FJRB
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Important event in San Diego County
Please pray for us in San Diego County (and throughout California). This is what we are facing:
Tues., Oct. 2, 2007
Greetings Fellow San Diego County Pastors and Christian Leaders,
Your time is valuable, so allow me to cut to the chase. I have tried my best to make this brief. (I admit I was unsuccessful.) Please bear with me and, if I may be so bold as to ask, read the entire letter. I am leading up to an critical invitation for Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 11am.
Please allow me to explain. We, as you must certainly know, actually have the potential of loosing our liberties in our churches, our ability to preach the Word of God. The reality of same sex “marriage” is actually within reach for the secularists in our state, with catastrophic impact on biblically based churches and pastors.
We recently experienced a local “triple hit:” (1) the San Diego City Council voted in favor or a resolution that would add the city’s name to an amicus brief sent to the California Supreme Court in favor of same-sex “marriage.” (2) Mayor Jerry Sanders, violated a campaign promise, announcing that he would sign the resolution and thus make it official. (3) A small group (two dozen or less) “religious” liberals (clergy) also sent an amicus brief to the court as well, supporting same sex “marriage,” receiving, predictably, exceptional media coverage.
But those pale small compared to the ultimate “ticking bomb:” The likeliness that the California Supreme Court will overturn Prop. 22 which states that marriage is between a man and a woman, appears potentially imminent.
What difference does this make to you? Ask any astute political observer. You and I are on the cusp of being required by law to perform gay “marriages” and hire practicing homosexuals as pastors on our church staffs. Do not assume the fact that you have church bylaws prohibiting such to be a sufficient protection from a potentially ominous state law.
According to persons much more politically aware than me, the only way to preserve a biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman requires a voter initiative to be put on the November 2008 ballot. However, in order to get such an initiative on the ballot, persons committed to authentic marriage would need to collect one million signatures by April 1, 2008. A monumental task? Yes. Doable? Yes.
Allow me to digress for a moment. I am not one that has visions. I have admired those who do. I simply don’t seem to have that happen. Except twice. Many years ago. (Or at least it was what I think a vision is.)
It was February of 1990. I “saw” (I was fully conscious, but my thoughts seemed “captured) a “picture” of the future, or so it felt. At the time most evangelical pastors, including me, who were sociologically and culturally attuned were concerned with the abortion tragedy in our nation. Gay “marriage” was hardly on our radar.
However, that day I saw unfold before me mentally a continuum of events that resulted in evangelical pastors being imprisoned for refusing to hire practicing homosexuals and for refusing to marry person of the same sex. In early 1990, this seemed incomprehensible.
Hiding behind the ruse of alleged “civil rights,” the government robbed local churches of their tax exemptions, resulting in church having to pay standardized property and misc. taxes, with many congregations losing their buildings and properties.
In this “vision,” parishioners lost their tax deductions. The evangelical church in the U.S. was driven totally underground. Again, this made no sense that day in February 1990. I did not speak of it to anyone for quite some time.
Frankly this “vision” probably lasted only 10 or 15 minutes, but it was riveting at best and a harbinger of reality at worst. It hit me with such force that I have never been able to shake it or forget it.
Pastors and Christian leaders, please listen, “February 1990 is here!” It has come, or has almost come. Unless it is our desire to be forced underground in the not-too-distant future, we must act. And we need to act in concert.
I recognize some say that we should be focused on loving the homosexual. Those who say that are absolutely correct. We should. And we do. (We recently sponsored a seminar on the topic, with wonderful results. You have undoubtedly done the same.)
Others might say we should focus on getting people individually and spiritually transformed. We should. And we do.
Yet others, embarrassed by homosexual bashers who call themselves Christian, are understandably hesitant to say anything about homosexuality lest one be branded intolerant or homophobic.
That is where the rub comes. Our silence (even if for defensible reasons) could cost all of us the privilege of declaring the gospel in this state.
I have always felt that in any debate, the playing field is usually uneven. For example, in the abortion debate, it was tilted in our favor. Why? Instinctively (in their most honest moments), people know there is something fundamentally wrong with going into a womb and shredding what is there.
Yet on the homosexual discussion, the uneven field is tilted against us. Words like equality and intolerance (the “king” and “queen” of secularist language) intimidate us and our parishioners from speaking out. The accusation of being labeled homophobic is to be avoided we seem to think, at all cost.
First of all, as you know, none of us are homophobic. By definition, that would mean “fear of things that are the same,” or in it unique application here, “fear of same sex persons.” We are not.
Secondly, all persons have equality. No one is denied the privilege of marrying, that is, by the established 5,000 year old definition of marriage.
We are not intolerant. We believe for multiple reasons (natural law, psycho-sociological, and above all, biblical) that a man and a woman form, by far, the best potential for a family. That is not discrimination. That is discretion.
Having said all of the above, it is time we act. I am not the leader of some new group. I don’t have the interest, time or psychological need to do that.
(My life is spent these days dealing with a challenging situation: my wife, Carol, as many of you know, was diagnosed with advanced and aggressive cancer. Thus my plate is full. We are fighting a battle here at home. For more info, see www.skylinechurch.org . Succinctly stated, I cannot afford the time for a frivolous crusade of some sort. My wife and I are involved in the greatest struggle of our lives.)
I am not trying to initiate a new movement. None of us have time for that. I am merely attempting to bring us together, for a brief time, to listen together to what the Spirit is saying to the church of San Diego today, with people who are key leaders of all types, who do collectively hear from God, who do have their ears to the ground, who have spiritual, Holy Ghost given savvy.
At a meeting last night of committed San Diego Christian leaders, I posed the question, “what is the Spirit of God saying? What are we to do? How are we to respond?” That is a question that I pray burns on all of our hearts.
So what am I asking? You are invited to meet together with thoughtful, prayerful, reflective, non-reactive, Spirit-guided, God-loving (even homosexual loving) pastors and Christian leaders.
When: Tues, Oct. 16th, 11am to 1pm. Refreshments provided.
Where: Skyline Wesleyan Church, on Highway 94 in La Mesa. 619.660.5000 or www.skylinechurch.org
Why: to hear from the Spirit of God how to maintain and enhance the opportunities for the gospel during these unique days.
We are inviting Mayor Jerry Sanders to be present. We do not know if he can or will come. We are inviting some of the San Diego City Council Members to come. We do not know how many will be able or interested in coming. However, our primarily focus will not be on them. (If they come, we will listen to them, have a Q & A time and then dismiss them.)
Our key purpose in coming together is to understand our purpose and function as spiritual shepherds of the church of San Diego, as it relates to this particular looming crisis. In our sharing last night, there were what I would label potential Holy Spirit “rumblings” for us to weigh, to consider. Several persons will share some of those.
Many strong godly and dedicated church leaders gathered last night. I listened to the “status report” on the realities of the condition of our state. It was sobering. I did not speak up once for one and a half hours. When I did, it was for us to ask God to show us what His plan is, and then follow it.
Can you join us so that we can collectively hear what the Spirit is saying to the church?
If you can come, please RSVP by email to Tracy Burger at tburger@skylinechurch.org or by phone at 619.660.5000?
Blessings on you my pastoral colleagues and fellow Christian leaders,
Jim Garlow
Skyline Church
La Mesa, CA
www.skylinechurch.org
619.660.5000
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Solely in the service of Yeshua Ha'Mashiach,
Renee
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