Really Right

Before getting into this topic, here’s a brief update on my previous post.

The Union Pacific Railroad gave a $5,000 grant to the Pearl Theater for copyright payments so the Pearl could show free movies; something they often do in the summer. The Pearl has decided to use some of this money to show movies at night as part of the rainbow mafia celebration. The Pearl organizers decided to remove the UP sponsorship from their posters to keep peace with the community and hopefully maintain future grant opportunities from UP.

What follows is one of my longest posts ever on the blog. Mike Weland deserves a long form response and gets it. It might have been better if he had refrained from comment, but Mike chose to open his mouth and remove all doubt.

Mike Weland is owner of 9B News and a board member of The Pearl Theater. This guy really hates all things Trump and most things conservative. A few days ago, he posted an article entitled, “A hateful and loathful response revisited.”  The post requires some imagination because in parts he is responding to comments made by others elsewhere—likely, on Facebook, that the reader cannot see. Whether his responses to such comments are in context or not, readers have no way of knowing. Lastly, I do thank him that this was placed on the Letters & Opinion page of his website and not presented as news.

In the wake of news last week of a three-day queer pride event this June, I was compelled by the comments to add an addendum to my Facebook notice, not to smooth ruffled feathers, but to elicit thought on the mostly one-sided view that prevailed.

The one-sided view was clearly folks were not happy with a rainbow event in our community. Mr. Weland is not ignorant that The Pearl would get such a reaction. They got what they wanted. Don’t let his feigned shock fool you.

“There is a vast difference between those of the LGBTQ persuasion, undoubtedly biological, and those who engage in sexual assault, coercion, pedophilia or other sex crimes, no matter their sexual orientation,” I wrote. “As with heterosexuals, the love lives of the former are no one else’s business and ought not be subject to hatred, ridicule or marginalization (remember how that thing with the witches turned out?) Save your hatred and loathing for those whose actions cause actual irreparable harm. You’ll seem far less ignorant and far less sanctimonious. And you’ll be right.”

OK, here we go. Mr. Weland is making false and misleading claims right out of the gate. He is claiming that homosexuality is biological but rape, pedophilia, and other sex crimes are somehow different. Folks, homosexuality is a sin but per Weland, it’s just not as bad as all them other ones; somehow we always get back to grading on the morality curve so we’re better than the other person. Sorry Mike, but you are cherry picking your words to try to deceive your readers.

There have been numerous news stories in recent years of homosexuals—mostly men—adopting young children for the purposes of sex and sex trafficking. NAMBLA (National Man Boy Love Association) is a recognized part of the homosexual community and has been around at least since the days of Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority. If Mike really believes there is such a thing as a sex crime what is his definition? Next in the paragraph he invokes a sort of libertarian argument that consenting adults can do no wrong. One must assume that he now is defending not only homosexuality, but fornication, and prostitution. Then he tries to invoke the Salem witch trials as a defense. Talk about a strawman argument. Oh, now he comes back to grading on the morality curve again with irreparable harm as his standard. OK Mike who decides what “irreparable harm” is? The One that created us or those willing to justify their actions in the heat of passion (or lust)? Then the conclusion of this paragraph is that if we agree with him then we’ll be right. Oh, I’m so relieved about that.

The response was as expected and I’m certain this expression of my opinion, set down in writing, will be met with the same derision.

“Wow Mike … that is quite a hateful and loathful response there man,” one wrote. “Maybe next time you could follow your own sage advice. You’ll seem far less ignorant, and far less sanctimonious.”

He left out the key part of the phrase, though … that I am right.

Yep, Mike that’s the solution, man is the measure of all things. As long as we grade on the curve, Mike might be better than someone else.

I deleted some of the more barbed of the comments that I deemed went too far in their attack and, as usual, I was chastised for stifling opinion, for assaulting their sacred right to free speech.

I agree we are all entitled to our opinions and that we all have the right to express them. However, I give opinions used to belittle, hold down or oppress others far less weight than I give the opinion of the man with the knee on his neck begging to breathe, to stand up.

This next section is less polished and more raw than the previous part. I think Mike is letting things get personal in some way. He admits deleting some comments, but he doesn’t say where, I would guess Facebook. Also, he doesn’t say why. I can imagine things getting too personal or too near the mark to be comfortable. Maybe a bit of both. Mike then likens himself to the myth of George Floyd and thus tries to claim he is a martyr for the cause. Please note also the moral superiority of his opinion as compared to others that he gives “far less weight”.

Opinions aren’t sacred, aren’t everlasting and they aren’t always right. Nearly all our conscious actions are conceived from opinions, our thoughts, and only a fool would not be wary of derogatory or threatening opinions expressed, especially when that opinion expresses derision for who a person is, or is perceived to be, rather than what that person does or has done.

Mike continues the claim that he is right and all other men fools. However, you could use this same logic to box him in. There is a sense in which this paragraph is a backhanded way of attacking God and His followers. He and his ilk claim the Bible is just the opinions of man and God does not exist. Isn’t that essentially his first sentence? Try this. The Bible isn’t sacred, or everlasting, and isn’t always right. If your opinion is based on Scripture, you should be wary and not express derogatory or hurtful opinions. Neither you nor God can possibly know my heart.

“In regards to the transgender/homosexual movement, we believe it is morally wrong,” a gentleman wrote. “Our position is not all that different than people who think guns should be banned – they believe that is morally wrong.”

Mike then chooses to quote this as proof of something. Unless Mike believes in banning guns—a novel position for a person to hold while living in a state that fully embraces open carrying of firearm—the sentence doesn’t make sense. The author seems to be claiming his opinion on morality is just as valid as Mikes. My truth versus your truth? I guess Mike is then to assume his vote is cancelled by his neighbor, or at least reduced in importance to just one of many. All this presupposes that man is the measure of all things.

I am of the opinion that your opinion falls short on both counts, sir. A gun isn’t morally wrong, it is an object, a tool. One that can, with but a fleeting moment’s thought, be used to accomplish an irreparable action that could have been avoided had no gun been close at hand. It would be a foolish mommy who let toddler baby keep the shiny sharp knife she pulled off the counter because she cries when you try take it away. It’s not a matter of morals, it’s common sense.

This rebuttal is strange to my eyes and ears. Mike calls the gun a tool but given the rest of the paragraph, a tool that can only cause harm. Shouldn’t a proper analogy be that a gun can defend your home or person or used improperly to bring sorrow. Why does he say a gun results in “irreparable action that could have been avoided” (in many cases this is a false statement and denial of a right to self-defense which is a biblical value) and then flip to a child and a knife. This whole exchange is rather fruitless.

And to say certain forms of human sexuality are morally wrong is akin to saying being brown is morally wrong, having blue eyes is morally wrong, to be born with a grave illness is morally wrong, to have been born over there rather than here. To contend that people have a choice about their sexuality is to deny the evidence of your eyes.

Again, man is the measure of morality. Mike claims some people are just born that way so get over it. Under this logic, a pedophile has only to say he was born that way or with that attraction to those who have not yet reach puberty and then his behavior is ok? I’m sure many pedophiles make such claims. Mike says above he disagrees with pedophilia but on what basis? For him there is no external standard (God), thus Mike claims only he can decide right or wrong. But Mike goes further, he claims the right to decide what is right or wrong for the rest of us too. Mike said pedophilia was wrong, but the truth is he has no moral basis to condemn it. Clearly this situational morality is a slippery slope. Mike denies God and thus thinks he can escape the problem of sin.

Stealing is morally wrong. Lying is morally wrong, murder. Rape, exploiting the sexuality of others, pedophilia, using others by force or coercion to satisfy your own lust, pandering the vulnerable and profiting by their exploitation, those things are morally wrong.

Gee Mike. Without God there is no basis for you to say any of this is wrong. If Darwin was right, then all these things and more are available to the strong. In fact, it is your duty to exploit and extinguish the weak. As for “pandering the vulnerable and profiting by their exploitation” does that mean you opposed pornography being made available to school aged children at the Boundary County Library? I bet the record shows that you support such exploitation of children. Thou hypocrite.

“No matter what you say, there are two and only two sexes! Man and woman!”

Mike then launches into a tantrum when confronted with the truth that there are only two genders. Liberals always invoke Galileo to try to rebut religion because they think its either the Church or Science as if there is some contradiction. It’s a false argument. Science is thinking God’s thoughts after Him. True science is only understandable because our universe was created by a designer. It is when a person imposes Darwinian presuppositions that science is morphed into humanist religion dressed up in multisyllable words of self-importance.

Mike then says that animals reproduce after their kind, but some do so differently than we do. (Please note that such a claim is from the Bible, but don’t tell Mike.) Then he invokes a genetic mutation that causes some degree of hermaphrodites. This so rarely happens in humans that it proves nothing. Mike is trying to prove that homosexuality is ok because genetic mistakes make it so. He then claims there are really three sexes. No, Mike, there are really only two. Virtually all macro-genetic mutations are bad. He can’t prove that being a hermaphrodite is a good, desirable, or beneficial mutation. Also, can such a person even reproduce? This is the same logic used in the abortion debate, there are rare cases of rape, incest, and life of the mother, so abortion must be allowed for birth control based on a minuscule number of rare exceptions. The .001 percent is used to justify the killing of the other 99.99 percent.

After jumping to Alan Turing he then jumps to “science.” Hey, Mike we followed the great god science through the Covid 19 fiasco and “The Science” doesn’t have much credibility anymore. Science is about government funding not truth. These types of scientists, Mike says, don’t know what causes homosexuality. Maybe because it’s not chemical or biological in nature, it’s called sin. It’s a defect of our human race. Sin is a spiritual disease and sometimes it also results in mental disease as well.

Mike then starts his frontal attack on the Bible. At this point, he thinks he’s got the rest of us over a barrel. Funny because he’s the one wielding the kitchen knife thinking he’s so clever while cutting himself to shreds.

The boys who wrote the Bible around 2,000 years ago (about 4,000 years after the creation of the heavens and the Earth) had no idea of any of the science … but they had gay people. About 25 Bible verses make mention of homosexuality, men laying with men, and pretty much every one labels it a sin.

First let me remind you that Mike does not believe the Bible is the Word of God and he certainly doesn’t believe in a young earth. What follows is a combination of sarcasm, mockery, and disdain.

The Bible was written over the course of about 1,600 years and is comprised of 66 books. The Bible claims to be Truth. It claims to be the Word of God not men.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. Psalm 31: 5

Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Psalm 119: 151

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. I John 2: 21

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17: 17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:2 Timothy 3:16

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Pslams 100: 5

The Bible claims to be authoritative in any area or topic that it touches on, including science.

The Bible makes many truth claims.

God created the heavens and the earth.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1: 1

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1: 16

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. Psalm 148: 5

God created you.

I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. Isaiah 45: 12

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139: 14

God created and cares for the animals.

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1: 21

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Matthew 6: 26

God causes earthquakes

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Matthew 28: 2

God gives rain

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.  Joel 2: 23

God’s Word touches on many subjects

Mike’s problem is that if God is the cause, it can’t be science because for him science must be a naturalist, impersonal law, that needs no law giver.

The Bible speaks of the rain cycle of evaporation, condensation, and rain, the circle of the earth, eclipses, the lunar cycle, dinosaurs, and many other things. It is not a science textbook, but it mentions such things in passing as it deals with mankind. The Bible is a book about God’s interaction with his creation and especially his image bearers; namely, us humans. The Bible is history.

Mike is pushing the false division of science and religion in this paragraph. He then admits that the Bible calls homosexuality a sin. He says it only lists about 25 verses on the subject. Mike has no idea what the Bible says and doesn’t care, he just wants to be dismissive of the whole thing.

Rebuttal to Mike’s 25 Verse Challenge

The Ten Commandments are only given twice in the Bible, but we are expected to follow them. The number of times something is in the Bible is irrelevant, once is enough. Also, as the Reformers point out, each of the Ten Commandments not only forbids something but encourages its opposite. The Ten Commandments are very far reaching not narrow prohibitions. Ditto for verses on homosexuality. The Bible forbids the practice of homosexuality and commands us to do its opposite. What appears below is a partial list of verses that I found on the subject.

Going into this, I think 25 verses is a little light compared to the actual number of verses on the subject. Let’s see if we can find more.

My first thought is the account of Sodom which is way more than 25 verses. Note that the account actually begins in the previous chapter (Genesis 18) which I did not include. Genesis 19: 1 – 29

1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Oh, just in case Mike whines about it, Sodom has been found by archaeologists and it was destroyed by intense heat just a Moses said over 3,000 years ago. Sodom becomes a type of evil city that is reference periodically throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Here’s one example:

As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. Jeremiah 49: 18.

Another passage dealing with homosexuality is the latter part of Romans chapter 1, verse 18 – 32.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Oh, wow. I found this article on the Internet, “25 Bible verses about homosexuality.” Wonder if Mike got his number from this? It actually has a top ten followed by more verses. It’s missing some verses but it’s a start.

Some Bible Verses about Homosexuality

Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Leviticus 18: 22-24 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. “ ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.

Leviticus 20:13 ~ If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Deuteronomy 23:17 “None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute.

Judges 19: 16 – 24 Then behold, an old man was coming out of the field from his work at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was staying in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites. And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?” He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, for I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. But I am now going to my house, and no man will take me into his house. Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, your maidservant, and the young man who is with your servants; there is no lack of anything.” The old man said, “Peace to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square.” So he took him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder, and they washed their feet and ate and drank. While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.” Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly. Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. Please let me bring them out that you may ravish them and do to them whatever you wish. But do not commit such an act of folly against this man.”

1 Kings 14:24 There were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.

1 Kings 15: 12 He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.

2 Kings 23:7 He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the Lord, where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah.

Ezekiel 16:49-50 ” ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

Mark 10: 6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

John 8: 7-11 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Romans 1:26-28 ~ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Romans 13: 8-10 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6: 17-20 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 7:2 – But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 ESV – Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Hebrews 13: 1-5 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Jude 1: 5-8 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

But no mention in old testament or new of lesbians, women who lie with women, which seems odd. They had those back then, too.

Some think Ruth and Naomi, two Biblical heroines, might have been lesbians, but no mention of abomination as to their supposed deviancy. In fact, they are said to have been favored of God.

I wonder why that is? I forgot, can you tell me again what gender were the men who allegedly wrote the Bible, inspired by God?

Mike clearly is ignorant of what the Bible actually says, and he really doesn’t care anyway. Romans 1: 26 comes to mind as some low hanging fruit to hit Mike with:

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

There is zero evidence that either Ruth or Naomi were lesbians. This is history revisionism of the worst sort. Random dead people are plucked from history and declared by the woke among us as somebody that was homosexual or whatever. A recent movie comes to mind where Cleopatra was portrayed as black when she was most certainly not. Ditto for Alexander the Great. A recent movie on Netflix claimed Alexander was a homosexual. Zero evidence exists but it didn’t stop the portrayal.

I told you he used sarcasm. “… can you tell me the gender of the men …”? I also stated previously that he doesn’t believe in the authority of the Scriptures. Mikes thinks he is a cat playing with helpless mice.

Our nation’s Declaration of Independence proclaims that all men (and women) are created equal. It does not tell you that you have to like those different than you, hang out, go to the same clubs or mingle at the office party. We can all take pride in who we are, our heritage, our ancestry, but no one has the right to deem they or theirs superior, more entitled, a little more equal.

Then after trashing the Bible, Weland invokes a document written by men steeped in its understanding, the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is essentially a Covenant Lawsuit brought against the King of England for failing to do his job. Mike can’t get that because he doesn’t know the Bible or its influence on our culture. Of course, like invoking the Bible above, the Declaration has nothing to do with the rest of the paragraph. Mike is playing his version of the Rodney King, “can’t we all get along” quote. Pride is a sin and the root cause of all our ills, but it is considered a virtue in the rainbow cult.

If there is no God, then we are left only with Darwin or some other false belief system. Mike has to steal morality from Christianity to make the following claim. “We can all take pride in who we are, our heritage, our ancestry, but no one has the right to deem they or theirs superior, more entitled, a little more equal.”

Mike, you have zero basis in morality to claim that we should be equal. That belief comes from the Bible which is how it got in the Declaration. You reject the Bible and thus must reject the fruits of Christianity including the Declaration of Independence. Given your stated worldview, you deny equality as understood in the West.

In fact, under Darwin, it follows that some are superior to others. The mighty must exploit the weak. This is the law of the jungle. They are superior. This is the basis of eugenics which you support. Oh, yes you do. What in the hell is Planned Parenthood all about. Its founder said that her goal was to eliminate poverty by eliminating the poor. Same goal as the Nazis. Mrs. Sanger was a big supporter of the Third Reich. The Final Solution is no different than what Planned Parenthood does in our country, the only difference is the marketing of the belief.

Christianity is superior not because its followers are superior but because it has the same set of rules for our friends and our enemies. Our equality is not based on our superiority but our acknowledgement that we are all broken. Only God is righteous, and His external, objective standard, is Truth. The church is not the clubhouse of the righteous but the hospital for the sinner. This is something you fail to grasp because you say you have no need of The Great Physician.

If you wouldn’t like being treated as you or yours treat others over traits they were born with; hair color, skin color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, quit treating them so. If they rise up and demand equal rights, realize they aren’t trying to take rights from you … they aren’t flaunting their difference or trying to corrupt you, they’re asking you to get your knee off their neck, for equal rights under the law, equal opportunity to avail themselves of their talents, equal ability to pursue their dreams, to be useful, to be happy.

Here finally, Mike is getting to “the ask” of his piece. Again, please note that he is trying to appeal, on the basis of a Christian understanding of equality, that homosexuals should be welcome into the mainstream of society.

First, Mike, we all are born slaves to sin. Second, sin corrupts the way we are. It corrupts our relationship with God, His creation, our fellow man, and even ourselves. God has a way He intends us to live. We fall short of His Standard. He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price that we couldn’t and if we will die to ourselves and yield to His Lordship then we can take up His cross and follow Him. God will take us from a state of spiritual death and give us life. God exchanges our heart of stone for one of flesh. This is the new birth.

Please note however that if we reject God that the wrath of God abides on us now, not just in the next life. If you reject Christ, you are under his judgement now.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3: 36

As shown above, and also acknowledged by you, per the Bible, homosexuality is a sin. It is not allowed in society because it is wrong behavior. If you dig into the Greek language of the Bible, homosexuality is grounds for sending someone to hell. They cannot enter the Kingdom of God. It is a serious and grievous sin. Thus, when someone that believes the Bible is confronted with it, we know what we are dealing with, a societal cancer that must not be allowed to spread. As a result, we want to warn you of the consequences if you don’t repent. Under the Old Testament, the punishment for homosexuality is physical death. Under the New Testament, the punishment is spiritual death.

Homosexuals don’t want equality in our society, they want superiority and yes, they have harmed our country. Take marriage for example. First domestic partnerships were allowed. Then homosexuals demanded “marriage.” Marriage was then defined by some as some sort of a societal contract. (I will leave out the contribution of no-fault divorce in the mid-20^th Century.) Marriage wasn’t created by government but by God. What many call “marriage” is an abomination and a direct attack on God and His people. Marriage is supposed to be a picture of God’s relationship with His people. What we do on earth is a foreshadowing of the real marriage in Heaven. Marriage is between a man and woman. Whatever same sex couples do is not marriage, its just a mockery of the real thing. For us to get the knee off your neck is to forsake God. Like compromise on abortion, there can be none.

Also, homosexuals don’t reproduce, they recruit which is really what the event at the Pearl is really about. They undermine our values as a church, as a people, and as nation. This dog and pony show at the Pearl scheduled for June is an attempt to normalize sin and as such must be opposed. It is evil. Period.

There is nothing wrong with disliking or even hating what gays might be doing, to consider it wrong or immoral.  You have that right … don’t do those things. You have the absolute right to pray to and  seek guidance from your God and, as long as it’s legal, the right to do as your God commands. You even have the right, if I’m willing to listen (I’m not) to preach, proselytize, prophesize, perform miracles, remove cancers, play with deadly vipers, speak in tongues and do your best to “save” me, just as I have the right to tell you I’m not interested.

Actually Mike, we don’t have a right to disagree with homosexuality, at least not in the state where I used to live. You are faking neutrality only long enough to get the upper hand and then the laws will be changed. The strategy is capture to castle and then pull up the draw bridge. The trick is to do it before the peasants know what hit ‘em.

The activity at the Pearl is not the endgame just the opening salvo in a greater war. Many of us are veterans in this conflict and see through your lies. You make an interesting admission against interest in the above paragraph. “… as long as it’s legal …” A change in law is a change in morality and also a change in which god’s law will prevail. I’ve lived long enough to see the law changed so that it’s not legal to be a Christian in other parts of our country. On this side of Covid we won’t allow that to happen again, especially not in Idaho.

We are all entitled to our thoughts, our opinions, and we all have the same rights to express them. If those thoughts lead some to take actions that break our nation’s laws, let them be prosecuted as individuals for their deeds. If those thoughts and opinions lead others to high achievement, accomplishment or great esteem, let each be rewarded as individuals … for their deeds.

Mike, you just proved my previous point. Your goal is to change the law so you can cram homosexuality down our throats until we choke on it. You are daring your opponents to act and hope the law will be on your side to take them out. Sorry dude but north Idaho is not fertile ground for your efforts.

Mike, if you really want us to start boycotting businesses run by your rainbow allies, we are more than willing to do so. Thus far I have not let ideology be a determining factor in which businesses that I frequent in Boundary County, but I’ve been making mental notes about which ones are run by folks on your side of this issue.

Mike then closes with a bunch of random quotes from people he doesn’t honor or respect that are variations of love your neighbor. Same tired BS they put on Facebook but don’t believe.

Mike, loving your neighbor, is knocking on their door at one AM to tell them their house is on fire, and they should get out. Your response is that it’s late and you want to go back to bed. Sorry but we are insistent that you are in deep doo doo and should repent before you get incinerated.

So, there you have it, Mike Weland bleeding all over himself because he can’t handle God’s sword without God’s Spirit being in him. Oh, his complete post can be found here.