{"id":55526,"date":"2019-06-22T07:45:37","date_gmt":"2019-06-22T15:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=55526"},"modified":"2019-07-11T03:56:45","modified_gmt":"2019-07-11T11:56:45","slug":"the-state-of-california-claims-it-knows-things-that-the-bible-says-it-cannot-with-acr-99","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/doctrine\/the-state-of-california-claims-it-knows-things-that-the-bible-says-it-cannot-with-acr-99\/","title":{"rendered":"The State of California claims it knows things that the Bible says it cannot with ACR-99"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThe Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

The legislative information website of the State of California has the following on one of its pages (https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200ACR99<\/a>) today.<\/p>\n

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Amended \u00a0IN\u00a0 Assembly \u00a0June\u00a024,\u00a02019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE\u2014 2019\u20132020 REGULAR SESSION<\/span><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assembly Concurrent Resolution <\/b><\/td>\nNo. 99<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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 <\/p>\n

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Introduced by Assembly Member Low
\n(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Cervantes, Eggman, and Gloria)
\n(Principal coauthors: Senators Atkins, Galgiani, and Wiener)
\n(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Bauer-Kahan, Bloom, Boerner\u00a0Horvath, Bonta, Burke, Calderon, Carrillo, Chiu, Chu, Friedman, Gabriel, Cristina\u00a0Garcia, Gipson, Gonzalez, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O\u2019Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Luz\u00a0Rivas, Robert\u00a0Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca\u00a0Rubio, Smith, Mark\u00a0Stone, Ting, Wicks, and Wood)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
June\u00a004,\u00a02019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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 <\/p>\n

Relative to civil rights.<\/div>\n



<\/p>\n

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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
ACR 99, as amended, Low. Civil rights: lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people.<\/span><\/div>\n
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This measure would call upon all Californians to embrace the individual and social benefits of family and community acceptance, upon religious leaders with conviction<\/span><\/span> to counsel on LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> matters from a place of love, compassion, and knowledge of the psychological and other harms of conversion therapy, and on<\/span><\/span> upon<\/i><\/span> the people of California and the institutions of California with great moral influence to model equitable treatment of all people of the state.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Digest Key<\/h2>\n

Fiscal Committee: NO\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bill Text<\/h2>\n
WHEREAS, The California State Legislature has found that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)<\/span><\/span> (LGBTQ)<\/i><\/span> is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Major professional associations of mental and physical health recognize that being LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> is part of natural variations that occur in sexual orientation and gender identity, and recommend responsive services that foster self-acceptance and skills to cope with social stigma and discrimination; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Practices or therapies that attempt to create a change in a person\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity are often referred to as conversion therapy; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Some family, caregivers, and communities promote conversion therapy when a person is known or thought to be LGBT;<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ;<\/i><\/span> and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, California law recognizes that performing conversion therapy on young persons is ineffective, unethical, and harmful; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Conversion therapy has been rejected as ineffective, unethical, and harmful by leading medical, mental health, and child welfare organizations in the United States; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, The stigma associated with being LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> often created by groups in society, including therapists and religious groups, has caused disproportionately high rates of suicide, attempted suicide, depression, rejection, and isolation amongst LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> and questioning individuals; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, The State of California has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBT<\/i><\/span>Q<\/i><\/span> youth, and in protecting its minors against exposure to serious harms caused by family rejection and attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, In a pluralistic society, people differing along spectrums of political and religious perspectives share a common responsibility of protecting the health and well-being of all children and vulnerable communities; now, therefore, be it<\/div>\n
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature calls upon all Californians to embrace the individual and social benefits of family and community acceptance; and be it further<\/div>\n
Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon religious leaders with conviction<\/span><\/span> to counsel on LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> matters from a place of love, compassion, and knowledge of the psychological and other harms of conversion therapy; and be it further<\/div>\n
Resolved, That in addressing the stigma often associated with persons who identify as LGBT,<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ,<\/i><\/span> we call on the people of California\u2013especially its counselors, pastors, religious workers, educators, and legislators\u2013and the institutions of California with great moral influence\u2013especially its churches, universities, colleges, and other schools, counseling centers, activist groups, and religious centers\u2013to model equitable treatment of all people of the state; and be it further<\/div>\n
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Let’s look at the first of these statements along with scripture:<\/p>\n

WHEREAS, The California State Legislature has found that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)<\/span><\/span> (LGBTQ)<\/i><\/span> is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming; and<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Bible teaches:<\/p>\n

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24<\/span> Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, <\/span>25<\/span> who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. <\/span><\/div>\n
26<\/span> For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. <\/span>27<\/span> Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Romans 1:24-26)
\n<\/span><\/div>\n

22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.\u00a0 (Leviticus 18:22)<\/p>\n

13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. (Leviticus 20:13)<\/p>\n

5 A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman\u2019s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, for each of those LGBTQ categories, the Bible condemns them as an abomination.<\/p>\n

Now, let’s look at the next set:<\/p>\n

\n
WHEREAS, Major professional associations of mental and physical health recognize that being LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> is part of natural variations that occur in sexual orientation and gender identity, and recommend responsive services that foster self-acceptance and skills to cope with social stigma and discrimination; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Practices or therapies that attempt to create a change in a person\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity are often referred to as conversion therapy; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Some family, caregivers, and communities promote conversion therapy when a person is known or thought to be LGBT;<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ;<\/i><\/span> and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, California law recognizes that performing conversion therapy on young persons is ineffective, unethical, and harmful; and<\/div>\n
WHEREAS, Conversion therapy has been rejected as ineffective, unethical, and harmful by leading medical, mental health, and child welfare organizations in the United States; and<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Bible clearly teaches that those who have been homosexuals can change:<\/p>\n

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13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)<\/p>\n

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)<\/p>\n

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:5-10, NIV)<\/p>\n

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Notice that homosexuals (which includes lesbians), sodomites (male homosexuals), fornicators, and adulterers will NOT inherit the kingdom of God, as is. But that they can be washed and sanctified in Jesus. Hence, the Bible does not agree with those who claim that homosexuals cannot change.<\/p>\n

The Bible also teaches:<\/p>\n

4 … Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

ACR-99 then teaches:<\/p>\n

WHEREAS, The stigma associated with being LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> often created by groups in society, including therapists and religious groups, has caused disproportionately high rates of suicide, attempted suicide, depression, rejection, and isolation amongst LGBT<\/span><\/span> LGBTQ<\/i><\/span> and questioning individuals; and<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now, basically what ACR-99 says here is that the reason that there is a lot of suicide among the LGBTQ crowd is that religious views create stigmas which cause suicide. Well, the Bible also says that lying, adultery, idolatry, etc. are also sinful–and there are societal stigmas associated with two of those–but that does not seem to result in massively increased suicides for liars, adulterers, idolators, etc.<\/p>\n

Anyway, yes, the LGBTQ crowd has a greater risk of suicide and other problems:<\/p>\n

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Greater Risk for Suicide.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0A study of twins that examined the relationship between homosexuality and suicide, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry<\/em>,found that homosexuals with same-sex partners were at greater risk for overall mental health problems, and were 6.5 times more likely than their twins to have attempted suicide. The higher rate was not attributable to mental health or substance abuse disorders.[75]<\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Another study published simultaneously in Archives of General Psychiatry <\/em>followed 1,007 individuals from birth. Those classified as \u201cgay,\u201d lesbian, or bisexual were significantly more likely to have had mental health problems<\/p>\n

Reduced Life Span.<\/strong> A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology<\/em> on the mortality rates of homosexuals concluded that they have a significantly reduced life expectancy:<\/p>\n

In a major Canadian centre, life expectancy at age twenty for gay and bisexual men is eight to twenty years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged twenty years will not reach their sixty-fifth birthday. Under even the most liberal assumptions, gay and bisexual men in this urban centre are now experiencing a life expectancy similar to that experienced by all men in Canada in the year 1871.\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.frc.org\/get.cfm?i=Is01B1)<\/p>\n

Shortened Life Span<\/strong><\/p>\n

The greater incidence of physical and mental health problems among gays and lesbians has serious consequences for length of life. While many are aware of the death toll from AIDS, there has been little public attention given to the magnitude of the lost years of life\u2026<\/p>\n

First, HIV\/AIDS is underreported by as much as 15-20 percent, so it is likely that not all AIDSrelated deaths were accounted for in the study.96 Second, there are additional major causes of death related to gay sex. For example, suicide rates among a San Francisco cohort were 3.4 times higher than the general U.S. male population in 1987.97 Other potentially fatal ailments such as syphilis, anal cancer, and Hepatitis B and C also affect gay and bisexual men disproportionately.98 (http:\/\/www.catholiceducation.org\/articles\/homosexuality\/ho0075.html)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite the high risk of disease and shorter life span likelihoods, the homosexual population likes to refer to itself as \u201cgay\u201d a term suggesting carefree and happy. Studies, however, do not support that conclusion about homosexuals.<\/p>\n

Consider also:<\/p>\n