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AFA Radio Host Calls For Legal Sanctions On Homosexuals
Bryan Fischer, a radio host for American Family Association, says it is biblical to impose the same legal sanctions on homosexuals that are imposed on intravenous drug abusers. Fischer reasons that if society believes an IV drug abuser needs to be put into an effective detox program, then the same should be done for practicing homosexuals. Fischer’s suggestion of imposing reparative therapy on practicing gays is based on I Timothy 1:8-11.
In a response to a complaining listener, he writes:
Thanks for writing me about my comments on my program regarding homosexuality.
It might be worth noting that what I actually suggested is that we impose the same sanctions on those who engage in homosexual behavior as we do on those who engage in intravenous drug abuse, since both pose the same kind of risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. I’d be curious to know what you think should be done with IV drug abusers, because whatever it is, I think the same response should be made to those who engage in homosexual behavior.
If you believe that what drug abusers need is to go into an effective detox program, then we should likewise put active homosexuals through an effective reparative therapy program.
Secondly, I’m afraid you’re simply wrong about the Bible’s perspective on the law and homosexuality.
Paul lists quite explicitly in 1 Timothy 1:8-11 the actions and behaviors that are the proper concern of the law:
“Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine…”
The bottom line here is that, biblically, those “who practice homosexuality” should come under the purview of the law just as much as those who take people captive in order to sell them into slavery.
You express a belief in the Scriptures, and I trust your confidence in Scripture is not selective. If you believe all Scripture is inspired, then you are compelled to accept that legal sanctions may appropriately be applied to those who engage in homosexual behavior.
Thank you for contacting us, and I hope this response will help you think in a thorough and biblical way about this important social issue.
Bryan Fischer
Host, “Focal Point” radio program on AFR Talk, a division of the American Family Association
Fischer, who was formerly the director for the Idaho Values Alliance (an affiliate of the AFA) also called for a ban on Muslims in the U.S. military in November 2009.
Related Post:
Christianity and the Constitution: Legislating Morality
“says it is biblical to impose the same legal sanctions on homosexuals that are imposed on intravenous drug abusers.”
Luckily, even if he is correct, the laws of the U.S. aren’t based on the Bible.
So, we are to form a theocracy? legislate morality?
Law for whom the christian, the society and biblical vs. governmental law. Clearly this is biblical DOCTRINE for believers.
Christ NEVER mentioned imposing biblical morality upon the government of Rome. Despite Rome’s blatant immorality, slavery, abusive death (think cross) etc. Should we not clean our house so as to be a light, versus demanding they become like us? I find this harmful to the body of Christ .
Paul, when in Rome addressed what? the social,political and moral wrongs of the society? NO, he gave us the proof of the superiority of Christ.
Spot on Hans, and I tend to agree with you. And yet
he has a point. I Tim. 1:9 does say law (moral, to restrain crimes, inflict punishment on those who commit them) is for the anomois, the unlawful, who are neither bound nor acknowledge existence of any law, and whose morality and behavior reflect that belief.
Here’s what hendriksen says:
The law, then, was laid down for lawless and insubordinate, for ungodly and sinful persons, in order that it might shake them to the very depths of their being, might frighten them out of whatever self-complacency remained in them. It was enacted to make the disturbed even more disturbed so that they would cry out in self-despair,…….”
How do you view I Tim 1:9? Law is for the restraining of sin, and homosexuality is sin, therefore…? – JT
An observation: ALL laws are attempts at legislating morality, as they are all based on a moral code. Thou shalt not murder, etc. The question for each country is to determine what laws to pass, without trying to falsely divide them between “moral issues” and “all others”.
“So, we are to form a theocracy? legislate morality?”
If one wants to enforce biblical law, then they should form a theocracy with their particular translation/interpretation of the Bible as the founding document, yes.
All civil laws in the US stem from the Judeo-Christian code of law. I suppose in that sense we have already formed a theocracy and we already legislate morality. I cannot kill my neighbor and take all of his stuff so therefore I have a moral code being enforced against me…
If I was inclined to do such things then I would have morality enforced upon me under the threat of arrest and imprisonment. That is what law does.
The better question is how far do we go and stay within the code of law already accepted under our form of civil law. Homosexuality and other deviant lifestyles (my opinion) are heavily lobbied for. They have political clout so they can avoid what Mr. Fischer suggests.
Remember back to the early to mid 80s. Some health professionals suggested quarantining Homos (temporarily) as a method to fight the spread of AIDS. They were clamped down and virtually discredited even though they were telling the exact truth. This would have been one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of AIDS at that time because not much was known about it except that IV druggies and male homo/bisexuals were affected and were carriers.
I am not sure that Mr. Fischer is wrong but I know he is not PC… I will use the recent H1N1 scare as a point of proof. There were serious plans to quarantine people who had contracted H1N1 if a pandemic broke out. How was AIDS in the early/mid 80s any different? Very transmittable and virtually unknown… There was no opposition to protecting the US against H1N1 but there was heavy resistance to doing anything to attach a stigma to the homosexual lifestyle … Si or no?
T.
Very ‘si’, and for the record, I’m one of those guys who does think you can legislate morality
“laws in the US stem from the Judeo-Christian code of law”
Except for that whole freedom of religion thing.
And no slavery.
And no killing, even if you claim a deity told you to do it.
And we can work on the Sabbath.
And we don’t have to keep our heads covered.
And it’s legal to lie except in very specific circumstances.
And respecting ones’ parents is in no way absolute.
Shall I go on?
No, there’s no need for you to go on friend. As an atheist, you’ve made your position clear. But the laws in the US do, in fact, stem from the Scriptures, and in light of those Scriptures, you err greatly. – JT
“But the laws in the US do, in fact, stem from the Scriptures”
And yet I’ve showed you where they do not. Even of the 10 Commandments, only 3 have any equivalent in our laws. And those three have origins in human society long before Judaism ever existed.
Joel,
Yes, we can and do legislate morality and we must.
morsecode,
No, You did not show us where they are not… and BTW God existed long before Judiasm, the 10 Commandments, or the earth for that matter. Thanks for discussing. You are more than entitled to your opinion. I do not wish to stifle you, only to convert you to Christianity.
Morse, I choose not to believe in gravity because it is too confining upon my will to enjoy my life. However, gravity does not care whether I approve of it or not. I have to struggle to raise each foot to walk the same as you. You know this is true of gravity. What if it is true about God and his word (Bible)? Usted es en muy problemos, no? Newton did not create gravity, God did. God also wrote His book. We had best all take heed of it. 300+ prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ Himself. Where has this type of track record been proven wrong?
T.
JT,
Legislating from a persons morality is right, to be otherwise is to be a liar. My take on I Tim 1:9 is to use the law to bring all men into conformity with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans makes it clear that law to change men is useless and futile, only a heart change, becoming a new person in Christ can make us desire the things of Christ.
I am against the “USA is a Christian Nation” and christians wrapping political views in the flag. THen the message of Christ can be discounted because of politics?! Never. A nations of Christians? But if we were as Barna says 86% christian, how can we have abortion as law? It is because we are a nation of false christians, “having the appearance of godliness”. Better to be small and sold out,then to be big and believe a lie.
Romans 13 is clear that the civil governors are servants of God (v. 4). He is, in fact, “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
That does not imply a theocracy as some would have it…rather it directs us to acknowledge that God is sovereign over everything, not just the Church but also the State. Certainly the Church and State are distinct from a biblical perspective, but this distinction does not mean that the State is free from God’s control. The distinction keeps the Church from bearing the sword and it keeps the State from administering the sacraments (as examples), but it does not relegate either to be outside of the authority of God.