http://forum.tech-pc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23360

Tech-PC includes a group of people that I've been hanging around with on the net for over 5 years (the forum moved from first 3Dfiles, then VoodooExtreme, then Hardware Pacers, then to its current location). Problem is, even though I know Chris considers himself to be a Christian but is EXTREMELY liberal morally, but otherwise conservative in politics, economy, etc; I still would have never expected him to post something like that.

[This message has been edited by Gump (edited January 09, 2004).]

------------------

I have a morality game that does include the gay issue--as far as I know, the only arcade game that deals with it! But I've got other things to finish ahead of it so I'm not sure how soon I can finish it.

Seems to me that we're in trouble on this issue as the years go by; older Americans are split on it but I think the media, consumer marketing, and education have done a thorough job on the younger crowd, so a larger percentage of their group is pro-gay. When they start to replace more of the older current voters....

Curry

------------------

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Gay_Marriage.htm

I know there is a conservative backlash among young people, but they still seem to be the minority as far as I've seen. Unfortunately!

Curry

--D-SIPL

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that suggests you tried

It might be simple to quell arguments for the church not being influential by the obvious fact that people don't attend church and therefore are "uninformed" on the matter of the sanctity of marriage, but that does nothing to resolve the obvious fact that the people in the church are doing nothing to educate the people in the world they live in about such truths.
The sad thing is that this principle is fundamental to the relationship of Christ with individuals. If those who worship Christ aren't obviously making it clear that they want sincerity, purity, faithfulness, submission, dedication, etc etc ad nauseum, in either the relationship they have spiritually with God or the relationship they have physically with a spouse - even to the degree of their relationship with their family (parents or children) - why would the world who watches us so closely for such things actually be influenced by such hypocrites and fools?

Something far worse is wrong when we see this type of reaction and sit comfortably, shaking our head in disbelief that hope is dwindling off the face of the earth, and, with that waining hope, is the crumbling civility and common sense we consider to be noble mankind.
My God, does it stink here on this earth? Or has the smell of (spiritual *and* physical) death become a stench that we have adjusted our senses too?
How many churches, just here in the USA, are actually alive and in the smallest degree witnessing the indwelling of the Spirit of God? We hear testimony of people in foreign countries being healed, being saved, and more, in all manner like those of the early church, and yet American Christianity has nothing in comparison to testify of. We pray for the safety of those in foreign lands as they endure torture and hardship for being true disciples of Christ, bearing witness to the prophecies of Christ as He said for being His ministers, and all we can do is pray out of fear and hope that they can leave "that dangerous place" and come back to America.
Why? For what benefit? Nobody ever considers going to them, to help, to take the beatings they took, to experience the threat of physical death, to actually experience what it means to be a Christian.

But who am I to accuse and call a hypocrite, when I have never knowingly led another person to the believing knowledge of Christ. I just live my life from day to day believing that God is using me in the mundane things I do, that dealing with the people I know moment by moment is in some manner a witness of the strength of Christ, of who He is, of what He can do, and how much any one of us needs Him. I will bear the name Hypocrite before I will bear the name Christian if it means growing in Christ for myself or moreso for others.
What is the difference? The difference is that we should be known for what we are, not what we claim to be. The difference is that a Christian who is known as a hypocrite has no influence. The difference is actually making a difference and not maintaining the norm.

I was actually going to post something on that soapbox forum, but decided against it. Words are easy to come by and really do nothing more than sit on a page if they aren't read. Yeah, my post would've been read, and probably replied to, but I doubt it would have done anything to spur conviction or cause a life-changing event. And to some extent, simple actions do little in that manner as well. To really be effective and display what it means to be new in Christ takes more than words and simple actions. *It really takes a life to change a life.* Yeah, so I rambled on. You took the time to read it. I hope something embeds in your mind and causes some great moment in your life to begin. Go with God.