Texans will go to the polls on November 8th with an opportunity to constitutionally limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman, [who are unrelated to one another] making Texas the 18th state to do so and the 44th state forced to enact some measure of legal protection for traditional marriage in response to the relentless assault by homosexual activists.
However, it has come to my attention that the proponents of homosexual marriage are engaging in a blatant campaign of deception and trickery. A group calling themselves Save Texas Marriage (STM) purports to be in support of marriage. STM has even set up a sophisticated phone bank from their website enabling anyone willing to volunteer to call registered voters. However, callers from STM are instructed to tell people to vote NO on Proposition #2 because of a supposed flaw in the legislation.
Scripts provided by STM to their volunteers instruct them to say:
"I want to make sure you have heard that the Texas Legislature made a blunder in writing Proposition #2.
Any activist judge could use the language to invalidate any traditional marriage between a man and woman, causing people to lose health insurance, tax breaks and pensions.
Current law protects all marriages. Don't risk destroying all marriages, Vote against Proposition #2."
If the call recipient wants more information then volunteers are encouraged to offer the following:
"There are two sections to the amendment: Section (a) reads: 'Marriage is the union of one man and one woman.' Then there's the second section (b) which was supposed to outlaw civil unions and other legal status for gays and lesbians. However, the language says: 'The state may not recognize ANY legal status IDENTICAL to marriage.'
Well, section (a) says marriage is between a man and a woman. Section (b) prohibits recognition of anything identical to (a). And that's unquestionably the marriage of a man and a woman.
Other states added words to the section (b) such as 'NO OTHER Status' can be recognized for UNMARRIED PERSONS. The Texas Legislature left those modifying words out.
Just be sure to read it for yourself. And I think you'll agree not to risk your marriage. Vote AGAINST it."
According to the Free Market Foundation which serves as the Texas state public policy council on behalf of Focus on the Family, some voters have reported receiving pre-recorded calls from a "Reverend Tom Heger" saying that "Governor Perry messed up, and that there is a hidden liberal agenda." According to the complaint filed with Federal officials last week this message went out to an estimated 2 million Texas households. Of course, the only "hidden agenda" here is represented by STM and their false claims to interest in protecting marriage.
Free Market reports that their office has received numerous calls, especially from the elderly who voted early and found themselves confused and even reported voting incorrectly as a result of calls from STM. These people were devastated to learn that their votes had actually been misapplied.
If homosexual marriage is such a "good thing" then why not be honest and advocate for same-sex marriage by openly opposing the proposed constitutional amendment? Why not argue against the amendment on the basis that it discriminates against gays and lesbians? Why not argue against the amendment and for same-sex marriage on the basis that marriage is only about "love" between two persons and not intrinsic to procreation and parenting? Why not argue that traditional marriage discriminates against homosexual love? I'll tell you why, because the overwhelming majority of Americans don't buy it and therefore advocates of homosexual marriage have no choice but to employ deceptive tactics. Furthermore, I think many who advocate on behalf of same-sex marriage know in their heart that homosexual marriage is wrong but they feel compelled by an attitude in our culture which tells them that to oppose anything is intolerant and that to be "intolerant" is the greatest possible sin.
Despite the fact that the majority of Americans oppose homosexual marriage the campaign for homosexual marriage will no doubt continue because it is driven by the "cultural elites," those people who control the institutions of culture. These folks could not care less about what the "majority" thinks because according to James Davison Hunter, the University of Virginia professor of Sociology and Religious Studies, what matters most to cultural elites is "cultural status" and cultural status today is achieved by advocating all things liberal over and against traditional perspectives, especially religious. (A condition to which the Church has greatly contributed by "withdrawing" from its biblical role in society and culture)
Hunter argues in the case of contemporary American culture that, "The majority of Americans are on the periphery of culture change. Those who control the culture are the 'cultural elites.' These 'gatekeepers' will likely decide what happens whether we like it or not." This does not mean that we should surrender things like legislative measures protecting traditional values and beliefs; it simply means that we cannot rely on such measures to actually change the culture. Christians absolutely must be engaged in the political process and our faith itself should compel us to civic virtue and political participation.
However, in order to effect real cultural change we must also cultivate and exercise sound, persuasive reasoning in society. Secondly, we must work to produce consciously Christian cultural leaders at the highest levels of key cultural institutions such as education, the arts & media, and business as well as government.
In conclusion, do not be deceived by, or worse, apathetic to the efforts of those who seek to undermine marriage and the natural family. This is only the "tip" of a philosophical iceberg that threatens the whole of biblical truth.
If you live in Texas - vote for Proposition #2! - and for all of us let us be about the business of positively influencing society and culture both in our present spheres but also for the future by investing in raising consciously Christian thinkers and leaders who can rise to the highest levels of cultural influence.
Copyright 2005, National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families. All rights reserved.
S. Michael Craven is the vice president for religion & culture at the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families and leads the work and ministry of Cultural Apologetics. The Cultural Apologetics ministry works to equip the Church to assert and defend biblical morality and ethics in a manner that is rational, relevant and persuasive in order to recapture the relevance of Christianity to all of life by demonstrating its complete correspondence to reality. For more information on Cultural Apologetics, additional resources and other works by S. Michael Craven visit: www.CulturalApologetics.org
Michael lives in the Dallas area with his wife Carol and their three children.
Send feedback to: mc@nationalcoalition.org