Yesterday I spoke with a friend in the U.K.... up Manchester way, to be more specific. He told me the following story, illustrative of how terribly far Christendom has fallen.
Jim described the huge "celebration" of the homosexual and transgendered called Manchester Pride, a late summer event that draws thousands to its music performances, parade, sports activities, seminars, and more. He explained that he needed to go to an art store in Manchester near where these activities were taking place. So, being a biblical Christian with experience in "gentle persuasion" (Jim is a pro-life activist and former teacher), he made a small placard to carry while he made his way to the shop.
The small sign read,
"Jesus Forgives Sinners, Making Them Glad, Not Gay."
He hadn't walked but a few steps with this message, however, before a policeman approached him and gruffly told Jim to lose the sign or he would be taken to jail. Jim was told that the message on his placard had offended some. Jim asked, "When hasn't a placard offended someone? Yet carrying such signs is a historic and quite legal activity."
The policeman, now joined by others, simply repeated his demand. Hide the sign or be arrested.
Jim couldn't help but see the tragic irony of this situation; namely, that while crowds of people whose attire (or lack thereof), physical actions, banners, music lyrics, etc. all promoted sexual perversions that most of the world finds very offensive, only the Christian position was singled out as being illegal.
This is the one-way nature of tolerance so boldly demanded by the Left...a bullying insistence on its own way that is increasingly supported by media, courts, and even the once-honorable profession of police officers.
Tolerance. It's the watchword of the age.
But its practical effect is simply intolerance towards religious values... the very values that brought light, security and true compassion to Western culture. And this hatred of religious values (rooted, of course, in Christianity) will most certainly bring destruction, both individual and corporate.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." (Romans 1:18-19)
