VAC Luncheon Review

Volume 1. Issue 6, July 2008

The bimonthly luncheon meeting of the Values Advocacy Council was held on July 15th at Home Church in Campbell.

The David Barton video from “Watchmen on the Wall” in Washington, D.C. was shown concerning the historic and current role of Christians in society. Excerpts from another video from Focus on the Family “Why not gay marriage?” was also shown. Dr. Charlie Self and Neil Mammen both spoke on the social implications of homosexual marriage in society and ways to reply to those who aren’t Christians. They want us to be able to discuss this intelligently with our family, friends, and coworkers at the water cooler in a way that we can communicate our traditional view of marriage without being anti-homosexual. We will prevail in November if we are for marriage; not anti-homosexual. Our conversation must remain positive; reflecting Christ’s love. 

Larry Pegram
President

The Marriage Amendment (Proposition 8) would change our State Constitution by defining marriage as between a man and a woman. This Constitutional Amendment will take the issue away from the legislature, the governor, and the courts. If Proposition 8 does not pass, since the California Supreme Court voted on May 15th to allow homosexual marriages, pastors might be required to marry homosexuals. In the future, churches not complying with this mandate could well lose their property tax exempt status.

Larry stressed the importance of working together to pass the Marriage Amendment in November!

100 DAY BLITZ

~ Register 5,000 new voters in churches for November election in Santa Clara County.

During a Sunday service you may experience the “5 Minute Miracle”. The DVD on the “5 Minute Miracle” is available from our office. Simply stated, the pastor has all who are registered to vote stand. Then, Voter Registration forms are passed to those sitting, until all are registered and are standing. Registering those sitting in the pews on Sunday morning would have a significant impact on our November election!

Considering that only 2-3% of men/women are gay or lesbians, not the 10% that the Kinsey Report stated.  Research has shown that over 90% of gay and lesbian individuals voted in the 2006 election.  If 90% of all those sitting in church on Sunday morning were registered to vote and then voted, think of the huge impact this would have on the future of our nation!

Please contact us to help with voter registration in your church!

A video featuring David Barton, founder and president of Wall Builders (www.wallbuilders.com) was viewed, David spoke at the 2008 Watchmen on the Wall Conference sponsored by Family Research Council (www.watchmenevents.org). He talked about the role of pastors in early American life.

In 1816, John Adams was asked, "Who was responsible for the American revolution?" He replied, “The Reverends were responsible.” They first preached on the various issues which eventually became the 27 grievances in the Declaration of Independence. He said, “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.”

In early America, ministers were not separated out of public life, but were a dynamic force in speaking out on moral and ethical issues. The founding fathers believed that religion and morality led to prosperity. Barton quoted Patrick Henry, the first governor of Virginia as saying, "The great pillars of all government are virtue, morality, and religion." George Washington also said that religion and morality were needed for a society to prosper.

In 1803 the Rev. Mathis Burnet addressed the opening session of the Connecticut legislature. The Governor, Connecticut Supreme Court Justices and both houses of the Legislature were in attendance. He spoke of the great biblical legislators who were to be models for those making laws–Moses, Nehemiah, David, and Daniel. Then he spoke to those in the gallery and said, “To God and posterity you are accountable for rights and rules.” We are responsible to God and our posterity for the future of our nation and our culture. Will we be proud of the legacy we will leave for the next generation and the generations that follow?

Barton also asked, “Who do our government officials represent? They do not represent the will or mood of the people, they only represent those who voted in the last election.” In a free society, it is alarming that a declining number of people (Including evangelicals) take the time to vote for their leaders. In 2,000, for example, there were 60 million evangelical voters in the United States. Only 15 million voted! In 2004, we improved. 28.9 million evangelicals voted, but 24 million evangelicals were not even registered to vote! See Barton’s white paper for additional, startling information. If we as Christians wonder how we are in the situation we are in, we only need look at the number of Christians who vote.

Barton read two verses that give us guidance:

The choices we make in this next election are critical. Since four of the Supreme Court justices are 70 or older, the next president may be appointing one or more judges!

Dr. Charles Self, “Dr. History” on KSFO, seminary teacher at Bethany Bible College and Pastor, opened by talking about our nation’s economy. He said that the last balanced budget was in1967. In one generation, the deficit has gone from $1 trillion to $9 trillion (that’s $9,000,000,000,000!) Again the question, “When will we become responsible citizens concerned about the legacy we leave for our children and grandchildren?

He also stated that marriage is about having children so the species can continue. Children need a mom and a dad.

When a gay person comes out of the closet, many cheer. The irony is that if a licensed counselor talks with a gay person on how to become straight, the counselor may lose his/her license!

Do we and can we legislate morality? We’ve already said that murder and child abuse is a crime. That’s a moral judgment. All laws are based on some moral standard. Laws are predicated on the belief that “what exceeds the boundaries of what is good and healthy” should be forbidden.

During the last 40 years we have seen government giving more and more freedoms to people. Liberalism exhorts “government to give you whatever you want.” Government then gains greater control over our lives. We are at a great crossroads. Thomas Hobbs said that people are savages and that their passions need to be limited. John Locke said that government should protect people’s rights. Our country will survive when we secure liberties based on Biblical responsibility, morality, and truth; not on the passage of more criminal laws that use punishment as the tool to ensure proper behavior.

Neil Mammen addressed how to discuss the Marriage Amendment, especially with those who won’t appreciate your Bible quotes. He asked, “If a Hindu says you shouldn’t eat meat because it says it in the Bhagavad-Gita (their religious book) would you stop eating meat?” Neither will an unbeliever want to hear you support your views based on your religious book. Instead, have a teachable attitude and use facts that result from various studies:

If you want to read Neil’s thought provoking paper with his six points along with his answers to various objections people might raise, you may read the rest of his paper. For more information on Neil Mammen and Stormwind Ministries go to www.stormwindministries.com.

The video titled “Why not Gay Marriage?” with Dr. Glen Stanton produced by Focus on the Family was previewed. You can purchase this video at http://resources.family.org/product/f00426k.do.

The Ten Questions asked and answered are:

PORNOGRAPHY FILTER UPDATE!

The Values Advocacy Council is continuing to work with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Pete Constant to pass a policy to place internet filters on the computers in the San Jose Public Library System. The proposed policy, based upon the policy that has been in place in Phoenix since 2005, will be voted upon by the San Jose City Council in late September.

Your help is needed to let the Council members know your views! We will notify you will information on how you can fax, email, write, and telephone the Mayor and Council members to express your opinion in early September.

The City Council members need to hear from you before the vote. More later, as we get closer to the vote!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Currently, polls show that 53-54% of the registered voters in California will vote for Proposition 8. (Don’t believe the Field Poll.) Only 48% of the registered voters in Santa Clara County currently plan to vote for Proposition 8. Our goal is to increase the vote for Proposition 8 to 52.5% in our county.

We have created a “grass roots” plan to increase the number of registered voters supporting Proposition 8. Our 100 Day Blitz for Marriage will focus on engaging Values Voters between now and November 4th, by registering the unregistered, informing them of the issues, and ensuring that they vote on or before November 4th.

You can help by contributing to the $50,000 “War Chest” we needed here in the valley, posting lawn signs, walking a precinct, helping at Headquarters, and hosting a “coffee klatch”. Click here to volunteer.

The VAC Action Values Voter Guide will be distributed to 30,000 households in hard copy and 10,000 households by email. To help this effort with a generous, tax deductible gift, click here.

With each of us doing our part, we can keep marriage as God intended…between a man and a woman.

-- Contributed by Wanda Puder --

Questions or comments?
E-mail us at contact@vac.org or call 408-267-0800