Welcome to the Post-Christian Culture of 2012!

Warnings from the Kirk Cameron Interviews
By Monte Kuligowski

Who would have thought that stating basic Christian doctrine could cause a "firestorm" of condemnation in the United States?

Welcome to the post-Christian culture of 2012.

Piers Morgan was in customary form when he recently dared Kirk Cameron to say that homosexuality is a sin on his CNN program. Morgan didn't literally say, "I dare you." But questions on homosexuality as put to Bible-believing Christians serve as liberal litmus tests for the acceptance or wrath of the One Voice media. After a loaded question is dropped, the leftwing inquisitor sits back and waits for the headline sound bites.

We know what the politically-correct answers on the subject sound like.

We also know what constitutes liberal heresy. Traditional Christian doctrine from the Holy Bible is blasphemy to the postmodern ear.

Unsurprisingly, Kirk Cameron, as an outspoken Christian, gave the wrong answers.

First, Morgan wondered out loud whether Cameron would tell his children "that gay marriage is a sin?"

Just to get the reaction from Morgan, I wish Cameron had responded, "Of course not Piers, I believe every marriage should be a happy one." But I digress. Of course Cameron would tell anyone that any distortion of holy matrimony's definition is wrong. Cameron provided Morgan with the indispensable elements of marriage.

Next, Morgan asked, "Do you think homosexuality is a sin?" That's a little different than asking whether homosexual behavior is wrong. Someone might struggle with homosexual desires yet not sin. But Cameron appeared to believe that Morgan was talking about homosexual practice. Here's Cameron's "firestorm" response:

I think that it's — it's unnatural. I think that it's — it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.

Morgan's next question is predictable. It's right out of the liberal Inquisitor's Handbook: "What do you do if one of your six kids says, dad, bad news, I'm gay."

Cameron said he would have a heart to heart with his child, with the sound counsel that "there's all sorts of issues that we need to wrestle through in our life. Just because you feel one way doesn't mean we should act on everything that we feel."

Morgan noted how he would respond to his hypothetical "gay" son: "If one of my sons said that [he's "gay"], I'd say that's great, son. As long as you're happy."

Forget about the consequences, as long as you're happy! That sums up our current pagan culture nicely. If it feels good, do it. That belief is the polar opposite of traditional Christianity which teaches the created to reject base desires in order to find lasting joy in doing the will of the Creator.

But Piers Morgan does more than provide a bumper sticker for the new post-Christian left — he (unwittingly?) points in the direction the prominent "gay" rights campaign is heading: to the suppression of the rights of Christians.

And yet some people would say that telling kids that being gay is a sin or getting married is a sin or whatever, that in itself is incredibly destructive and damaging in a country where seven states now have legalized it.

The "some people" Morgan refers to that matter are the supposed experts of our day. Morgan forgets to mention that wherever so-called "gay" marriage has been legalized in the U.S., it has been by judicial and political fiat against the will of the voting majority.

The authoritarian, hard core leftists who use their experts to rule our secular society have a boundaries problem. They are strategically forcing acceptance of homosexual behavior and "marriage" upon us and they will not stop there. If "telling kids that being gay is a sin," in the view of our elitist rulers, is "incredibly destructive and damaging" then children should be protected from religious bigots. At least that's the reasoning used to promote the banning of biblical teaching on homosexual behavior in some progressive countries.

Classifying biblical pronouncements as hate speech and arresting people for their verbal expressions of "homophobia" could only happen in places that have been bankrupted by secularism, like England, right? Well, the United States has been running hard after the European models of secular socialism, moral relativism, multiculturalism, tolerance (of everything but traditional Christianity), global collectivism, etc., for quite some time.

When Ann Curry had Kirk Cameron on NBC Today to chastise him about the "firestorm" he "set off" and his forbidden words to Morgan, Kirk was surprised. Cameron reminded Curry that he has been "consistent for 15 years" as a Bible-believing Christian. "What I would have thought was more newsworthy is if I had said something that contradicted the Word of God; if I had contradicted my faith."

I think what's most newsworthy is that Christians are under attack in America for expressing basic tenets of the faith.

Piers Morgan covered the angle that "some people" believe the biblical truth on homosexual behavior is harmful to children. Then, Ann Curry framed Cameron's free speech and religious expression as words that incite hate and mistreatment of homosexuals.

After reading Cameron's words back to him with a sense of horror, Curry one-ups Morgan's "some people," with the trusted "many people" device. "Many people are suggesting that this is hate speech. Are you encouraging people to feel hate towards gay people?"

It wasn't enough for Cameron to explain that he doesn't hate homosexuals and that he loves all people in the world.

For, Curry immediately pounced with this pre-scripted inquisition: "Do you feel — do you feel any responsibility saying words like that, that might encourage people to feel that it's okay to treat — mistreat gay people?"

At that point, Cameron had to be thinking, is this woman crazy?

Cameron tried to explain that he is not for the mistreatment of anyone. But, apparently, Curry wanted a full recanting of his heretical faith and a promise to remain silent in the future. The scolding continued:

Why do you say things like this that you know are going to cause people to push back? Why do you even talk about it, then? Because this is not the first time you've been asked about it. It's not the first time you've made comments that have caused people a lot of alarm.

Um, maybe Cameron says "things like this" because he was specifically asked the loaded questions. Was Cameron supposed to plead the Fifth or lie about what the Bible says?

What should cause "people a lot of alarm" are the liberal fascists in the news media who want to silence Christians and normalize sinful behavior.

The far left with its speech codes and faux moral superiority via groupthink issue consensus, poses a clear and present danger to our constitutional religious liberties.

The Obamacare medicinal-abortion, sterilization and contraception mandate is the inverse of what is happening with religious speech. With the healthcare mandate people of faith are being forced to act contrarily to their beliefs to support the values of postmodern politicians and bureaucrats in power.

And, as the Cameron interviews hint, people of faith will eventually be forced into silent submission as the values of the elitists of postmodern culture and government clash with the values of traditional religion and morality.

Unless, of course, America can throw off the tyranny of liberalism and return to her God and Constitution — but the hour is late and time is of the essence.

© Monte Kuligowski

Ten Lies that Lead to Divorce

By Dr. Linda Mintle
Family Therapist

www.cbn.com

CBN.com – In my book Divorce Proofing Your Marriage, I expose ten common lies people embrace that eventually leads to divorce. This book confronts our thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that influence how we behave and the choices we make. So if you want to strengthen your marriage or stop the slippery slide to divorce, first check your thoughts and ask, “Are my thoughts reflective of the secular culture or the Bible?” You may be surprised how far your thinking has strayed from the Bible's restorative theme.

Here's a brief overview of the ten lies that can lead to divorce. Do your own self-check.

Lie #1: Marriage is a contract.

Yes, marriage is a legal contract, but in God’s eyes it is much more. The truth is marriage is a covenant, an unbreakable promise. It is life commitment. It means “for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.” It means loving someone when you don’t feel like it, staying faithful, and working through difficulty and bad times.

Lie #2: I married you, not your family.

The truth is you don’t marry just your spouse; you get her family as a package deal! Don’t kid yourself and think the outlawed in-laws don’t matter. Your spouse grew up in a family that taught her how to be who she is today. Yes, there are other influences and people can change, but family is a primary force in the development of any individual.

Lie #3: I can change my spouse.

Wrong! The fact that she's continually late or her apartment is a mess is not likely to change because of your undying love. Pay attention to the red flags you see during the dating relationship, especially the more serious ones, such as drinking too much, violent temper, promise breaking, etc. Chances are these things won't improve but worsen after the honeymoon is over. The truth: all you have control over is your reaction to your spouse. That's the only part you can change.

Lies #4: We are too different.

Differences are not a major problem as long as the differences are not about life values and morals. Incompatibility doesn't kill a relationship. The real issue is how you handle your differences. You need compatible styles that work for both people. Some differences are unsolvable and couples need to learn to accept those. And the Bible gives clear guidelines on how to deal with conflict in a Christ-like way.

Lie #5: I've lost that loving feeling and it's gone, gone, gone!

Intense passion doesn't last forever but love can stay for a lifetime. You may not always feel love but you must determine to love your partner as yourself. The loving feeling dwindles when couples lock into negative patterns that lead them away from each other. Criticism moves to contempt and highly defensive behavior that eventually leads to emotional distance. The truth is you can restore that loving feeling with a number of changes. One is to make five positive statements to your spouse for every negative one. Other changes focus on building friendship and support. I don't doubt when men tell me they no longer feel love for their wives. I just want them to understand that loving feelings can be rekindled.

Lie #6: A more traditional marriage will save us.

Out of frustration, many men feel that if their relationship could be more like the Brady Bunch couple, life would be happier. They are confused about gender roles and responsibilities. Submission is a misunderstood and often abused concept. God's intention for marriage is gender equality. On two occasions, God revealed His will on earth concerning gender--in the Garden and in the life of Christ. Look to those examples of how men and women should interact. You will find that no matter how you negotiate the relationship, you need mutual submission, respect, honor, empowerment and empathy.

Lie #7: I can't change--this is who I am: take it or leave it.

An unwillingness to change is rooted in rebellion. It's doing things your way versus God's. To say you can't change obviates the entire Christian experience of salvation and change of heart. Yes, we are always striving for perfection but the operative phrase is that we should be striving. This requires a willingness to look at your behavior and work towards being more like Christ. If both spouses in marriage would do this regularly, divorce would be less prevalent. Change doesn't happen when you don't embrace it. You can change but it requires desire, obedience and Holy Spirit driven power.

Lie #8: There's been an affair. We need to divorce.

Affairs are serious and damaging but they are not beyond repair if both spouses agree to try. There must be a commitment to cut off the affair, a time of repentance, forgiveness and a rebuilding of the relationship. The covenant has been broken but can be restored if a couple chooses to do so. It's not easy but possible.

Lie #9: It doesn't matter what I do: God will forgive me.

God will forgive you if you repent but it does matter what you do. Your behavior has natural, as well as spiritual consequences so don't cheapen God's grace.

Lie #10: It's too broken.

If you've given up, the future looks hopeless, you've grown apart, can't manage conflict, made a mistake or whatever the problem, believe that God can work when you can't. He can change hearts, do miracles and work in the most difficult circumstances. He is the God of the possible. Draw close to Him, intercede for your marriage, do battle with your true enemy (Satan) and expect God to work on your behalf.

If you and your partner stay intimately connected to God, your marriage will reflect that intimacy. Divorce doesn't have to happen. Recognize the cultural lies that influence you and counteract them with biblical truth. No marriage is beyond the probability of divorce but you can be proactive in preventing it. It's time to improve on the divorce statistics and divorce proof your marriage.

More Marriage articles on CBN.com

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Dr. Linda Mintle is a author, professor, Approved Supervisor and Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years in psychotherapy practice.

For more articles and info, visit www.drlindahelps.com.

Change Most Americans Don't Want, Especially at Taxpayer's Expense

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

WASHINGTON -- President Obama, under growing criticism for not seeking to end the ban on openly gay (homosexual) men and women in the military, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees on the government dole, at taxpayer expense.

Obama plans to announce his decision on Wednesday in the Oval Office, a White House official said Tuesday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the president hadn't yet signed the presidential memorandum.

The official said Obama would release more details on Wednesday.

The decision is a political nod to a reliably Democratic voting bloc that in recent weeks has grown frustrated with the White House's slow movement on their priorities.

Several powerful homosexual fundraisers withdrew their support from a June 25 Democratic National Committee event where Vice President Joe Biden is expected to speak. Their exit came in response to a June 12 Justice Department brief that defended the Defense of Marriage Act, a prime target for homosexual and lesbian criticism. Justice lawyers argued that the law allowed states to reject marriages performed in other states or countries that defy their own standards.

The legal arguments -- including citing incest and sex with minors -- sparked rebellion among homosexual and lesbian activists who had been largely biting their tongues since Obama won election. They had objected to the Rev. Rick Warren's invitation to participate in the inauguration despite his support for repealing homosexual "marriage" in California.

Their January protest won the invitation of Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, whose consecration as the first openly homosexual bishop divided and almost split his denomination.

Homosexuals and lesbians later fretted as the White House declined to intervene in the cases of enlisted military members facing courts martial for defying the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policies. White House officials say they want Congress to repeal the policy as part of a "lasting and durable" solution, instead of intervening on individual cases.

"The president agreed that ... the policy wasn't working for our national interests, that he committed to change that policy, that he's working with the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs on making that happen," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said last month.

In the meantime, the administration has tried to make small, quiet moves to extend benefits to homosexuals and lesbians. The State Department has promised to give partners of homosexual and lesbian diplomats many benefits, such as diplomatic passports and language training.

But without a specific change in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's promises left out financial benefits such as pensions. Obama's move could make that shift.

Homosexual and lesbian activists had expected Obama to take action some time in June, which is homosexual pride month.

John Berry, the highest-ranking homosexual official in the administration and the de facto human resources chief for the administration, told a homosexual rally last weekend that Obama planned to take action on benefits soon.

Berry, who heads the Office of Personnel and Management, has repeatedly told reporters that he expected the White House to turn to legislation to give domestic partners access to federal health and retirement plans.

But Obama so far has sent only one piece of legislation to the Hill -- a pay-as-you-go measure that is part of his wooing of fiscally conservative Democrats.

Instead, Obama will use his signature instead of legislation to achieve the benefits parity sought by same-sex couples.