• Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) held an Albany rally on Tuesday, April 30, 2008, in favor of same-sex marriage.  ESPA’s numbers have increased significantly since last year’s rally; this indicates that advocates of the gay agenda are becoming increasingly vocal and better organized.  In fact, for the first time the attendance at ESPA’s Legislative Day was larger than New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation’s Legislative Day.  NYFRF can no longer claim title as the largest one day conference held at the Capitol.  The voice of homosexual rights advocates was greater than the collective voice of the Christian church across New York.
• In late April, a state legislator spoke with Rev. Motley and me. Though this legislator has voted in opposition to the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act or GENDA (A6584 Gottfried) in the past, he was considering voting for GENDA when it comes to the floor this time.  The legislator had heard from the transsexual community and churches back home supporting the bill, but had not heard from anyone in opposition to GENDA.  This Member of Assembly wondered where all the churches have gone.  The voice of the transgender community was greater than the collective voice of the Christian church across New York.
• Concerned Clergy for Choice and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice joined Family Planning Advocates of NYS (Planned Parenthood) in Albany on May 6, 2008. Clergy for Choice claims 1,000 members from many faiths across the state.  These were pastors and religious leaders advocating for the abortion bill known as the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, or RHAPP (S6045 Stewart-Cousins).  The voice of abortion rights advocates was greater than the collective voice of the Christian church across New York.
• As I write these words, I am on my way home from the Family Research Council’s Watchmen on the Wall conference.  The former US House Representative from Ohio, Bob McEwen, shared some frightening statistics.  The homosexual community makes up only 2.9 percent of the population, but 92 percent of their community voted in the 2006 elections.  Unfortunately only 25 percent of Evangelicals voted in the 2006 election.  The voice of the gay vote was greater than the collective voice of the Christian church across New York.

The Christian church should be following the example of the prophets in the Bible, calling the nation back to a proper relationship with God and to behavior consistent with what God commands.  When other voices declare things contrary to God’s Word, Christians must stand up and speak out, but unfortunately the Christian church across New York State and America is suffering from acute spiritual laryngitis.

 

The Christian church cannot afford to continue suffering from spiritual laryngitis, and the only cure is repentance.  The church must confess its apathy and sinful silence.  But repentance will include a change of direction.  Christian, it is vitally important that you raise your voice.  It means communicating your position on issues to your elected officials.  Make a phone call or send an e-mail to your legislators.  Meet with them in their district offices.  Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper.  Pastors, proclaim what God says about these issues from your pulpits.  The time to act is now!  There are not many weeks left in the 2008 New York State legislative session, and the most crucial votes of the session will likely be held in the next month.  You must make your position known immediately.

 

In addition, the November elections will soon be upon us.  Pay special attention the State Senate races.  They will likely determine whether or not same-sex marriage, transgender rights and public school comprehensive-sex education become the law in New York State.  If this November’s elections go wrong, expect a renewed attack on parental rights, expansion of state abortion laws, and an increase in embryonic stem cell research and even growth in the “right to die” (euthanasia) movement.

 

If the Christian church chooses to live with spiritual laryngitis today, tomorrow may be too late to speak.