Homosexuality, Abortion, and Martin Luther King
By Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr.
Nationwide (June 13, 2011) -- One of the more fascinating exchanges in Scripture which depicts the contemporary decorum of debate in our present-day culture is clearly seen when Jesus confronted and debated the pharisaical religious order of His day. John the 8th Chapter illuminates the problem when there is debate with those who are in denial of their condition. The religious elite had no intention of trying to find the truth. These bigots often masqueraded in deception and majored in misinformation deceiving the uninitiated. Jesus began a discussion about being enslaved to sin and it caused the depth of the problem to surface. Their reply to our Lord's lesson is recorded in John 8:33 when they said, "We have never been in bondage to any man!" Yes, they had become so consumed in their own maliciousness and chicanery, they lost sight of reality, and were living in denial believing their own press releases.
The Roman Empire had been occupying and subjugating Israel for multiple years along with the religious elite. They were enslaved to man outwardly and sin inwardly and blind to both. Certainly at that point, Jesus saw the futility of trying to reach that audience with truth, yet out of compassion he persisted. The elites were determined to twist and malign the facts to accommodate their lifestyle, though in error. They lived in a vacuum of denial refusing to see the obvious. When truth is ignored, or denied, the course often taken by those in denial is to first obfuscate, then defame, diminish, and finally denounce the messenger. This crowd resorted to using the "N-word" of that day: "Samaritan", and even went so far as declaring that Jesus was the devil. Sound familiar?
It is similar today, for instead of examining the data, this generation's elites combat truth with ideology, character assassination, deception, and of course, denial. The two defining issues of the day which will determine the course of our culture, and the destiny of our nation, are abortion and homosexuality... Pro-choice, and homosexual and lesbian activists, all claim their cause is a Civil Rights issue. Yet the "Civil Rights" of the unborn children are being denied, and it is intellectually dishonest to claim a "right" for yourself, and by so doing, deny the rights of someone else, especially when that someone is an unborn infant. These individuals are completely wrong because you do not give Civil Rights to sexual orientation because your sexual orientation could be flawed. "Civil Rights" are based on "Birth Rights," and according to the APA, homosexuality and lesbianism is an acquired behavior, not something like the color of your skin - something you're born with. You were not born homosexual, so sexual preference is not a Civil Right - it's a preference.
What probably grieves me the most is that they both claim Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King as an icon for their cause, when essentially nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. King was a chief facilitator of the Civil Rights Movement, and by his death at the hand of an assassin, paid the ultimate price for his cause. Freeing African-Americans from centuries of slavery, bigotry and racism, does not equate with sexual preference, and so in some ways, Dr. King's writings are more relevant, imperative, and apropos today than when he first penned them decades ago. Like any true Prophet of God, he is and was before his time, yet his words - transcending time - speak loudly and clearly to us today. The pimping of Dr. King by the racist abortion industry and by homosexual and lesbian activists, needs to cease. But since you admire him so much, and like to invoke his name so often, perhaps you might also adhere to his counsel. Below are some excerpts from Dr. King's 1957-1958 monthly advice columns for "Ebony Magazine" on the two defining issues of this present day: Abortion and Homosexuality. I know there will be those - like the pharisaical religious elite of Jesus' day - who will continue in their state of denial, rejecting the obvious, but for those of you who objectively look at this interview, perhaps it will subjectively help you decide what is right and what is wrong.
Dr. Martin Luther King On Parenting
QUESTION: I was in a home the other day where a three (3) year old child read the riot act to his mother. The mother took it with a sheepish smile. This, I am told, is permissiveness. It seems to me that what modern children need is a large dose of parental permissiveness applied to their backsides. Do you agree?
MLK: It is quite true that many modern parents go too far in allowing their children to express themselves with hardly a modicum of discipline... This almost "lunatic fringe" of modern child care has been responsible for most strange and fantastic methods of child rearing in many American homes... The child must realize that there are rules of the game which he did not make and that he cannot break with impunity.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Premarital Sex
QUESTION: I was raised in a Christian environment. My father placed great stress on premarital virginity. I am 29. Of late, I have begun to doubt the validity of his teaching. Is he right?
MLK: I think you should hold firm to the principle of premarital virginity. The problems created by premarital sex relationships are far greater than the problems created by premarital virginity. The suspicion, fears, and guilt feelings generated by premarital sex relations are contributing factors to the present breakdown of the family. Real men still respect purity and virginity within women. If a man breaks a relationship with you because you would not allow him to participate in the sexual act, you can be assured that he did not love you from the beginning.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Homosexuality
QUESTION: My problem is different from the ones most people have. I am a boy, but I feel about boys the way I ought to feel about girls. I don't want my parents to know about me. What can I do?
MLK: Your problem is not at all an uncommon one. However, it does require careful attention. The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired... You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Abortion
QUESTION: About two years ago, I was going with a young lady who became pregnant. I refused to marry her. As a result, I was directly responsible for a crime. It was not until a month later that I realized the awful thing I had done. I begged her to forgive me, to come back, but she has not answered my letters. The thing stays on my mind. What can I do? I have prayed for forgiveness.
MLK: You have made a mistake... One can never rectify a mistake until he admits that a mistake has been made. Now that you have prayed for forgiveness and acknowledged your mistake, you must turn your vision to the future... Now that you have repented, don't concentrate on what you failed to do in the past, but what you are determined to do in the future."
To the seekers of truth in this ongoing debate, I pray you can perceive through his words and feel the spirit of Dr. King and know how he stood on these present-day issues. The iconic use of Dr. King as an advocate for true social justice is as appropriate as the Son speaking on the behalf of his Father. But to attempt to do the same for abortion and homosexual rights, is as using Mahalia Jackson as the voice of hip hop; the fire-breathing Abolitionist, John Brown, as the face of the pacifist anti-war movement; proclaiming Marion Anderson mentored Snooki; or portraying Barack Obama, as a Constitutional Conservative.
It's pure deception!
Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr is the senior pastor of the New Calvary Baptist Church.
PRESS CONTACT:
Cleanard Childress Jr.
revchildressjr@aol.com
973-783-7150
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