So much for freedoms of religion and speech.
A resolution proposed by radical Democrats in the California legislature would make pastors embrace a pro-LGBT ideology.
“They say there is a stigma associated with being LGBT that is often created by groups in society, including therapists and religious groups, and that stigma has caused disproportionately high rates of suicide, attempted suicide, and depression,” Dr. David said on The Todd Starnes Radio Show. “What they’re asking is that churches and religious groups change how they’re addressing this (lifestyle).”
Gibbs, president and founder of the Christian Law Association, said churches are trying to help LGBT people.
“We want to reach these people, but we believe that the scriptures absolutely take a stand on this issue, and we can not change the stand that the Bible takes,” he continued. “They’re trying to make it where absolutely the churches and religious groups are being held up as the problem why these LGBT community people feel like they do. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 99 calls on “counselors, pastors, religious workers, educators” and institutions with “great moral influence” to stop perpetuating the idea that something is wrong with LGBT identities or sexual behavior.
The proposed resolution also condemns attempts to change unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion as “unethical,” “harmful,” and leading to high rates of suicide.
Gibbs acknowledged that this is just a non-binding resolution, but he said that does not mean it will stay a resolution.
“What we find over and over again across America is that before they put a bill in and pass a law they frequently pass a resolution,” he explained.
Starnes, who just returned from hosting a Starnes Country Town Hall Meeting at Lancaster Baptist Church in the Antelope Valley, said it does seem like there is an effort within the California State Assembly to try and insert government into the local church community.
“A recent Assembly bill would have targeted Christian colleges regarding transgender students,” said Starnes.
“The man that sponsored that bill is the same one sponsoring this resolution,” Gibbs responded. “Our heart goes out to these people, (and) they need to be reached with the love of Christ, but they cannot ask us to change our religious beliefs and put us in a posture where we cannot preach or these pastors cannot preach the truth.”
It’s not overreaction.
“They’re saying in (the resolution) that the state has a compelling interest to protect this from happening, and that means that they would have the right to forbid that in the future in churches and other places,” said Gibbs. “You can all but count on this wording showing up again when they pass a bill.”
“There is an opportunity in California, if people of faith would stand up and engage the political process there,” Starnes offered.
“Absolutely, and that’s what the churches are doing,” Gibbs replied. “What Christians are doing is constitutionally protected, their religious beliefs are protected by the First Amendment, and they absolutely have the right to speak their faith and practice their faith.”