I you already watched the videos and/or read the transcript at the links provided in my post about the Civil Forum, then you already know where each candidate stands - particularly on these two issues.
When I hear arguments being bantered about in favor of same-sex marriage, I have to share the fact that those who would ignore God's laws and admonitions in the Bible obviously just don't care what the truth is - they only want to further their own agenda. What's more, their "agenda" is not new. It has been done before. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah testifies to what happens when people ignore God's call for righteousness.
Jesus told us that one of the clear signs that we are getting closer and closer to the end times would be that the world would be "as in the Days of Lot" and "as in the Days of Noah."
Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Over the weekend, I heard a preacher's sermon that gave a little more insight into God's mercy demonstrated within the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah. If you are familiar with the story, Abraham asked God to spare the two cities if he could find 50 righteous people there. When Abraham realized that it would probably not be possible to find 50 righteous people in such wicked cities, he asked if God would spare them if he found 20 righteous people. Each time, God gave Abraham the grace he was asking for in finding righteous people. Of course, God knew that Abraham wouldn't even find 10 righteous people - which was Abraham's last request.
Think about this for a moment. Lot's family was led out of Sodom by angels (who actually almost had to force them to leave!) and Lot's family of four were saved from the carnage. Except for one person. Lot's wife disobeyed the command not to look back. She did and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt! So, in total, only three people were saved that day. What if Lot and his daughters had found six or seven people and converted them to be righteous in the eyes of the LORD God? Would God not have spared Sodom and Gomorrah? He is a God of His Word - isn't he?
I thought that was a great point. It shows that any effort that we put into evangelism is not wasted. We'll never know whose heart (or how many hearts, for that matter) could be turned back towards God if we don't try! We'll never know, this side of heaven, what affect converting people to Christ will have in saving a city, a town, a state, or even a nation!
We have been given The Great Commission by Jesus Christ. It was his final command before ascending into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. Shouldn't we take this command seriously all the days of our lives?
The trouble is, many Christians appear to be afraid to speak out against the evils of our times. What's worse, as one controversial pastor shared in a sermon, "the church (meaning all believers, not a building or denomination) sounds like a house cat purring on the couch!"
Ouch!!
Contrast that with what the Bible says:
Pro 28:1 ¶ The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Amo 3:8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Personally, I think that the tendency of many Christians not to speak out against abortion and homosexuality is because they want to be loved and accepted. Therefore, many have become silent.
I have news for you - THE MEDIA WILL NEVER LOVE YOU!
In fact, Jesus told us that "the world hated me first" and "they will hate you, too."
Why?
Jesus tells us, "because of me."
And, the second reason is because their deeds were evil and Jesus exposed them for who they follow (your father - the devil) and for what they are (sinners in need of Him! The Savior!)!
I heard a saying that should encourage you - even when you are verbally attacked because of your beliefs:
"Crows only attack the best fruit!"
Back to the Civil Forum questions.
When the abortion question was answered by Obama, he gave a flippant (IMO) answer. Over the past two days, I have noticed that some news analysts have tried their best to try and spin his answer so that it wouldn't appear to have been as bad as it surely was!
Bottom line? Obama had no defense for his wayward position on the important issue regarding the truth about when life begins.
Because of his rabid, baby-killing positions (someone once quipped that Obama never met an abortion method he didn't like) he actually trapped himself - which caused him to look even more ridiculous.
Let's see what God's Word has to say about "when life begins."
Isa 49:1 ¶ Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Isa 49:5 ¶ And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Jer 1:4 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Yes. I think that God's Word is quite clear when life begins - and the answer is AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION!
Let's look at what happened in Luke:
Luk 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Luk 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
The baby in Elisabeth's womb - who would be John the Baptist - leaped in her womb when Mary's name - who was carrying Jesus our Savior - was heard.
In Genesis 25:21-26 we read:
Gen 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
Gen 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If [it be] so, why [am] I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb.
Gen 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
Gen 25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac [was] threescore years old when she bare them.
Notice that these two twin babies in Rebekah's womb represented two nations. God knew their names! They were not just a "blob of flesh."
An abortion takes away the life of a baby. Period. End of story. What does God think about the killing of innocent life?
Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
God avenges the taking of innocent blood!
In Matthew 27:3-5, we read that Judas, after having turned Jesus over to be crucified hung himself. The guilt was too much for him. He knew that his evil deed led to the shedding of innocent blood.
A pastor once said, "Do not allow abortion to steal our future."
Amen??!!
Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.
Mat 5:13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.