Author: Nathan Cherry
West Virginia Lawmakers Ready to Override Governor Veto – If Necessary
Posted on February 4, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
West Virginia did something historic last fall when citizens of the state changed the color of the legislature from blue to red. It has been 80 years since Republicans had a majority voice in the state house. But citizens made their displeasure with current leadership clear when many Democratic incumbents were ousted in favor of Republican challengers. The same trend carried to federal races where two long-time Democratic congressional seats were won by Republicans.
After this historic “West Virginia Red Wave” the question on everyone’s mind was “will Republicans take advantage of this opportunity and actually do something?”
It seems the answer to that question is becoming clearer concerning one of the most pressing issues in our state.
West Virginia is one of just 9 states that have absolutely no abortion laws. An unborn child can be aborted up to the moment of birth for any reason in the state of West Virginia despite the fact that most of our residents identify as pro-life. The fact that ur state is primarily pro-life can also be seen in the fact that most of our elected officials are pro-life; even many among the Democratic party. West Virginians value life.
But last year when a bi-partisan majority in the state legislature passed our version of the pain capable unborn child protection act, our “pro-life” governor vetoed it. Gov. Tomblin said simply that he thought it was unconstitutional and therefore vetoed it.
Seriously!? Pastor Sues Michigan for the Right to Marry Homosexuals
Posted on February 3, 2015 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
A Detroit “pastor” is suing the state of Michigan claiming infringement on his religious freedom. That’s becoming an increasingly normal headline. The problem with that headline in this case is the damage this “pastor” is causing to marriage and the Gospel.
Neil Patrick Carrick was a “pastor” with the United Church of Christ. This is, presumably, a quasi-denomination not serious about being true to the Gospel or God’s design for marriage. Mr. Carrick – because I really have a hard time referring to him as pastor – believes in same-sex “marriage” and wants the freedom to marry homosexuals in his church. Carrick not only wants the freedom to marry homosexuals but also to marry people in polygamous relationships as well.
Carrick recently commented that laws defining marriage between one man and one woman result in the state engaging in “the disparate treatment” of gays, lesbians and “plural relationships.”
Maybe in all the excitement of the Super Bowl you missed this commercial. It is well worth taking a minute to watch to be reminded that every life counts, and that parents and kids are on this crazy journey together. Nothing more needs to be said, just watch the video.
If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser.
The Message A Man Requested Had the Baker Saying No – Now She’s in Trouble
Posted on January 29, 2015 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
I don’t even want to talk about a person calling himself a “Christian” wanting a cake with the words “God hates gays” on it; and what the cake was for. I’m angry at the fact that such a person exists and the damage to the Gospel said person is doing. The fact, however, that the cake shop refused to print the message is another story entirely. That is something we need to talk about.
Azucar Bakery in Denver, CO. was asked to print the cake for a man named Bill Jack. Jack also requested the cake to be in the shape of a Bible with an image of two men holding hands with a big X through them. The bakery refused to comply with the request saying the message was “discriminatory, and hateful.”
Who! Wait a minute. I thought business owners had no rights to refuse such requests based on their personal views. I thought “discriminating” against customers because of a business owners core convictions and beliefs was no frowned upon and illegal. Isn’t the idea that business owners are not allowed to refuse such requests at the heart of the Masterpiece Cake Shop story and Jack Phillips, the owner?
Next Step: Daughter Planning to Marry Father After Dating for 2 Years
Posted on January 28, 2015 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
I don’t even feel like saying “I told you so.” Back when same-sex “marriage” was gaining steam and people were lining up to support it so they wouldn’t be called names, many refused to compromise and withstood the onslaught of attacks. One of our main concerns was that if marriage was redefined to include homosexuals, what legal or moral ground would there be to refuse redefining marriage for polygamists, pedophiles, and anyone else that wanted to get married?
One of our greatest concerns has been realized.
This case, this 18-year old girl, will be the catalyst for the movement to normalize and then legalize incestuous relationships. The slippery slope is getting slipperier. In the exact same way that homosexuals first normalized and then legalized same-sex “marriage,” this girl and her father are taking pages right out of the LGBT playbook.
The girl, unnamed at this point, was interviewed by New York Magazine, a rather lengthy interview that details how the relationship began. While most would assume some abuse must be present, the reality is that this girl was estranged from her father for 12 years before being reunited. The girl, at age 16, spent a week with her father and his live-in girlfriend, during which the two went from getting reacquainted to kissing, making out, and eventually having sex; which was the girls first time.
Duck Dynasty Wife Has Strange View on Abortion Issue
Posted on January 27, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
The video below is a candid interview with Al and Lisa Robertson of the Duck Dynasty Robertson’s. In the video Al and Lisa discuss their views on abortion and, to the surprise of many I’m sure, Lisa shares that she considers herself pro-choice.
After revealing that she had an abortion when she was younger in discussing their new book “A New Season: A Robertson Family Love Story of Brokenness and Redemption,” Lisa says that while she opposes abortion based on her religious convictions, she does not want to force her beliefs on anyone else. Lisa says:
Video: Matt Chandler Nails Abortion Rhetoric to the Wall as “Nazi-Germany Excrement”
Posted on January 26, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
In this short video, Pastor Matt Chandler discusses the issue of abortion around the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. (The video is about a year old.)
Chandler starts out by reminding us all that when this landmark decision was handed down in 1973 that the science of pregnancy and the unborn was far different than it is today. Back then we didn’t know just how fully developed unborn children were at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 20 weeks. One of the most regrettable decision in American history was made not knowing that the unborn can feel pain as early as 20 weeks (for certain) but perhaps even earlier; making abortion nothing less than the legal torture and murder of innocent unborn children.
One of the aspects of this video that makes it important is the fact that Chandler is the pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. Up until roughly 1979 the Southern Baptist Convention endorsed and support abortion. Thankfully, realizing their mistake, the convention renounced this position and has been a tireless defender of life ever since.
I particularly enjoyed Chandler’s treatment of the pro-abortion rhetoric that a “woman gets to choose what she does with her body.” He frankly calls that lack of logic “bull” and suggests a woman “go prostitute” herself to see if she is truly free to do what she wants with her body.
The Largest Picture In Human History Shares a Powerful Message (VIDEO)
Posted on January 23, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
The largest picture ever taken has been released. It is an astounding 1.5 billion pixel image (69,536 x 22,230) requiring 4.3 GB of disk space. The picture just happens to be the Andromeda Galaxy!
The image was released on January 5 by NASA of our closest neighboring galaxy: Andromeda. The image was comprised of 411 Hubble Space Telescope images spanning an incredible 100 million stars and covering more than 40,000 light years. And that is just one section of the image!
See the amazing video and image below.
Are You Harmed By Graphic Sex and Violence? Are Your Kids?
Posted on January 22, 2015 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
Far too few people are concerned about the saturation of graphic sex and violence that has become common in our culture. Images that were once considered pornography are now teased by middle school kids. Technology has made almost certain that by the time a child leaves elementary school he or she will have seen many sexually and violently explicit images.
Take for example a video aired in Sweden aimed at kids between the ages of 3 and 6. The video shows a dancing penis (named Willie) and vagina (named Snippan) in a light-hearted cartoon. Some of the lyrics of the song that accompany the video include:
Former NFL Player Has Strong Words About Race Relations
Posted on January 21, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
The idea that people are treated differently because of the color of their skin is patently wrong; it’s unbiblical in every way. Any church claiming to be led by Jesus but refusing to accept people because of their skin is a fraud. There is nothing biblical or Christ-like about such a place.
I was impressed by an article I read recently in which former NFL player Derwin Gray – now a pastor – made a statement that every person of every skin tone claiming the name of Jesus needs to memorize. Gray was being interviewed by The Blaze about current race relations in light of the Michael Brown and Eric Garner events when he shared some much needed thoughts. Gray emphasized the fact that for Christians there is no such thing as “Jew” or “Gentile” because in Christ such barriers have been destroyed. He said: