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March 12, 2013
Half of Conservative Christians Now Believe Same-Sex Marriage Is Inevitable
LifeWay also finds majority of all Americans see same-sex marriage as a civil right—but still support right of pastors to refuse to officiate.
Update (March 18): Last week, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman became the country's first Republican senator to formally announce his support for gay marriage.
Portman, a Christian whose college-aged son is gay, changed his former position on same-sex marriage and challenged his party's stance, the Religion News Service reported. Portman said, “The overriding message of love and compassion that I take from the Bible, and certainly the Golden Rule, and the fact that I believe we are all created by our maker, that has all influenced me in terms of my change on this issue."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, also spoke out in favor of same-sex marriage for the first time in a video posted online Monday.
In the Human Rights Campaign clip, Clinton said she believes America must uphold and protect the dignity of all its citizens, including lesbians and gays. "I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples," she said. "I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law."
The recent announcements from these two politicians, one right and one left, come days after new research revealed higher support for same-sex marriage.
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A new report from LifeWay Research indicates that nearly six in 10 American adults believe that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue like age, race, and gender—and nearly two-thirds believe same-sex marriage inevitably will become legal in the United States.
But the majority of respondents also said they support religious rights, including 63 percent supporting the right of pastors to refuse to officiate same-sex weddings.
Among respondents describing themselves as "born-again, evangelical, or fundamentalist" Christians, however, the percentages differed slightly: 50 percent said the legalization of same-sex marriage is inevitable (while 38 percent disagree). In addition, such Christians were more likely to agree when asked whether "pastors (74%), photographers (72%), and rental halls (57%) should be able to refuse same-sex involvement."
According to LifeWay Research president Ed Stetzer, most Americans support the right of "'individuals such as clergy or photographers to deny services for same-sex marriage. ... However, the level of agreement changes with scenarios that could be interpreted as more basic rights such as housing and employment.'"
Here's the breakdown for Americans in general:
63 percent agree and 27 percent disagree that pastors should be allowed to refuse to officiate same-sex weddings if they are made legal in their state; 58 percent agree and 33 percent disagree that photographers should be allowed to refuse to work same-sex weddings if they are made legal in their state; 40 percent agree and 52 percent disagree that rental halls should be allowed to refuse to rent out their facilities for same-sex weddings if they are made legal in their state; 27 percent agree and 67 percent disagree landlords should be allowed to refuse to rent housing to same-sex couples if same-sex marriage is made legal in their state; 14 percent agree and 82 percent disagree employers should be allowed to refuse employment to someone based on their sexual preference.
By comparison, 39 percent of conservative Christians agree landlords should be able to refuse same-sex involvement, and 19 percent say the same for employers.
CT previously has reported on same-sex marriage, noting in December the Supreme Court's decision to rule on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act. In 2009, CT weighed in with an editorial saying the debate over same-sex marriage "shouldn't drive [Christians] to outrage or panic," and reported in 2011 and 2012 on the shifting 'marriage battleground' and political opinion among evangelicals.
Comments
The web site Catholics against antidefamation for
Catholics--??spelling--Mr Donahue reported on this and said the poll was done in such a way tha it IS NOT an acurate report. It is very misleading when site like this do not really check before publishing this kind of information.
Posted By: nicc | March 12, 2013 2:21 PM
I find this article outrageous, it's just sad to see how CT, is desiving christians on such a ground base problem... Homosexualiti is a sin, aproving a sin makes us enemys of God. And we are not bat bad people by saing this...we cannot decive ourselfs on sunc a important issue. I'm realy dissapointed of this article ...I wish I could say its for the glory of God... But sadly is not.
Posted By: Jhon | March 12, 2013 4:36 PM
Christians need to realize that as a monority, our priorities and opinions are increasingly slandered or ignored. The burden for society and the coming consequences of its behaviors should serve to motivate us to pray, witness, and to stand by for outright persecution. By all means we should not expect better treatment than Christ received from a fallen world. "He that endures 'tll the end shall be saved". Or we could sign on to Joel Osteen's pop culture religious claptrap..........
Posted By: popseal | March 12, 2013 7:06 PM
Isn't it interesting that polls always show conservative people favor homosexual marriages at a higher rate than non-conservatives meaning liberals. Conservative means conservative and their favoring anything that liberals love is highly unlikely. What were the questions and how were the questions pointed in what directions to get this or any result.
Posted By: Original Anna | March 12, 2013 8:38 PM
nicc -- This is new research released yesterday by LifeWay Research. You are referring to another study released last week by another organization. Bill Donahue of the Catholic League has not commented on the LifeWay Research.
Posted By: Marty | March 13, 2013 10:04 AM
NICC,
Let me encourage you to:
1. read the comment before mine for context.
2. spell the word "acurate" accurately.
3. (to use your words) "check before publishing this kind of information"
Thanks,
Ed Stetzer, Ph.D.
President, LifeWay Research
(the conservative evangelical who published the poll)
Posted By: Ed Stetzer | March 13, 2013 11:16 AM
More than half should believe the militant abomination of the homosexuals will advance. An important prophecy "As in the Days of Lot" should convince the skeptics. These perversions are characterized in the Scriptures as 'wicked', grievous, detestable, despicable, deserving death, vile, disgraceful, sinful, degrading, sexual impurity, filthy, lawless, abomination. Yet to hear it from the 'perverts' those shining out the light of warning are the alleged 'haters'. The Bible makes it clear, there will be no unrepentant homosexuals in the Kingdom of God. Hate the truth...perish in your sin.
Posted By: Megiddo | March 13, 2013 4:16 PM
to ed setzer the whole BIBLE was written and given by God, ALL scripture is God breathed...so therefore if a man lies with another man it is detestable in the sight of the Lord. Read Romans chapter 1 Paul speaking through the Holy Spirit who also is God: Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves who exchanged the TRUTH for A LIE and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever more. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Posted By: Bryan | March 13, 2013 4:31 PM
Have you ever wondered why the angel Gabriel instructed Zacharias and Elizabeth to name their son John when no one else in their family had that name? What is the significance of the name John?
Isaiah 49:1 (NKJV) - “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.”
THE NAMES
Elizabeth \e-lizabe-th, el(i)-za-beth\ as a girl's name is pronounced “ee-LIZ-a-beth“.
John \jo-hn\ as a boy's name is pronounced “jahn“.
Elijah \e-li-jah\ as a boy's name is pronounced “ee-LYE-jah“.
THE MATRIX
Eli (first three letters of mother’s Hebrew birth name Elizabeth pronounced “ee-LYE” )
+
Joh (first three letters of son’s Hebrew birth name John pronounced “jah“)
=
Elijah (name of the spirit of the prophet pronounced “ee-LYE-jah“)
HIS BIRTHPLACE
Remember the prophecy concerning Zerubbabel? The name "Zerubbabel" means “the one sown of Babylon" referring to a child conceived and born in Babylon. Zerubbabel was symbolic of one to come in the future who would be born in end-time Babylon. Where this child is born will reveal who the MYSTERY Babylon is (Read Jeremiah 50-51 and Revelation 17-18 for wisdom.) What will be the name of the man/child? The Lord Jesus gave you his name! JOHN!
Matthew 11:13 (NKJV) - "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."
John the Baptist denied being the Elijah though Jesus said he was. Why you ask? It was not time yet! He had to deny it so that other prophecies (the Lord's crucifiction and resurrection, salvation taken to the Gentiles, etc.) could be fulfilled. The Word will never return void. NEVER! ALL WILL BE REVEALED AND FULFILLED!
Psalm 110:1 (NKJV) - “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Hebrews 10:12-13 (NKJV) - “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.”
Acts 3:17-22 (NKJV) - “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you."
Malachi 4:5-6 (NKJV) - “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Matthew 17:11 (NKJV) - "Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things."
So I ask you...Who is this prophet of whom Moses spoke of that the LORD sends to restore WHILE the Lord Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father and waits for restoration BEFORE receiving His inheritance?
O'CHILDREN OF GOD...AWAKEN AND ARISE!
O’ISRAEL…ELIJAH IS HERE!
O'AMERICA...YOU ARE BABYLON THE GREAT! JUDGMENT FOR YOU IS COMING SOON FOR YOU HAVE CONTENDED WITH THE LORD! BUT ONLY AFTER I STAND BEFORE THE KING AND PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT ON THIS FALLEN NATION AND SAY "YOU HAVE DONE EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD!"
I, JOHN, MUST PROPHESY!
REPENT FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND!
Now you know who is the prophet like Moses of Deuteronomy 18; who is the servant of Isaiah 49; who is the chosen man of Jeremiah 50; who is the "Zerubbabel" of Haggai and Zechariah; who is the messenger of Malachi 3; who shall make the Lord’s enemies into His footstool as written in Psalm 110; and what nation is the Babylon of Jeremiah 50-51 and Babylon the Great of Revelation 17-18.
P.S. Have you ever wondered why the angel Gabriel instructed Zacharias and Elizabeth to name their son John when no one else in their family had that name? What is the significance of the name John? NOW YOU KNOW!
Posted By: John Diomitron | March 13, 2013 11:10 PM
I am hoping that the SCOTUS will not legalize same-sex "marriage", even though I have a strong feeling that it will do so. If it does go ahead and make same-sex "marriage" legal, again, I am hoping that it will exempt those Churches and Christians who object from having to participate in any way in these activities.
However, experience have shown that these exemptions will only last for so long, since we all know that the homosexual agenda allows only for full societal acceptance and respect for all things homosexual.
Eventually, as Canada has shown, any Church or minister refusing to "marry" homosexuals, or make Church facilities available for the practice will end up before the law courts facing fines or imprisonment. In fact, as Canada has shown, powerful "human rights" and watchdog "commissions" will be set up to look into all issues affecting discrimination against homosexuals in regards to matters of acceptance and respectability. And as it is in Canada, it may not be long before Christian minister are unable to cite even the Christian Bible in reference to homosexuality.
My only concern is that when the time comes true believers will take a stand for biblical faith regardless of the cost, and that they will pay the pernicious fines, and/or accept prison terms, in the spirit of self-denial rather than bow to the homosexual onslaught.
It will be a sad day in America indeed if Christian faith was to be sacrificed on the altar of people's right to do whatever they want with their bodies, no matter how offensive their behaviour is to others.
Posted By: Steve Skeete | March 17, 2013 3:32 PM
I'm sorry, but God's judgment has been passed for America as it has been for all people... when Jesus died on the cross. Let's not take the Bible out of context, please.
Posted By: ACE | March 18, 2013 7:59 PM
Jesus Christ died for ALL people. No one is perfect. Everyone is a sinner including us Christians. Jesus did not live on earth to condemn us. He died to bring us back to a real, loving relationship with God the Creator of this universe. To mend what Adam and Eve did when they chose to eat the fruit and disobey God.
Scriptures says that we live in a fallen world and that EVERYONE has sinned. Jesus didn't die to make Christians holy. The blood that was shed on the cross covers us, but it doesn't make us nearly holy. Only God is blameless.
Jesus died for me, and he died for homosexuals. It doesn't matter about who has greater sin. Sin is sin. Jesus died for them too, which shows us his love is not just for Christians, but for everyone. Yes, we (Christians) may have eternal life. But that's not the point of the Cross and the death of Jesus. As Christians, we should be ashamed of ourselves for judging. We have no power to judge. Jesus calls us to love unconditionally. We are not perfect. Many of us has sinned before being a believer and accepting Jesus. We sin in present and future. We are no different.
So, whatever happens, happens. I trust in God who is the Creator of the world and who is the ultimate judge. I will serve him and do my best in loving those who are unloved, because Jesus loved me, who was once unlovable.
We should not fight against one another, but fight against sin. Not the people who sin, but the acts. We must pray, love, forgive and accept. That is who God is.
Yes, homosexuality is not the order in which God intended humanity in the beginning of time. But one more time, Jesus died for them too. We need to love. Not judge. I am for God. Everything has a bigger picture. God is in charge.
Posted By: Melissa | April 2, 2013 7:10 PM
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