We are told, though it is transparently becoming increasingly less the case, that we live in a ‘free country’, where people are allowed to hold whichever opinion they choose, whether we find it distasteful or not.
However, the rushed through policy of introducing so-called sodomite ‘marriage’ by MPs determined to defy God has seen no legal protection put in place for ministers who object to being forced to act against their conscience and disobey God by officiating at such godless affairs.
This is not the case in the rest of the UK where the ‘marriage’ between those given over to what God terms an “abomination” and “against nature” can be conscientiously objected to by any minister or denomination who so wishes.
Just as is the case with the other devil-inspired policy foisted on us in Northern Ireland by God-defying MPs of abortion, the policy is more extreme in Ulster than it is in the rest of the UK.
Babies could be murdered, legally, up to 24 weeks in the rest of the UK but it is up to 28 weeks in Northern Ireland.
This is an act of twisting the knife by the enemies of God and His Word, rubbing it in the noses of those in Northern Ireland who still seek to place God at the forefront of their lives.
It is an act of gleeful punishment to God-fearing people in Ulster for having the temerity to stand up against their evil notions to then, when the power is in their hands, ram through policies which are worse than the ones operating in their own jurisdiction.
They would all need to read the words of Isaiah 10:1, 3 and tremble: “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?”
The Christian Institute, who represented Asher’s Bakery throughout their ordeal at the hands of the state in the ‘gay cake’ row, aided by supposed ‘Christians’ in the (In)Equality Commission such as Presbyterian ‘minister’, ‘Rev’ Lesley Carroll, has stepped up to take legal action to protect ministers from this obvious form of discrimination.
However, as is often the case in matters that are exceedingly clear to anyone, the Harbour Faith Community in Carrickfergus, County Antrim and its leader, Steve Ames, contrive to see it differently.
This is evidenced by the fact that the church is “LGBT affirming”, despite the Bible condemning such actions which fall under that man-made umbrella term as “abomination”, the fact that it equates the Lord Jesus Christ to a thug running a protection racket and the fact that it held an event recently where the guest speaker was a militant abortion campaigner.
And now Steve Ames has spoken out against the Christian Institute’s efforts to protect ministers from being forced by the state to officiate at ‘marriages’ with which they profoundly disagree.
How Steve Ames thinks it is a tolerable situation to force ministers to officiate at such ceremonies is hard to fathom.
Yet he is quoted in the Belfast Telegraph saying: “We believe that the LGBT community receives enough hostility as it is from the wider community and that often comes from Christian voices, sadly.
“For us, the Christian Institute seeking protections from having to marry same-sex couples is sending a further negative symbol that there is something wrong with same-sex relationships. That for us is frustrating.”
He also further said apparently that the Christian Institute’s concerns are “completely unfounded”.
Following this up on his Facebook page, Steve Ames said: “Our issue with the Christian Institute is their blind assumption that Christian ministers will obviously not want to perform same sex marriages in the first place.
“They make no attempt to acknowledge those of us who consider guiding couples through the sacrament of marriage to be our privilege, not something we need special protections from.
“An institution claiming to represent Christian values can and should do much, much better than this. They should be advocating for love, acceptance and inclusion for everyone regardless of gender or sexuality, instead of driving yet another wedge between the church and the LGBT+ community.”
It is remarkable that Steve Ames, in taking the position he has, seems to be making a blind assumption that Christian ministers will want to perform same-sex marriages.
The vast majority of ministers in the vast majority of denominations with any sort of significant membership in Northern Ireland would not countenance carrying out such an affront to God.
This includes the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church and Methodists, apostate as they all are, where most ministers would be opposed to going to such lengths away from God, while the likes of the Brethren, Independent Methodist, Free Presbyterian, Baptist and Reformed Presbyterian churches (as far as we know) would simply not countenance it in any way.
Indeed, most charismatic / Pentecostal / Elim type churches also would not even consider officiating at sodomite marriages.
Steve Ames may be doing his best to follow the crowd in endorsing what God has called an “abomination”, but he is very much in the minority when it comes to religious circles in Northern Ireland, although of course he has set himself up as a pastor, seemingly entirely off his own bat.
This sort of issue we referred to previously when farmers from outside Ballymena decided to go from pasteurising to ‘pastorising’ in setting up Mid Antrim Vineyard. We would again advise readers to see the inconstancy of such a position by reading the stark example of Micah in Judges 17-18.
The argument of the wrongs of sodomy is one which has been repeated on numerous occasions on this page and it really is remarkable that people who claim to be Christians continue to reject God’s Word in this most clear and important matter.
Anyone looking to know God’s mind on the matter can turn to a host of different passages for His view on sexuality and relationships, including, but most certainly not limited to Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:18-24, Leviticus 18:22, Matthew 19:4-6, Romans 1:22-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
However, Steve Ames’ comments that the action by the Christian Institute is “driving yet another wedge between the church and the LGBT+ community” shows his determination to remain at odds with God and His Word.
The wedge between the church of Christ and the “LGBT+ community” comes from the side of those who choose to live their lives in open defiance of God, ie those who fall under the man-made “LGBT” umbrella.
Those who identify with such a lifestyle separate themselves from God and His church.
God will not let sin into heaven, only those upon whom He has imputed His righteousness.
Revelation 21:27: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
God calls sodomy an “abomination” and nothing which “worketh abomination” will be in heaven.
Furthermore, as referenced above, 1 Corinthians 6 tells us that the “effeminate” and “abusers of themselves with mankind” will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Job 28:28 tells us: “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Departing from evil is understanding of the will of the Lord, not wilfully engaging with and supporting the indulgence of evil.
Likewise, those who preach the LGBT false gospel, so obviously contrary to the doctrine of Scripture, are to be marked out and avoided.
Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Indeed, Steve Ames and Harbour Faith Community are very much the schismatics as they are the ones who are consciously rejecting God’s Word.
So often the ecumenist, compromiser and the heretic tries to paint those who wish to stay in the old paths (Jeremiah 6:16) as the schismatic because they wish not to follow the broad road leading to destruction.
It is clear they are the true schismatics as they put a clear gap between themselves and God’s Word.
And let us follow that clear Scriptural command with any church, church leader or fellowship which chooses to ignore God’s Word and, indeed, chooses to directly disobey God’s Word as they pursue their own ungodly ends.
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