The Bus Driver and the Brigadier - it’s War!
Posted by Brian on Mon 8-May-2006 at 5:30 pm
In my previous blog I noted that the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and Salt Shakers (SS) were heading for a fight over the upcoming ACT relationships legislation. The conflict has now gone public, with former bus driver Peter Stokes of SS taking on retired brigadier Jim Wallace of ACL. The real issue: who is the better Christian?
Rather than take sides in this epic struggle I’ll let Stokes speak for himself:
It is with great sadness that we [Stokes and his wife, Jenny] bring this message to you today … From time to time we have been required to challenge our own brothers and sisters in Christ about the social or political positions they hold and promote …
The Australian Christian Lobby and some Christian denominations and pastors in the ACT are rightly opposing the introduction of a Civil Union Bill because it is ‘like marriage’ - BUT, rather than stop there … they have actually called for the ACT government to ‘instead introduce legislation that would allow for the registration of same-sex and caring relationships, which does not mimic or diminish marriage, such as is in force in the state of Tasmania‘ …
[W]e do not think that is the Biblically correct way to deal with such an issue. We have made this clear to ACL, but have been unable to persuade them to change.
Stokes says he’s put his case to ‘other Christians, Pastors and Christian groups’ and all of them without exception agree with SS’ position on the matter. Christians must actively discriminate against ‘wrong choices and behaviour’ and not attempt to shield people from God’s justice:
God allows the pain, or painful circumstances [e.g. not having relationships recognised] which result from sinful actions and attitudes in order that people might understand their error and turn from their sin. To remove such pain or discomfort would be to hinder Christ’s redemptive work and encourage sinful pursuits.
This seems a touch legalist, or perhaps even Reconstructionist for my taste, but then I have to remind myself that I’m one of ‘the lost’ and pretty far back in the queue at that.
All sin should be discerned as wrong and receive due admonition from the community and from God … A society that does not discriminate against those things which are bad for society is doomed … Homosexuality is a reproach to any person and to all of society …
We seem to be on a fast train to Calvin’s Geneva here, or possibly even Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.
Giving ‘rights’ to a minority group normalises them and sends a message of respectability … The fact that the new ACT Education Minister is a self-confessed homosexual highlights the caution required in promoting any further acceptance of homosexuality …
And just for good measure:
Marriage is the BIBLICAL foundation of human society … We can see no ‘Biblical’ justification for the Church to ‘recommend’ ungodliness to any civil authority … It is not our place to propose un-Godly laws as a compromise … (Salt Shakers E-News, 8 May 2006)
Where all this leaves Jim Wallace’s Christianity I’m not too sure. This isn’t just a friendly slap on the wrist but more like a round of canister fired from 20 metres range.
I await developments.