Thursday, March 09, 2006

Taking a Stand - Delegate Don Dwyer


Gay marriage opponent calls for impeachment of Maryland judge

Same story from the Family Policy Council

And last but not least, I found this this article which seems to be the most in-depth of the three. (Video included) This one goes on to say that the judge in question, a Ms. Brooke Murdock, overturned a 33 year old law "against same-sex marriage". What gives her the right to do that I ask? Why does she have the right to overthrow a clearly constitutional statute? A statute that is and was clearly supported by the writers of our constitution as we saw in my post yesterday. This is a clear overstepping of judicial power. Thomas Jefferson warned us that:

"[T]o consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional
questions [is] a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us
under the despotism of an oligarchy. . . . The Constitution has erected no such
single tribunal.
The Constitution . . . [would be] a mere thing of wax in the hands of the
judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please."(link)

That is where the problem lies. When a judge is able to invent from thin air the right for sodomy, he or she clearly has overstepping the bounds of the constitution and the bounds of all that is righteous and holy. Let us look at the thoughts of John David Michaelis, the author of an 1814 four-volume legal work. (Text provided by David Barton here)

"Whoever, therefore, wishes to ruin a nation, has only to get this vice (Sodomy)
introduced; for it is extremely difficult to extirpate it where it has once
taken root because it can be propagated with much more secrecy . . . and when we
perceive that it has once got a footing in any country, however powerful and
flourishing, we may venture as politicians to predict that the foundation of its
future decline is laid and that after some hundred years it will no longer be
the same . . . powerful country it is at present."

Let us look at an example of a court out of control.
If a judge had been allowed by the legislature to overturn laws that the people make without any check, slavery would not have been abolished. (see this article about half way down the page)

This is the reason that legislators like Delegate Dwyer MUST take action to stop these judges from overturning laws that are both constitutional and moral. To allow otherwise is to turn our country into a dictatorship of nine persons in black.

(Agent Tim recently heard this man speak. That must have been very cool and to top it off, it gave me a great post idea. )

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd vote for you Mr. Someville! :-D

Travis, I have to say I thought about you when I heard Delegate Dwyer speak. He's a fantastic speaker, and I really respect his courage to stand up against so many people out to hurt him. In fact, he had to wear a bullet-proof vest every day while we were there. He message is awesome.

Anonymous said...

Guys -- There's nothing immoral about homosexuality. It's just sex, don't get all upset about it.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of a guy named Jesus, who taught pretty clearly that it is not man's place to judge man. I don't think he mentioned sodomy.

Travis said...

"Guys -- There's nothing immoral about homosexuality. It's just sex, don't get all upset about it."

You Sir, have shown yourself to know nothing of right and wrong.

"I'm reminded of a guy named Jesus, who taught pretty clearly that it is not man's place to judge man. I don't think he mentioned sodomy."

In the New Testiment as well as the Old, God is very clear about this.

2 Pet 2:6 and {if} He(God) condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing {them} to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly {lives} thereafter;

Sodomy is wrong and should not be indorsed by our government. Our founders agreed and nothing is unconstitutional about forbiding that action.

Anonymous said...

That reference is from the old testament. The old testament says a lot of goofy stuff. What does it say in the new testament?

And don't give me that Letters to the Phillipines stuff. What did Jesus say about it?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous wrote: "I'm reminded of a guy named Jesus, who taught pretty clearly that it is not man's place to judge man. I don't think he mentioned sodomy."

That "not judging" bit is one of the most (purposely?) misinterpreted and abused passages of the entire Bible. See here for an explanation of what's wrong with the way many people--including yourself, apparently--use that passage today.

Travis said...

"That reference is from the old testament. The old testament says a lot of goofy stuff. What does it say in the new testament?"

You sir, are mistaken. 1st Peter is in the new Testament. Peter explians why Sodom and Gomorrah burned. To make an example so that others would not follow those cities in sin.

"And don't give me that Letters to the Phillipines stuff. What did Jesus say about it?"

2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

As the scripture says, the whole Bible is inspired by God and therefore the Words God spoke through Peter are just as valid as the words of Christ.

Anonymous said...

Derek -- If you want to convince yourself that Jesus didn't really mean it, then that's your business. You could probably convince yourself of anything at that rate -- you probably think Jesus supports war. Be honest, read the sermon on the mount. It's pretty clear.

Travis -- If you write that everything on your blog is true, that doesn't make it all true. Same in the Bible. Ever notice that in the Gospel, Jesus is constantly correcting his disciples' mistaken impressions of his teachings? They get it wrong every time. So why do you assume that once he died, his followers suddenly got it right every time?

Listen to the simple, beautiful message in Jesus's words. The rest of it is distraction, human interpretation, sometimes flawed.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous--Actually, I don't believe Jesus supports war, and I happen to be against the war in Iraq. I even wrote an article that dealt partially with the Christian case against war.

That being said, you obviously didn't read the article I linked to earlier. I'm not saying Jesus didn't "mean it," but I am saying it's obvious he didn't mean it the way many people like to interpret his words today. Think about it for a second. It's impossible to "judge not." You yourself are judging Travis and his views right now. When a person says, "you're judging, and the Bible says to 'judge not'," that person is judging right there.

Jesus was warning against hypocrisy when he said that. There is nothing wrong when we "judge not according to the appearance, but judge in righteous judgment" (another quote from Jesus). There are numerous other passages that illustrate this well. See the article I linked to previously.

Anonymous said...

Derek -- Actually, what Jesus said was that you shouldn't worry about the speck in your brother's eye when there is a plank in your own eye. It's not just hypocrisy, although that's certainly part of it. It's also that you should spend your attention fixing yourself, and leave your brother's personal problems between him and his God.

I don't see what the semantics of the word "judge" have to do with that concept.

Travis said...

The verse you are trying to quote is:

Matt 7:4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
Matt 7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Look at the last part of the verse. It says take the log out of your eye then you can see clearly to take the log from your brothers. As none-sodomites, we don't have a log in our eyes because we aren't praticing that.

1 Cor 6:2a Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

And the judgeing verse you are looking for is this:

Rom 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Rom 2:2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
Rom 2:3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same {yourself,} that you will escape the judgment of God?

Again, only if you are practicing these things can you not judge.

You claim that Jesus' words are the only valid scripture. The problem with that is you can't believe Jesus is Lord and Savior unless you believe the Old Testament.

Anonymous said...

I can see your argument, but I think you're not seeing the forest through the trees. It's not a speck and a speck -- it's a log and a speck. You may not have sodomy in your eye (ouch!), but you have your own problems to deal with.

Regardless, you're focusing too closely on the particular wording (which is a translation of translations, polluted by human errors in transcription, in stories that were part of a verbal tradition.) The big picture here -- in this story, in "judge not", in "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" -- the big picture is pretty clear. Jesus wants you to be a good person. Don't turn your focus to others.

Travis said...

Just a note: According to your statement, only the words of Jesus are valid. In that case, Rom 2:1-3 would not be valid because it was inspired by God, but written/spoken by Paul.

For all intents and purposes, the Bible we have today is binding.

Also, "particular wording" is very important. Suppose I wrote, "Don't Murder". A person could claim that I was focusing to much on the "Don't", the real purpose of the verse they would say is to "Murder".

"Jesus wants you to be a good person. Don't turn your focus to others."

My answer would be this verse:

1 Cor 6:2a Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

All preaching and teaching involves judging. If you tell a group of sinners they are condemned by God to hell unless they repent and turn from their wicked ways, you are showing them the judgement of God. Take these verses for example:

Titus 1:10,11 and 13b ¶ For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not {teach} for the sake of sordid gain...For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

This involves a person working as God's instruments of reproof. The Bible is full of God sending humans with messages of reproof and guidance back to the right way.

If we as modern-day Christians do not proclaim the truth of God to the people, even if the truth hurts, we are partly to blame for their fall into sin. That's another thing. I am quoting the Bible and the founding fathers, that is the position I am supporting.

Me telling someone about what God says about sodomy, it could be argued, is not me judging them, it is telling them about GOD'S impending judgment on them and besides that, as we have seen these verses do not forbid judging. Only hypocrisy in judgment..

It is as the voice in the wilderness crying "prepare ye the way of the Lord, repent and turn from your wicked ways". That is what we are Christians are told to do as the "salt and light" of the world.

Anonymous said...

You make a very valid argument, and I can see how your logic leads you to your beliefs. But there are verses in the Bible to justify just about every position, even contrary positions.

And that leads me to believe that not every word is God inspired. I know that's not what you believe. But for me, that leaves me with just the over-arching themes, the philosophy that Jesus preached.

And that boils down to: Love your neighbor as yourself, and be a good person.

I understand that's not what you believe. What I don't understand is why you use the words in the Bible to justify withholding legal rights to people who were born with an attraction to people of the same sex.

I guess it boils down to this question: Do you think gay people choose to be gay?

Travis said...

"Love your neighbor as yourself..."

Here is one of the many verses in which Jesus said that.

Mark 12:29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
Mark 12:30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'
Mark 12:31 "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

This verse is so true. That is the reason we as Christians are taught to warn our neighbors about the trap of sin. If I saw my neighbor about to step into a trap, if I love him I will tell him that is a trap and show him the way to avoid it. That is way we as Christians must show sodomy and all other sin to be just what it is, a trap.

"...and be a good person."

As the Word says, we by ourselves CANNOT be a good person. We must have the help of the Lord to escape the grip of sin.

Then you go on to say:

"Do you think gay people choose to be gay?"

Do you choose to set down and eat each day?
Do you choose to turn on your computer and use it each day?
Do you choose NOT to murder someone each day?

Life is full of choices and God allows us these choices to prove whether we will follow him or follow the desires of our own lust.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
James 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Therefore, within every human is the ability to do either great good, or great evil. Every person on this planet has the choice to murder or not, to commit immorality or not, to honor your parents or not. This includes doing sodomy or not.

Mark 7:21a "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts...

Everyone is born with an evil nature and what a Christian spend their life doing is overcoming that evil nature and conforming to the image of Christ with His(Christ's) power and might.

Rom 8:31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can stand against us?

The key is overcome the sin to began with and beginning to grow in Christ. Without lust being dead, a person is doomed to die with it in the final judgment.

1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and {also} its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

So that means there must be a way for a person to do the will of God. There is!

There was a sin that had a HUGE hold on me. I tried and tried to stop doing this sinful habit, but was unable to stop. Then I cried out to God, many times saying "HELP ME LORD" HELP ME" and began reading the Word. I began hating that sin which was holding me in bondage to sin and hell. I feared the wrath of the Lord and his righteous judgement of me that condemned me to everlasting torture in Hellfire. While doing that, I unknowingly(Guided by the mercy of God) was loosening the bonds that held me to sin!

Ps 10:17 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

Prov 1:7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 8:13a "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil

Then the Lord guided me to more verses to continue the fight against that sin. He lead me to these verses.

Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Rom 12:3 ¶ For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to {its} lusts.

2 Cor 10:5 {We are} destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

These verses are so key. These are the verses that broke the chains or sin from me. I have read these over and over and over. Whenever an evil thought comes to mind, submit yourself to God's commands and quote the scripture that gives God's command. (As Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil) Then say in your mind, "I resist that thought in Jesus name" and believe in faith that the Lord will help you. Pray for the Lord's help with a humble heart. He WILL hear the cry of those who truly want help. He is forever faithful.

Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Job 28:28 "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

Ps 25:14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.

Yes, sodomites have a choice, there IS A WAY to escape! We ALL must fight out battles and cease from sin! There IS A WAY!

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

The Lord desires that YOU be saved from the wrath of sin! But you must repent of your sin, learn to hate it with all your might and then learn the wisdom the Lord gives all who ask with a humble heart and sincere faith.

Rom 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Why you ask do I seek to suppress un-repentant sodomites who are acting as the devils tools to lead more into the fold of damnation? I seek to stop the spread of evil in our culture! I seek to save the souls that are being lead to hell!

Prov 24:11 ¶ Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold {them} back.

As you grow in Christ, he will ask you to help others to find the way of escape that He showed you. That is a part of following the Lord. These sodomites seek "Additional" rights. They seek the right to prevert the truth of marriage with lies!I They seek to convince future generations that there is no right or wrong as God proclaims! That is why I seek to spread the truth and disavow the lie. One of the first verses the Lord lead me to on the way of escape is Romans 12:21. It reads:

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

And that is what I seek to do. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Anonymous said...

Travis --
Most gay men do not choose to be gay. They are born with an attraction to men. It's not just a sexual attraction -- not just a craven lust for sodomy -- they are attracted to the same male essence that attracts heterosexual women.

For you to suggest that their choice to be gay is like my choice to turn on a computer is extremely naive. It's like saying black people choose to be black, or Pakistani people choose to be Pakistani. They are born into this, they have no choice.

My best friend in college came to terms with his homosexuality, and it wasn't easy for him. He was wrought with depression, being gay was the last thing he wanted. But it is who he is. He was near suicidal as he admitted to himself who he was. And I am so proud of him for learning to be proud of himself.

All of this happened before he had ever had any kind of sexual relationship with a man or woman. But by your argument you callously refer to him as "evil".

It seems that by your argument, you think God made my friend this way as some kind of test. To love God, he should suppress his natural attraction, and pretend for an entire lifetime to be something he is not. He should be a black man pretending to be white, and we should pretend not to notice that he is black. He should marry a woman, and give to her a lifetime of unsatisfying, half-genuine affection. Or he should choose to not marry, and spend a lifetime alone, lacking the human companionship that we all require.

What kind of God would toy with a man this way? What good can come of requiring such extraordinary self-denial? If this is what your God wants, then I think the evil is in the god, not in the man.

Summon all the scriptural reference you like. None of it can convince me that the logical extension of Jesus's message to "love thy neighbor" is a crusade to deny my neighbor shared health care benefits, deny my neighbor legal protections from civil injustice, ask my neighbor to be something he is not.

It must be nice to find in all things such clean divisions of good and evil. Righteous indignation is a powerful, cleansing feeling, isn't it Travis? But it is a mirage -- real evil is very rare, real good is rare as well, and few things are as simple as this makes it seem.

Anonymous said...

Travis --
Most gay men do not choose to be gay. They are born with an attraction to men. It's not just a sexual attraction -- not just a craven lust for sodomy -- they are attracted to the same male essence that attracts heterosexual women.

For you to suggest that their choice to be gay is like my choice to turn on a computer is extremely naive. It's like saying black people choose to be black, or Pakistani people choose to be Pakistani. They are born into this, they have no choice.

My best friend in college came to terms with his homosexuality, and it wasn't easy for him. He was wrought with depression, being gay was the last thing he wanted. But it is who he is. He was near suicidal as he admitted to himself who he was. And I am so proud of him for learning to be proud of himself.

All of this happened before he had ever had any kind of sexual relationship with a man or woman. But by your argument you callously refer to him as "evil".

It seems that by your argument, you think God made my friend this way as some kind of test. To love God, he should suppress his natural attraction, and pretend for an entire lifetime to be something he is not. He should be a black man pretending to be white, and we should pretend not to notice that he is black. He should marry a woman, and give to her a lifetime of unsatisfying, half-genuine affection. Or he should choose to not marry, and spend a lifetime alone, lacking the human companionship that we all require.

What kind of God would toy with a man this way? What good can come of requiring such extraordinary self-denial? If this is what your God wants, then I think the evil is in the god, not in the man.

Summon all the scriptural reference you like. None of it can convince me that the logical extension of Jesus's message to "love thy neighbor" is a crusade to deny my neighbor shared health care benefits, deny my neighbor legal protections from civil injustice, ask my neighbor to be something he is not.

It must be nice to find in all things such clean divisions of good and evil. Righteous indignation is a powerful, cleansing feeling, isn't it Travis? But it is a mirage -- real evil is very rare, real good is rare as well, and few things are as simple as this makes it seem.