On Mar 27, 2008, Carl Link said:

I come from a long line of Southern Baptist. My Grandfather was a Southern Baptist Preacher. There is an open question in my mind relative to free will granted to us by GOD, and our Church belief that we should try to impose our will on others by man's law. My opinion is that I should not try to impose my belief's on others by law. All I can do is try to show them the way to Jesus Christ.

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On Mar 28, 2008, Josee Dunn said:

As the Hollywood actor who played President of the U.S. for eight years would have said, "there you go again". The Christian Conservatives put George Bush in office twice and as a result 4,000 U.S. troops are dead and 20,000 have been wounded and are crippled for life. And who knows how many innocent men, women and children have been killed or wounded. The Constitution of the U.S. has taken a beating. Mass murder, and our economy on the verge of collapse, rich getting richer, our relationship with the rest the world worse than it has ever been before, etc. All for no good reason. The Christian Conservatives cannot wash their hands of this mess. True we do not need Obama as President. He is full of himself. He talks like a cross between a Disney movie and Ronald Ragen. He is inexperienced, appeals to the young, and has a questionable Muslim backgound. As your article clearly points out he is likely a trojan horse for McCain. Someone had to stop Clinton. She would have been trouble for McCain. McCain is a head case and things will be more of the same and worse than they are now. So it is a fine mess the Christian Conservative have gotten us into this time. What our churches need are God called preachers (not dead presidents called) who are willing to call sin what it is and not worry about offending their membership and jepordizing "their career" or their six figure income. Don't worry about the homosexuals God will take of them. He did it before. Take a bigger look at the picture and see what kind a mess things are in. Remember too God has a reason and purpose for everything.

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On Mar 28, 2008, KW said:

So now we advocate turning our backs on others in another aspect of life in the name of proclaiming the gospel? I agree with Carl Link that in our attempt (and success, at times) to legislate morality, what we have actually done is proclaim to the world that are not distingushing ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ by the love we are to be showing others. Just like in his trial before Pilate when Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world," we shouldn't strive to affect change the way people expect: through the passage of laws and the cramming of a moral standard down everyone's throats. Doing this greatly cheapens the gospel and the life of Jesus Christ into nothing more than a nice way to live. Shame on us when we waste more breath jumping on issue bandwagons rather than fulfilling the Great Commission. Are we really so arrogant as to believe that God needs us to legislate the definition of marriage and family? I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure God addressed those issues in the first few chapters of Genesis. I think God is slightly more powerful than we--his own followers--give him credit for.

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On Mar 29, 2008, joyce canada said:

i'm not in favor of same sex marriage, but i believe gays/lesbians should have the legal rights as long term partners, to be with their partners in their last days, they should have the right to the belongings of the partner if the partners last wish is for them to have these things. they should have the right to plan the services, and be at the services as the life partner.

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On Mar 31, 2008, Jonathan Siler said:

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”— Senator Barack Obama, http://pride.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome If the issue of sexuality were removed (i.e. to whom you are sexually attracted), how does the right to care for others unconditionally-especially those like orphans who have no one else to care for them--outrage the decency of the words of Christ? It appears homosexuals are reaching out where zealots are not able to, irregardless of any moral encumbrances. I also fail to see the logic which justifies a single parent household as morally superior to a homosexual relationship. If we are to accord to doctrine then it would be exclusively one woman/one man relationships which would be valid, not single parents. Jesus Christ himself spoke out against this kind of blind adherence to doctrine when he questioned the Pharisees' strict interpretation of Mosaic law. He forgave the prostitute/adulteress her sin. His example being, we are all sinners, only Jesus can forgive us of our sins. How can acceptance of anyone in love, be considered anything less than exemplary? That is all that Sen. Obama is trying to do. I think this is fine principle for a leader to have.

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On Apr 2, 2008, Aaron Williams said:

Okay, think about it. Everyone should know that there is no place in heaven for gay people. Just read the Bible and you will find out. On the same token if they so choose to have that type of life style the deserve some rights (not married rights) partership rights. It doesn't by any means make Obama a bad person because he thinks that they should have some rights. Think about if you beleive that life for has been better these last 7 and plus years, you must be well off with pleanty of money and no a care for the less fornnate mankind. I am 45 years old and our economy is the worst that it has ever been in a long, long time. Gas price $3.15 plus a gallon, milk, eggs, bread etc; have all increased like crazy. Let natural take it's corse we have had more than 30 plus white male presidents some have been good and most have been sorry as but not as worst as George Bush. I ask everyone to ask yourself isn't it now time for a black man to be preseident of the United States of America please, please quit looking at the color of a person skin and start saying, I am tired of living this way I am tired of this world taking advantage of poor people and people that have to make it pay check to pay check. I'm tired of the goverment just sitting back and not really trying hard enough to make things better. They spent billions and billions on a war that should have never happen and so many familes are losing there homes, jobs, the ecomny has gone to the dogs, gasoline prices are at a record high, people can't make it from one pay day to the next an so on. And we have people judging a man because he could get the gay support for president. People get real there is more things in life to be concerned about. If I had my way all the middle class and below middle class would take off work a day or two on the same days and stay home. Let congress and the president know that we are tired of this sorry economy. Without us this county would shut down. Rev. A Wms

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On Apr 3, 2008, Cathy said:

Why is what Sally Kern said free speech, but Senator Obama's "A Bully Pulpit?" Whatever happened to our core values that Jesus taught: Feed the poor, heal the sick? The Baptist Church I grew up in would never have tolerated this. Leave the gays alone. What was Jesus statement about getting the boulder out of your own eye first? I pray you learn to soften your heart toward gays. One day, one of your children or grandchildren may be BORN that way. It will not be their choice. Will you not love them? What ever happened to "Judge not so you be not judged?" Who do you believe? The words of Jesus TO LOVE or this hate of some of God's children? (Yes it is hate. It has nothing at all with loving the sinner, hating the sin. If it were, we would focus on the sin of unnecessary war, or allowing people to starve why we get fat.) I truly believe Jesus is weeping over all this. I for one am very ashamed.

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On Apr 11, 2008, Jackie Williams said:

I would like to thank the Messenger for informing us. I believe the absolute truth of the Bible (the entire Bible is God inspired). God's word says the homosexuality is sin. The Bible also says, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." We, as Christians, are to be salt and light to a dark world. Jesus was/is salt and light--He preached more of hell than anything. Jesus stepped on many a toe. Informing America that God does not tolerate sin, is a stand we must take. Salt hurts when it gets into a wound but, then the healing and repentance can begin.

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On Apr 18, 2008, KATHY said:

I don't agree; please let us know what Sen H. Clinton's view is also.

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