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Real Christians Say 'No' to Bullying and Homosexual Behavior
COLUMBUS, Ohio, /Christian Newswire/ -- A coalition of pro-family leaders today urges Christian families to be faithful to biblical morality and discerning in the face of false and irresponsible accusations. Christianity and traditional values are not the cause of teen suicides, and attempts to link the two are deceptive and will ultimately harm children. "Gay" activists nationwide are fueling an effort to indict traditional moral values as "guilty until proven innocent" in some bullying incidents involving teens. Their proposed solutions end up sexualizing teens at young ages into known high-risk behaviors and silencing concerned parents.
Now, the U.S. Department of Education seems to be joining the effort, setting the stage for implicating traditional morality as the cause of some cases of bullying, and using the force of federal government to force pro-homosexual, pro-"transgender" indoctrination programs onto local schools.
"Just say no" to these outrageous and unsubstantiated claims, said Buddy Smith, Executive Vice President, American Family Association (www.afa.net). "Bullying can be prevented without endorsing homosexual behavior. Activist adults essentially are saying that American parents who want their kids to avoid high risk homosexual sex acts and remain abstinent until traditional marriage, are harming kids. This is preposterous, and local parents and communities need to resist enforced political correctness."
Authentic Christians will remember several key concepts from Scripture:
1. Homosexual behavior is always a sin, God's plan for sexuality is male/female marriage, and God has not changed His mind about this (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
2. Jesus described marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and that humans were created male and female "from the beginning." Gender change is a defiant and ungrateful sin against God's direction and design (Matthew 19:4-6)
3. Violence against children is wrong. Jesus was very clear in his protection of children and also had harsh words for those who would forbid children from knowing His truth and love ( Luke 17:2; Luke 18: 15-16). "Gay" activists want to keep children from knowing, loving and following the real Jesus Christ. At the very least, schools must not interfere in the desires of parents to raise their own children to follow Christ and live out biblical morality.
4. School boards aid child corruption and insult faithful families when they allow "gay-straight alliances," homosexual indoctrination programs, permission for use of opposite sex restrooms, and any of the other ridiculous demands of the "gay" lobby.
"None of this is related to the real issue of bullying," said Linda Harvey, president of Mission America ( www.missionamerica.com), who has been monitoring the homosexual agenda directed to youth for fifteen years." Any incidents of bullying and name-calling can be punished without forcing acceptance of offensive behaviors. Communities must not allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting pro-homosexual bullying prevention plans, and believers in Jesus Christ need to stand up against this corruption of youth.
"Traditional morality is not responsible for harassing speech. Are healthy nutrition programs or the First Lady's anti-obesity initiative responsible for slurs and insults to overweight students? Of course not," Harvey said. "Bullies act for a variety of reasons, and schools need to punish the behaviors, not become the thought police. Administrators who use good judgment will refuse to aid and abet false accusations."
"It's time that extremists stop exploiting tragedy to push a selfish political agenda," said J. Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs of Liberty Counsel (www.lc.org). "Liberal pressure groups have been shameless. They use talk of 'bullying' as a Trojan Horse to silence traditional values. Yes, anti-bullying policies are appropriate and necessary, but we a need broad, comprehensive anti-bullying strategy; not legislation rooted in segregation and discrimination, which singles out one special interest group for preferred treatment over others. Ironically, this unseemly political push actually amounts to 'Bull Connor bullying' on the part of homosexual activists."
Traditional values always help families and students, not the opposite, as extremists are trying to claim.
These pro-family leaders have signed on to this statement:
Buddy Smith, Executive Vice President, American Family Association
Phil Burress, President, Citizens for Community Values
Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel
Peter LaBarbera, President, Americans for Truth
Gary Glenn, President, American Family Association of Michigan
Diane Gramley, President, American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Micah Clark, American Family Association of Indiana
J. Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs, Liberty Counsel
L. Michael Nelis, United Christians of Florida
Rena Lindevaldson, Associate Director, Liberty Center for Law & Policy
Matt C. Abbott, Catholic columnist,RenewAmerica.com
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Growing Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
Open Doors USA Calls on Christians in the West to Support Suffering Believers through Prayer, Ordering Special Wristbands
SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 1, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Muslim extremists, along with members of the Nigerian army, allegedly killed 24 Christians during mid-August in Nigeria's Plateau state, according to Compass Direct News. On Monday in the city of Jos, CNN reported clashes between Muslims and Christians resulted in at least 20 deaths. There were also reports of injuries and burnt vehicles and shops.
Christians in Nigeria have faced increased persecution in recent years. The forceful implementation of Sharia (Islamic law) in 12 northern states remains a great challenge for the church. Extremist Islamic groups, using violence as a means to achieving Muslim dominance, have increased their activities. Despite all of the violence, more churches are reaching Muslims with the gospel and the number deciding to follow Christ is increasing. "As our brothers and sisters in Nigeria face increased persecution, it is vital that we pray for them," says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. "Christians, especially those living in the north, are living in constant fear of being attacked by extremists; they are not able to worship in peace." Northern Nigeria holds the No. 23 spot on Open Door's 2011 World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. Christians in the conflict areas of Nigeria request prayer above anything else.
Please pray for:
- Comfort for Christians who have lost loved ones or have been made homeless through violence
- Thank God that the church is becoming more united as a result of persecution
- Wisdom and courage for church leaders reaching out to their Muslim neighbors and caring for converts.
Nigerian Christians are hardly the only believers facing persecution. Over 70 percent of the world's 6.8 billion people live in countries with restrictions on religion. Nov. 13 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) in the United States. This year Open Doors USA is encouraging Christians in the West to be "One With Them" through a special on-going campaign."According to the Bible, when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer," says Kenny Luck, founder of Every Man Ministries. "This is why it is so important for us to be One With Them in prayer."
One With Them is a call to action to unite with persecuted believers, not just on IDOP but during the months leading up to that special day. Through prayer and advocacy, Christians in the United States are urged to join millions who share our faith but not our freedom. One way Christians in the United States can show their support for the persecuted is through One With Them wristbands. Wearing the black, flexible silicone wristband that looks like barbed wire is a great conversation starter. The wristbands provide an opportunity to explain to others about the plight of persecuted believers. Kenny Luck says he is wearing a wristband as a show of solidarity. In the last month, 25,000 wristbands have been sent out to churches, church leaders, small groups and individuals.
To order the wristbands, visit www.OneWithThem.com. Two of them will be free of charge -- one extra to share with a friend. Additional wristbands can be ordered for a fee with 100 percent of the funds going to support persecuted Christians. As one of the lead agencies promoting the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Open Doors is focusing on providing materials for Christians to use for the Nov. 13 event that will be observed by millions of Christians in the United States and around the globe. Materials in the free online kit include bulletin inserts, a pastor's guide, videos, prayer points, testimonies from persecuted Christians, Bible passages on persecution and lessons learned from suffering believers.
An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to our Website at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.
(For more information or to set up an interview, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117 or email JerryD@odusa.org)
African-American Churches Called on to Confront Low Participation in World Missions
NORCROSS, Ga., /Christian Newswire/ -- While African-American churches in the United States have very little participation in world missions, these congregations are uniquely poised to have a big impact on global evangelism, according to Richard Coleman, an African-American evangelical leader and missions expert. Coleman, director of candidacy and mobilization for The Mission Society ( www.themissionsociety.org), is calling on African-American churches to confront their long-standing lack of involvement in missions and break down the barriers holding them back from participating.
Estimates have showed African-Americans typically represent less than 1 percent of all full-time missionaries from the U.S. African-American churches have not been involved in cross-cultural missions for several reasons, according to Coleman. "Black churches must often help members of their own congregation with food, utility bills and other needs that majority churches don't have to worry about to the same degree," said Coleman. "It's not a bad thing that black churches help their own communities," he said. "They often have very different needs that force them to underemphasize world missions."
Lack of understanding of missions is another reason. "For example, when some blacks think of missionaries, they think of the older ladies who wear white dresses and visit the sick," said Coleman. Other factors Coleman cited that have contributed to the low missions participation rate by African-American churches include an overemphasis on personal prosperity and fear of the unknown or of leaving their comfort zone.Coleman said one reason African-Americans are positioned for greater involvement in world missions is because they identify with suffering. "When you look at black history, there's a lot of suffering," Coleman said. "People around the world have heard that story and have seen the overcoming of struggles. Black churches have a message of encouragement for the world."
Gospel choirs are another unique opportunity black churches can contribute to missions. "If you look at Poland, Japan, Sweden, black gospel music is very popular and a great tool to share the gospel," Coleman said. To get more involved in missions, Coleman said, African-American churches should be willing to learn, partner with other churches that have successful missions programs. And they should pray.
The best advice Coleman has for African-American congregations interested in being used by God in missions? "Spend time and ask God: 'In what communities and groups would you have us be involved?'" he said. Coleman, who joined The Mission Society in 2006, is among 400 invitees from the United States who will participate in the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 16-25. Before joining The Mission Society, Coleman served as director of missions at a mega-church in the Greater Atlanta metropolitan area. He has also taught mission classes and planned and led short-term mission trips to several countries, including Kenya, Honduras, Canada and the Dominican Republic.
Founded in 1984 in the Wesleyan tradition, The Mission Society recruits, trains and sends Christian missionaries to minister around the world. At present, it has more than 200 missionaries in 38 countries. The Mission Society develops diverse programs and ministries in accordance with its missionaries' unique callings and gifts, ranging from well-drilling and the arts to more traditional ministries such as teaching English and church planting. Its church ministry department provides seminars, workshops, and mentoring for congregations in the United States and overseas, helping equip churches for strategic outreach in their own communities and throughout the world.
To schedule an interview with Richard Coleman, contact Ty Mays at (770) 256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com. Christian Newswire
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