblical truth is a dangerous step for pastors to take.”
Research has shown that pastors are purposefully skirting some controversial topics when preparing their messages for the pulpit, but Rohrer says churches and pastors must address these issues, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
Last summer, George Barna, founder of the Barna Group, shared research that found a vast majority of theologically conservative pastors believe the Bible speaks to societal issues, but fewer than 10 percent of these pastors are teaching people what the Bible says on these topics.
The research, conducted through the American Culture and Faith Institute, asked pastors across the country about their beliefs regarding the relevancy of Scripture to societal, moral and political issues, and the content of their sermons in light of their beliefs.
“…When we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, ‘Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues,’” Barna told American Family Radio during an interview. “Then we ask them: ‘Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?’ and the numbers drop … to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it.”
Barna said many pastors are afraid to get involved in political issues because of the controversy it might create. And, he added, “Controversy keeps people from being in the seats, controversy keeps people from giving money, from attending programs.”
“Fear and trepidation about offending parishioners is not an excuse for shying away from tough topics,” Rohrer said. “Pastors are not doing any favors to their churches by allowing people to have a false sense of what’s right and wrong. The Bible is very clear on God’s design for marriage.”
Please allow me to speak candidly…spineless pulpits are the greatest problem America faces today. We must remember that “compromise” isn’t really compromise at all when it comes to the Word of God – compromise then becomes rebellion against the truth of God. We must not go there my brothers – stand firm, stand tall, and stand in the gap for the glory of God.
May I not only agree with you, but may I say that this truth does not have to be said, or practiced in an unloving way! I believe the church has an opportunity in our society to glorify the Lord, by “speaking the truth in love”, and tasking the consequences, and putting our faith and hope in God rather than attendance, buildings, budgets, government grants, our tax deductible status and impressive statistics. Who knows? There may even be a Harvest to be reaped if we are faithful to speak the truth without invectives, or name-calling, such as the homosexual community, and other interest groups experience from many among the unredeemed who object to their political, and cultural aims. Preaching the truth in love, and being willing to sacrifice for your belief have been marks of the church from it’s inception; the exception has been the “flowery beds of ease”, that we have experienced in the recent history of our culture and nation.
…(Taking) the consequences…
Thank you, W. Doyle Bell, for ‘standing firm against the schemes of the devil’…. I will yield my words to the word of God–who speaks with perfect clarity and, also, with the power of the Holy Spirit, who can convict our hearts and minds. May we all yield to HIS TRUTHS.
Ephesians 6: 10-17: “… be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to STAND FIRM AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, TO STAND FIRM. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH with which you WILL BE ABLE to EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMES OF THE EVIL ONE. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is THE WORD OF GOD.”
How true. If we do not have courageous pastors to lead the way, how do we expect to have courageous Christians to stand strong too? I am in a school district that has 3 born again Christians on the school board. A year ago, after citizens gave many details of blatant liberal bias and false information in a U.S. History textbook that was being proposed, 2 of the 3 Christian board members voted for the text book. I spent hours looking through the textbook and it was a terrible excuse of a textbook. The section on abortion was clearly misleading and pro abortion. It also only mentioned one paragraph in the main text of the book on the 911 attack on the U.S. and two additional paragraphs on the attacks as a side note. Truly outrageous.
The Christian church is weak because of weak pastors and weak Christians. Pastors are encouraged to besapineless because so many Christians are worldly and fuss when they are told the inconvenient truth. If a pastor loses some families because he preaches things the way they are, he should trust God will bless him. He surely will. I speak from experience. My husband long ago was a pastor, and he was strongly criticized for preaching the truth. This resulted in hard financial times for us, but God was always faithful. Preaching the truth in season and out of season is ALWAYS the right thing. Some times it gives us opportunity to show the world why we serve him as pastor – not for popularity, not for X number of members attending regularly, not for a stable salary. We serve him because HE IS WORTHY.
I have seen pastors be silent on moral topics. This is troublesome and not pleasing to God, because the Bible says to teach the whole counsel of God.