The following is from our friends at American Family Association -- with 'friends' like this, who needs enemies?

ACTION LETTER

DONALD E. WILDMON, President
AMERICAN Family AssociATiON

Dear AFA friend,

There is a battle going on in our country! And it is going to affect you, your children and your grandchildrenl I hope, if for no other reason, you will get involved.

A few weeks ago I received a letter from a supporter who wrote that AFA was spending too much energy and ink opposing the gay movement. He also charged that we are too harsh on homosexuals.

Naturally, my first inclination was to defend AFA. However the letter made me consider that maybe it was time to rethink our position on the issue. I wanted to make sure that our attitudes and actions were in accord with scripture and maintained the honor of Christ.

The result is the list of guiding principles found later in this letter. I want you to read them carefully. Then let me know what you think by returning the enclosed opinion survey.

But first, please let me give you a little history of AFA's opposition to the gay movement.

Around the time I began this ministry in 1977, gay rights supporters in the secular media began openly promoting homosexual behavior as morally equivalent to heterosexual relationships.

One of the very first fights in which your AFA engaged was over NBC's "Love Sydney," a show which featured actor Tony Randall as a gay man. This was the first network TV show that featured a homosexual as the leading character. Of course today openly gay prime-time characters are common on network TV. Disney/ABC's infamous "Ellen" is just one example.

During the lifetime of AFA, the movement to normalize homosexual behavior has exploded on the American scene. Gay activists have captured the support of politicians, educational leaders, entertainment/media elite, businesses and sadly, many of our church leaders.

I never dreamed I would see the day when sodomy would be called normal, and those who held to traditional values based on Christian teaching would be called bigots.

Today, if you publicly oppose homosexuality - even with reason, humility and mercy - you can expect to be ridiculed or censored by the liberal media and the cultural elites.

Remember what happened to pro football star Reggie White earlier this spring? Now Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is being attacked from all quarters for his comments on a recent radio talk show. When asked if he thought homosexuality was sinful, he said:

"Yeah, it is.... You should still love that person. You should not try and mistreat them or treat them as outcasts. You should try and show them a way to deal with that problem, just like alcohol ... or sex addiction ... or kleptomaniacs."

" There are kinds of problems, addictions, difficulties, experiences of things that are wrong, but you should try to work with that person to learn to control that problem."

You would have thought Sen. Lott was Adolph Hitler the way the media and gay advocacy groups jumped on him.

Another example: About two months ago AFA learned that our Internet web site had been blocked by CyberPatrol, the most popular Internet filtering software, on the grounds of "intolerance" for our opposition to the gay movement. The category was previously reserved for Nazis and Klansmen.

One report observed that the makers of CyberPatrol obviously believe "young minds ... need to be protected from the heinous, shocking ideas of moral conservatives." Meanwhile, CyberPatrol users have full access to Internet sites run by various gay-rights groups.

Columnist Cal Thomas predicted in the late 1980s that homosexuality would be the preeminent moral question Americans would debate in the '90s. As we near the end of this decade it seems Cal was right.

The issue is huge and willcertainly touch the life of every American citizen parent, businessman, student, clergy, professional and laborer. I believe those of us who care about the moral future of our culture must be ready to thoughtfully and Biblically give a defense for our opposition.

Below I have outlined principles that guide AFA's attitude and actions in opposing the normalization of homosexuality in our society. I hope these are helpful to you, honoring to Christ and compassionate toward those who want help.

These are working principles and subject to being refined and restated. That's why I want your input. So don't forget to complete and return the enclosed survey. We will publish the results in an upcoming mailing.

PRINCIPLES WHICH GUIDE AFA'S OPPOSITION TO THE GAY AGENDA 1. The scripture declares that homosexuality is unnatural and sinful. It is a sin grievous to God and repulsive to Christians because it rejects God's design for mankind as heterosexual beings. 2. Though there may be many influences in a person's life, the root of homosexuality is a sinful heart. Therefore, homosexuals have only one hope of being reconciled to God and rejecting their sinful behavior - faith in Jesus Christ alone. AFA seeks to use every opportunity to promote and encourage the efforts of ex-gay ministries and organizations. 3. It is the duty of individual Christians and Christ's Church corporately to bring the gospel to homosexuals and to speak out against the acceptance of sin in our culture. 4. We oppose the gay movement's efforts to convince our society that their behavior is normal because we fear the judgment of God on our nation. S. The gay movement is a progressive outgrowth of the sexual revolution of the past 40 years and will lead to the normalization of even more deviant behavior. 6. The gay movement's promotion of same-sex marriage undermines the God-ordained institution of marriage and family which is the foundation of all societies. 7. We oppose the efforts of the gay movement to force its agenda in education, government, business and the workplace through law, public policy and the media. Our strong opposition is a reasoned response to the gay movement's aggressive strategies. 8. We oppose the effort to convince our culture that because individuals participate in homosexual behavior, they have earned the right to be protected like racial and other minority groups. 9. While we are resolute in our opposition to the gay movement, we recognize the importance of maintaining Christian integrity in all our efforts. By God's grace we will reject the temptation to become bitter or hateful in our words or actions. 10. Finally, we seek faithfulness more than victory. We work with the confidence that the one true Sovereign God of the Bible will fulfill His purposes.

There is so much more that could be said about the impact, influence and power of the gay movement. But right now it's enough to say that this issue is a main battle front in the war for the soul of America. And, honestly, we are losing.

But let me make something clear, if I haven't already. AFA's opposition is a political and social opposition. While we want to encourage individual Christians and the Church to take the claims of Christ to all people, including homosexuals, we want to be careful to uphold the dignity and worth of each person. We are not fighting against individuals, but against a movement that wants to force our society to believe that evil is good and good is evil.

The truth is, if homosexuals lived quiet and private lives, not desperately seeking to have society affirm their behavior, AFA would not be in this fight. There wouldn't be an issue for AFA to oppose.

But because gay activists are "tak:ing it to the streets," we will meet them with opposition, not with a mean spirit, but a confident resolve that we are standing for God's truth.

I want your opinion. Please complete the enclosed survey and return it. And please send a generous gift of $20, $50, $100 or more to help us win this battle. Your financial support allows us to continue the fight on behalf of our children and grandchildren!

You were once an active supporter of AFA and I ask you to get back in the battle. We need you in the battle for your children and grandchildren. Believe me, those pushing the radical homosexual agenda have plans for your children and grandchildren. If we lose, they lose.

Please respond today. And be sure to mail the card to Sen. Lott (better yet, write him a personal letter).

Please return the survey today along with a generous tax-deductible donation. Thanks and God bless you!

In Christ,

Don

PS: Even if you can't send a gift, please complete the enclosed survey and it in the postage paid envelope. Then, sign and mail the postcard to Sen. Lott. he needs your encouragement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Gay movement opinion survey

Please "X" the square that most closely reflects your opinion on each statement.

DISAGREE - AGREE

Homosexuality is unnatural and sinful.

Homosexuals, like all people, need Christ.

Christians should take the gospel to homosexuals.

Christians should speak out against the normalization of homosexual behavior in our society.

God could judge our nation for its approval of immorality.

Society's approval of homosexuality will lead to the normalization of even more deviant behavior.

The gay movement's promotion of same-sex marriage undermines the God-ordained institutions of marriage and family.

I oppose the gay movement's attempt to force the acceptance of homosexuality in education, government, business and other institutions.

Homosexuals should be considered a protected class of citizenry, similar to racial minority groups.

AFA's opposition concerning the gay movement represents a bold, but Biblical, position.

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