My speech to the House of Representatives State Affairs committee:
The hearing can be viewed via live steaming here: http://www.idahoptv.org/
Colossians 1:9-23 (NASB)
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven…
Judges 21:25 (NASB)
In those days… everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
When humanity is zealous to support their own agenda and authority above that of God’s we become a public danger to all. When legislation is made in favor of personal desire rather than public wellness; or when we give a path to equate sinful liberty with civil equal rights we become positioned to invite the judgment of God upon us, our descendants, and the general prosperity of the land.
Rather, today, I call upon you as elected, public servants of the citizens of Idaho, appointed by the sovereign order of God, to give sober reality to this historic moment given you to be a blessing rather than a curse to all who live or hope to live in this great state. This sober reality is to submit to Jehovah God and be an agent of blessing. Better today to repent of rash oaths disguised as champions of equal rights and avoid the guilt of being wrong before God.
When law advises others to acts of pride, selfishness and idolatry it really proves a strong stubbornness and a blindness of the human mind. Legislating acts of lawful immorality is the result of the fatal effects of a conscience, under ignorance and error, and is paved with misguided hope and expectations.
I respect that not all will understand my plea to you. I mean no disrespect to anyone present. The jurisdiction of this proposed law moves dangerously beyond the jurisdiction of civic law and duty.
All citizens have equal rights already promised them by Idaho code and law. This proposed addition is really no addition at all and moves to legislation of the conscience of all and gives lawful permission to sexual deviant behavior that becomes a danger to all.
God is not confused over sexuality. God created us male and female. Will you act so arrogantly today and redefine what God has already ordered as good? There may be confusion within the mind but all created nature must submit to the Lordship of its creator. Sexual orientation and gender identity is already settled as male and female, not by you and me, but by Almighty God.
I’m not appealing to you on behalf of religious freedom or separation of church and state. This is the least of my concern… I’m appealing to you as one who has tasted the kindness of God. I’m a fellow citizen, a bond-servant under the Lordship of Christ, an ambassador of Christ’s reconciliation. My appeal is to everyone of you and everyone here today, repent of your sin and submit to the Lordship of Christ.
Equal rights law already protects male and female; don’t make law that protects acts against nature or sexually deviant behavior. This is a road that will surely not end well for any citizen in Idaho, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It is a law that will make a mockery of all things created and an offense to the Lord of creation.
In arrogance some may say, “if God be for us, who can be against us” but listen, if God be against us, it will no longer matter who is for us.
Thank you for hearing from all of us today.