A popular vote is the best way to go, but arguments for gay marriage don’t hold up

Posted on August 15, 2017
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“Ask yourself what is the most decent and respectful thing to do: is it to endorse this change that the gay lobby is stridently insisting upon; or is it to question whether a few years’ agitation should unmake a concept of marriage that had stood for many centuries and has always been regarded as the rock upon which society is built?

Ask yourself what’s more likely to maintain respect for marriage and to reinforce the notions of constancy and selflessness that sustain all lasting relationships: an ongoing recognition that marriage is a union of one man with one woman, preferably for life and usually dedicated to children; or changing marriage so that it can mean any two people who love each other? …”

– The Hon. Tony Abbott, MP, explains his thinking. Originally published in today’s The Australian, and also on his website.

Presbyterian response to the announced postal marriage plebiscite

Posted on August 15, 2017
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“The 2016 GAA resolved as follows:

Min 67.8 “The General Assembly urges congregations to support the ‘No’ case in opposing the redefinition of marriage.”

Without binding consciences, please read the following as a request from the PCA that when the government asks for your opinion that you consider supporting the “NO” vote.

The Australian Government plans to conduct a postal vote seeking the opinion of Australians on marriage. Ballot papers will begin arriving at our homes on 12 September, just a month from now.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia opposes the introduction of legislation for so called ‘same-sex marriage’. We affirm that the true definition of marriage is found in God’s Word: the life-long union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into, excluding all others.

It’s important to urge every Presbyterian Christian to engage in the process and vote, and to “support the NO case”. We ask every attendee at church to both register and vote, and then seek to persuade as many of their family and friends to do likewise.

There’s no doubt that the postal vote can be won in favour of the current definition. There is a large number of Australians, many of whom have not had their say, who affirm the common view of marriage as God-given and God-blessed.

Your participation will make a difference, but we need you to be earnest, active and in prayer about it. There are many powerful voices clamouring to tear down what God declares to be holy. The church must not be silent on this.

While we speak up and have our say, we do so with a gracious engagement and with respect for those with whom we disagree.

John P Wilson

Moderator-General
Presbyterian Church of Australia.”

Source: Presbyterian Church of Australia.

Coalition for Marriage website launched

Posted on August 14, 2017
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“The Coalition for Marriage (C4M), the leading voice for the plebiscite NO campaign has launched its official campaign website.

coalitionformarriage.com.au has been unveiled at the start of the first full week of campaigning for the upcoming plebiscite on whether gender should be removed from the Commonwealth Marriage Act.”

— More from SydneyAnglicans.net

Changing the Marriage Act could change the country

Posted on August 14, 2017
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“Before Australians start voting in the same-sex marriage postal plebiscite next month — assuming the High Court allows it to proceed — the Turnbull government has a vast amount of work to do. It must detail how it would protect freedom of religion in the event of a change to the Marriage Act.

The proposed Marriage Act Amendment Bill released by five Liberal MPs on August 6 falls far short of doing so. …”

— Editorial from The Australian, 14th August 2017. (Subscription.)

Peter Adam on How not to be Boring

Posted on August 14, 2017
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At The Gospel Coalition’s Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy Guthrie chats with Peter Adam.

Encouraging and interesting.

A Prayer for the Plebiscite

Posted on August 12, 2017
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Dr David Peterson has written this prayer you may wish to use. We reproduce it here with his kind permission:

Loving Father, your Son the Lord Jesus Christ affirmed your purpose for marriage when he declared that, ‘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.’

What you have joined together, we dare not separate.

We pray that, as the proposal for same-sex marriage is discussed in our country, your voice will be heard.

Even though other countries have legislated for same-sex marriage, we pray that this will not happen in Australia.

As the postal plebiscite takes place, we pray that many would think carefully about the implications and that the majority would reject the proposal.

Help us to show love and care for those who are same-sex attracted, but deliver us as a society from undermining your purpose for marriage.

We pray these things for your glory and in your Son’s name. Amen.

Rights clash looms in SSM debate – Essential reading

Posted on August 12, 2017
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“While the flawed postal vote plebiscite has provoked furious rival responses, the pivotal problem is just emerging — the failure in any draft bill by Coalition or Labor MPs to fully protect religious freedoms once same-sex marriage is legislated. …

Beyond the campaign lies the great dilemma. The proposition is lethal — that it would constitute a historical betrayal of the values of the Coalition parties if they “backed” a bill post-plebiscite on same-sex marriage that exposed individuals and institutions to retaliation for their beliefs because the government failed to strengthen Australia’s woefully inadequate laws on religious freedom and protection. …“

– See this must read opinion piece by Paul Kelly in The Australian. (Subscription.)

The New / Old way our Culture pressures us to Conform

Posted on August 12, 2017
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“As Christians we take comfort in laws governing free speech and protecting freedom of religion. But pleading conformity to the law means little when a society has shifted to a culture of shame and honour. …”

– Tim Challies addresses the answer to the shame Christians are tempted to feel.

Calvinist the movie

Posted on August 11, 2017
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This soon-to-be-released movie, “Calvinist”, looks to be slightly different way of teaching theology.

Irish Same-sex marriage vote: How a Minority achieved a Majority

Posted on August 11, 2017
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(Originally posted 24 May 2015.)

“For years leading up to Ireland’s civil partnership legislation, a small nongovernmental organisation (NGO) – the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) – along with its many supporters and collaborators, worked quietly and methodically toward this day. …

In 2005, GLEN received a sizable long-term grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies that allowed GLEN to increase its organisational capacity and to pursue its ambitious advocacy strategy for advancing equality for gays and lesbians in Ireland.

The story of how Ireland’s landmark legislation was achieved for same-sex couples holds insights and lessons for any advocacy group trying to achieve legislative change…”

– This PDF document, available on The Atlantic Philanthropies website, charts how minority groups were able to achieve the goal of Civil Partnership in Ireland back in 2010.

Asking questions about funding for referendum campaign – Irish Times, 9th May 2015:

“The only acceptable narrative is that this is a benign grassroots movement, because if we admitted that it is instead a slick, elite movement of highly educated professionals funded from abroad we might have to admit we were skilfully manipulated. And that could not be true.”

Editorial Comment from Anglican Mainstream, 23 May 2015:

“This is a sad day for all who have campaigned and prayed for Ireland to hold the line on keeping the definition of marriage as an exclusive covenant between a man and a woman for life.

The result is not a surprise, because of orchestrated cultural change, huge disparity in resources between the Yes campaign (backed by government, media and American dollars), and the aggressive vilification of any individuals courageous enough to speak up for historic sexual morality, the sanctity of marriage and the bedrock of biological families.”

Why marriage should be between a man and a woman

Posted on August 10, 2017
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” ‘On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect. The party’s position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman.’

If I told you that was a quote from Cory Bernardi, Lyle Shelton or worse, that oft condemned unreconstructed traditionalist Tony Abbott, would you consider it just more evidence of their homophobia? Many commentators would. It seems right now no one can make any statement in favour of marriage without being condemned for being a ‘hater’ or ‘bigot’.

However, the statement doesn’t come from Mr Bernardi, but from that other strong-minded senator from South Australia, Penny Wong. …”

– Read the full article by Michael Kellahan, executive director of Freedom for Faith, at The Sydney Morning Herald. (Subscription.)

See also: Churches lay out plebiscite fears for PM, The Australian. (Subscription.)

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, and leading Catholic officials have written to Malcolm Turnbull demanding that any proposed bill on same-sex marriage be released before Australians are asked to vote on the issue. …

“This timeframe is inappropriately short, particularly given there remain a number of unresolved questions concerning the postal plebiscite process,” Archbishop Davies wrote.

Integrity Theft

Posted on August 10, 2017
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“Early this year I was cleaned out.

Wallet, phone and keys, all gone in a flash. I’m not crying victim. I dropped my guard, turned my back and took my eye off the ball for no more than a few seconds. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, David Mansfield warns of the ever-present danger of Integrity Theft.

Luther and his most important impact

Posted on August 9, 2017
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“On 31 October 1517, in a small provincial university town, an Augustinian monk who served as a professor in the university, nailed a document to a church door. And it started a revolution.

Today, 500 years later and on the other side of the world, that unexceptional act — there would have been lots of notices on that door, since it was the unofficial notice board for the university — still captures the imagination. …”

– At Theological Theology, Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, has published a slightly extended version of an address delivered at the opening of the Luther exhibition at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Tuesday 8 August, 2017.

John Anderson on what’s happening in Australia over the same-sex marriage plebiscite

Posted on August 8, 2017
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Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson spoke about his very real concerns for Australia – on ABC News.