WAKE UP AMERICA

Okay… Let me set this straight from the beginning… I intend to be extremely nice and polite, mainly because I do not harbor bitter feelings on this subject. It's nothing personal. This blog is NOT intended to be one of many from Christian perspectives that are "gay-bashing" or homophobic. Matter a fact, keep reading all the way through. Don't stop reading until the end, for I will touch on negative Christian attitudes as well. This is not intended to be a discussion on my personal beliefs whatsoever. I will provide no evidence to support the rightness or wrongness of that lifestyle. Those who know me know what I believe and those who don't can tell by the way I live and the books I write. I am Christian and believe what the Bible says.

My purpose for this blog is singular. If I get off on a tangent then I haven’t served my purpose. That’s what is wrong lately. Too many people chase the tail of the snake and allow the venom to continue striking. I want to open people's eyes to a fast moving agenda that is sweeping this country. I want to counter that agenda. So let me make this statement, boldly and loudly, but without any prejudicial undertones.

I BELIEVE IN GOD'S WORD. I DO NOT BELIEVE GOD'S WORD SUPPORTS HOMOSEXUALITY. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I HATE PEOPLE WHO ARE GAY.

I AM AGAINST MANY OF OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANY ONE MAN CLAIMING THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE CHANGES ON A GLOBAL LANDSCAPE WITHOUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT... NO ONE MAN IS BIG ENOUGH TO DECIDE THE FATE OF THIS NATION. AND BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WAY DOES NOT MAKE ME A RACIST.

Again, those who know me, know that I love just about everyone around me. Yes, I said "just about," because I am still on a journey and am striving to reach the point that I can honestly say I have attained Christ-like, perfect love. I am not there yet. However, I can say that those that I do not "love," it is not because of race, sexual orientation, or any other factor the media would like for you to believe. It is personal. Most of us have people that rub us the wrong way. I'm human, but I am trying. At least I'm honest about it.

What upsets me about the current framework of media bias and political agendas being pushed is not so much the politics themselves. If a person wants to promote liberal agendas that do not line up with God's Word, that is their business. I will not get angry about their voice. The same right that guarantees that they have the freedom to speak their opinion is the same right that supposedly guarantees that I have the right to express my disagreement. So, go ahead, use your governmental right to free speech. BUT YOU MUST AFFORD ME THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

What saddens me, and quite frankly infuriates me, is the movement within this country to apply labels to people who do not line up to their theme or belief being pushed. So what started this? I received an invite to like a page on Facebook the other day. I clicked on the page, which had an obvious liberal agenda (which again is fine. Everyone has the right to their opinion). However, what upset me is the caption at the top of the page. "Hate is not a family value."

So, there was the ultimatum staring me in the face. Like the page, or I am a hater. Like the agenda being pushed, or I hate gay people. Support gay marriage, or I hate a certain group of people. That is offensive and stupid, and here is why.

First, homosexual people want to be treated fairly and as individuals, not lumped into some category as only being known by their sexual orientation. It is true, and the religious world has a hard time acknowledging this, but homosexuals are individuals. Individuals with hearts and minds and feelings. Individuals that don't deserve to be shunned or abused. Go ahead and accuse me of being a sympathizer. Whatever! The truth is that if you claim to be a Christian and believe homosexuals are lost and going to hell, how will you explain to God why you never reached for them? Homosexuals have feelings, hearts, and minds, but they also have souls, just like everyone else. And we as Christians should never forget that.

Here is my problem. If those pushing the homosexual agenda want to be treated fairly as individuals and not known based on their choices, then quit trying to lump all heterosexuals who don't support your viewpoint into one category. Quit trying to label all Christians into one group, falsely and arrogantly claiming that if we don’t agree with your agenda, by association we hate you. That's ridiculous. YOU CAN'T  HAVE IT BOTH WAYS... Individualism works for everyone or it works for no one. Stop speaking out of both sides of your mouth. As a Christian, I can love you without agreeing with you. My wife and I disagree on issues all the time, but that does not mean we don’t love each other.

Another problem with the liberal agenda being pushed by mainstream media is the frequency with which it is being pushed. It doesn’t match actual demographics. People want to say that the media is not overtly pushing a homosexual agenda, but that is a lie that’s forced in your face everyday. The proof is in the pudding.

Why does television not draw an accurate picture of the actual population in America if no agenda is being pushed? A gallop poll in 2011 concluded that, on average, American adults estimated that 25% of American people are gay. They get this in a major way from television programming. Approximately 4.2% of characters on television are homosexual. This may seem like a low number. However, that is more than double the amount of people in America who are truly homosexual. Also, that number is taken from total cast members, not main characters alone. For example, although the percentage of actual gay characters is low, Fox was honored by GLAAD because 42% percent of its programming consists of homosexual themes. That is nowhere close to representing the less than 3% of Americans who are actively homosexual.

Why are major networks not more interested in keeping their numbers to the realistic norm, if there is no agenda being pushed? Even GLAAD reports that television has played a major role in bringing about key changes in the way Americans perceive homosexuality. They are excited about the changes on the horizon that they feel are being influenced by national programming. This country is being desensitized to a liberal agenda and has been for years. Our children are being programmed to believe certain issues are way more "normal" and prevalent than they actually are.

The recent coke commercial that caused such a stir is ridiculous. So many people are offended because it has multicultural voices singing America the Beautiful. Why should that offend anyone? It is what it is. America is a place where many people from all over the world have decided to relocate. Face reality, if you were living in another country, wouldn’t you want to come to a place that offers the freedom, financial stability (compared to most countries), and opportunities that we enjoy? America has become a blend of people from many nationalities. Who cares if they get a tribute on a ninety second ad from a company that has multicultural obligations. Coca-Cola is not just an American company. It sells to an international market. So what's the big deal?

The big deal is the underlying message being portrayed. If I disagree with them playing that commercial, automatically, I am called a racist. Lost in the name-calling from this video is an important fact that no one is talking about. Mid clip, the only family that received three shots in a row in the entire commercial is the homosexual couple with the seemingly adopted child. Watch it carefully, two men, obviously in love, are having fun with what appears to be their daughter. Why did the homosexual couple receive more face time than any other couple in the commercial? It's an agenda, and if I don’t like the fact that Coca-Cola choose to clearly push an agenda that I disagree with, then I am discriminating against homosexuals. I am a hypocrite because obviously I am harboring hatred.  

This is alarming. It's becoming a major problem. Because the media and many political powers that be are not just battling over gay rights. There is a more subtle, and quite frankly, much more dangerous agenda at play. The powers that be want the world that we are trying to reach to feel like we are outdated, selfish, hypocritical, and behind the times. We are intolerant and cruel, and we are the problem with what is taking place in society. Why would anyone want to be a Christian today? They present stereotypes to the unsaved that make it difficult for us to reach them unless we have something REAL to offer (which is a completely different post that will be coming soon).

I am not claiming persecution by any means. I still believe the early church had it much worse than we do today. But it is frightening that I can envision a world where my children will not be able to have a Christian organization in school or college because it would be a "Hate crime," simply because they want to live their moral convictions with a group of like minded believers.

Being Christian is not about opposing anyone. It's about adhering to the Bible. It's that simple. If others take offense to that, so be it. I won't militantly push my position on someone who doesn’t want it. That does no good. But I should not be expected to sit back and allow someone to militantly push there's onto me. Again, let me say this plain. I DO NOT HATE JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT AGREE.

It’s a great deception, and we must not fall into it. I can disagree without hating. That is my God-given right… It is also supposed to be my governmental right. How is it possible that people who claim they want freedom to live their own choices without discrimination are willing achieve this at the expense of my freedom of choice? And I am called a hypocrite for believing in God's Word but not embracing a lifestyle that is against His Word. Now, that's hypocrisy.

Live your life. Fine… I won't judge you. But I still have the right to base every one of my beliefs, opinions, and lifestyle on the Bible. If something the Bible teaches offends your belief system, I make no apologies for that. Just as you feel you should make no apologies for your beliefs.

You don’t like the system that currently exists in the government. That's fine too. I didn’t create it. But you can't just recreate the system to fit how you want to life. You can't infringe on my rights to guarantee yours. You can't paint me as an evil, unjustified, Bible toting, whacko, just because I refuse to push a button saying I agree with your cause.

As an American, I have the right to disagree with your political ideas.

As an American, I don’t have to agree with someone of another race just because they have a different skin color. And guess what, that doesn’t make me racist. If I disagree with you solely because you are different, then we can talk.

As an American, I have the right to stand for the religious beliefs that this country was founded on, independent of your personal preferences.

As an American, I have the right to teach my children the ordinances of God's Word while balancing it with the grace, mercy, and love of Christ. Just because I am mandated to love others as I do myself does not mean that the Bible paints me in a corner to agree with your agendas. The Bible doesn’t force me to agree with things that are contrary to God's Word and neither should my country.

If someone is actively and militantly encouraging the abuse or harassment of homosexuals, that is a hate crime and should not be accepted under the laws of this country. However, disagreement is a far cry from abuse and harassment. It is not categorically a hate crime if someone asks me to support gay marriage and I refuse to do so based on my convictions. Those are two separate ideas, and I refuse to be lumped into the same grouping as someone who hates just because.

Wake up America. There are only a few choices right now. You are either part of the group promoting the deception. You recognize the deception and don’t care that it's taking place. You see the deception and refuse to be labeled by liberal narcissist. Or, you are being gently rocked to sleep by the media and mass entertainment industries.

Fox network… You have the right to push your agenda… But I have the right not to watch your programming.

Starbucks, you have the right to push your agenda… But I have the right not to drink your coffee (and many church goers were with me until now).

Coca-Cola, you have the right to push your agenda… But I have the right to not drink your products.

Let me be clear. I am not calling for a boycott. Nor have I boycotted anyone. I am merely making a point. Others are allowed to make decisions based on their beliefs and values, but so can I… And just because my values and beliefs do not mesh with yours does not make me less American.

So, stop the deception… Stop making others feel that disagreeing with your ideas makes them less patriotic. Stop pretending that I am a HATER because I won’t promote your message and may even oppose it (the same way you do mine). Stop trying to make this world a place where my kids will not have the same freedom of choice that we have all enjoyed. Stop trying to make America your America. Freedom is what makes this country great, and just because you feel you have not been treated fairly does not give you the right to mirror those feelings onto me. You can't fix what you feel is wrong with this country by doing the same things to others that you feel has been an injustice to you. Infringing on my rights to further yours is the ultimate hypocrisy. If you have rights, then so do I. And I refuse to let you deny mine to strengthen yours. That’s not how this country works.

I am a Christian… And I am an American… And I still believe the two should be synonymous.

I am a Christian… And I am an American… And I still believe that both give me the right to live righteously according to what the Bible teaches.

I am a Christian… And I am an American… And I am proud to be both… For both assure me the rights to speak about my convictions.

Perhaps you have gotten it backwards… Perhaps the real anti-American and anti-Christian are those who deceptively create these stereotypes and then try to force everyone to fit into that mold.

Just something to think about… Please… Wake up, America. Wake up before the deception becomes reality. Please… Wake up, America. Before it becomes a crime to voice Christ's message at all. Please, America, wake up… before your children and grandchildren suffer because of your silence. America… Please, wake up.