Today the following notice appeared on the website for the Marriage Bureau of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia:

NOTE: Pursuant to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, A18-248, effective March 3, 2010, same sex couples may apply for marriage licenses in the District of Columbia.

Yes, the notice is in red font. The color seems to highlight the alarming content. As of today, Wednesday, March 3, 2010, our country’s showcase city–the seat of American culture, politics and influence in the world–takes a huge step backward, to a morally primitive time. It is not “progress,” as the proponents of same-sex legal pairings assert; it is the opposite. It recalls a period in human history where sexual behavior was indiscreet, unbridled, animalistic and injurious.

The revelation of God’s moral law on Sinai and the subsequent charge to mothers and fathers to model and instruct their children in right and wrong behavior was the cure to an otherwise self-destructive impulse. Research has shown that the human drive towards sex is stronger than the drive for food–and it’s not terribly discriminating. A big part of “civilization” has to do with curbing, controlling and steering this “power” into positive, constructive and ethical directions.

I’ve been engaged for a long time in the conversation and debate on same-sex sexual relationships–and the attendant proposals for publicly sanctioning them with laws and certificates. The argument goes something like this, “There’s no difference between heterosexual and homosexual relationships, therefore gay and lesbian people should be allowed to express their love just like straight people do.” I agree–to a point.

Men should not only be allowed to love other men, but encouraged to do so. In fact, the Bible says this is the only way we can know for sure that we are “saved,” part of the redeemed; indeed, that we are Christians at all, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.” (1 John 3:14) Obviously, the same is true for women. Love between men and men and women and women is part of the experience of knowing God, who is Himself “Love.” (See 1 John 4:7-11) However, this love of God, and by extension, this “love of the brethren,” is not expressed sexually. In fact, most love bonds do not–or at least should not–have a sexual component. Love for children, for example, is never to be expressed sexually. The same is true of love between siblings.

“Well, of course not!” I hear the celebrants of today’s same-sex marriage licensing saying. “Everyone knows that!” Well, not true. Sadly, there are plenty of people in the world–even in our own country–who don’t respect these moral boundaries on sex. Recent headlines bear that out. Sexual predation of children is on the rise and often includes unspeakably horrible acts, including torture and brutal murders. We think of these things as frightening aberrations, but that’s only true of human culture in the recent past. For example, in ancient times–in fact, in Bible times–pederasty and incest were rampant; inbreeding was practiced as a genetic purifier for royal family lines; and girls were routinely seized and held as sexual slaves by much older men.

Religious, moral and legal governors of sexual behavior are relatively recent innovations. They are only a few thousand to a few hundred years old, and there are plenty of places left in the world where they either remain unknown, non-practiced or are ignored. Just yesterday I sat in on a heart-breaking briefing on the current state of world-wide human trafficking, much of it driven by the sex-trade. My wife, Cheryl, is in training now to be a counselor to victims of child sexual abuse. She’ll tell you just how devastating and life-long these injuries are to soul, mind and body.

All this to say that human sexual behavior cannot be left to simple impulse. Human beings are built for a certain kind of sexual interaction. The body’s architecture alone makes that quite plain, but the soul and psyche even more so. Children are not built for sexual interaction with each other or with adults; and men are not built for sexual interaction with men, neither are women with women. And that grand result of God’s exquisite sexual design, the conception and bearing of children, can only happen between a male and female, wether through intercourse or in a test tube. It’s simple yet profound: It takes a daddy and a mommy to make a baby.

Let me remind everyone that there’s nothing new about what happened today at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Marriage Bureau. In fact, it’s very old. Thousands of years ago, the world at the base of Mount Sinai looked very much like Indiana Avenue, NW, the street outside the Marriage Bureau office. Actually, it was far worse. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Christian Church was born at Jerusalem, Greco-Roman athletes competed in the nude and engaged in homosexual acts to titillate insatiably wild crowds. Worse, Roman men of stature kept wives to sire children by, but young boys as sexual play toys. Temple prostitutes were used and abused as an act of worship.

It was into this kind of moral abandon that the Jews first taught God’s moral code and Christians later were called to evangelize. Both remain our challenge today. It was this kind of sin-sick, miserably wretched, often shockingly coarse and even frightening world that “God so loved,” and to which He “gave His only begotten son.” (John 3:16) This is the solution to the backsliding of human culture. It’s not to cower, shrink back, denounce or scold, but to love with the love of God; it’s to make known the Truth that alone can “set you free.” (John 8:32)

If there’s anything to be disappointed about today here in the Nation’s Capital, it’s that we thought human progress had come so far, but, in fact, it has regressed. Should that surprise us? The preacher in Ecclesiastes doesn’t think so: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) This is why the wise Apostle would later write to us, “[L]et us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

With the help of God, let us get on to the work at hand . . .

Rob +

If you’re not already reading WORLD Magazine, I recommend highly that you do. I’ve known WORLD for over ten years. I’ve found it to be consistently the best, most professional source of news and commentary I get from an Evangelical Christian perspective. This week’s issue (online and in print) has a good cover story on alternatives to the health care reform proposals offered by President Obama and Democrat congressional leaders. Check it out: WORLD Magazine (www.worldmag.com)

Rob +

Or is it intractable flexibility?

I started out leading prayer this morning outside Blair House, the site of today’s bi-partisian summit on health care reform convened by President Obama. Call me a blithe optimist or simply naive, but I monitored nearly every minute of it thinking, “Well, let’s give the two parties a chance. Let’s give the president a chance.” 6 hours and 22 minutes later, it seemed it ended like it began.

I will give the President high points for taking the time to let the two parties speak. He did hear them out–and he gave his opponents ample time to speak–and they spoke effectively. Of course, there’s a difference between “hearing” and “listening.” “Listen” means you accept, appreciate and heed what is said. The President and the leaders of Congress heard a lot today, but they don’t appear to have listened.

Both sides predictably had everything well well scripted and rehearsed–including the ending.That’s not cynical, it’s necessary. I’m glad the public conversation about health care has been re-ignited, but it seems the current proposals are still securely in place. That means should any of the present bills pass, there will be more abortion, this time made possible by tax dollars. There will also be government management of health insurance. I’m definitely not optimistic about that.

God told the prophet Ezekiel, “the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.” (Ezekiel 3:7) Even though the people would not listen to Ezekiel, he was no less responsible to deliver the message!

There’s still time for you to weigh in. Pray–then make calls to your representative and your two senators. Pastors: Tell your congressional delegation how many are in your congregation and what you hear them saying.

More to follow . . .

Rob +

Last night I read the entirety of four proposals on health care reform: The most current one put forth by President Obama, the two being considered in the House and Senate respectively, and an outline of the one that will be presented by the Republican opposition today. The idea of extending health care to those who can’t afford it is a nobel one, but it must be done with the highest moral and ethical principles to guide it. So far, what is being seriously considered falls down on both points. It is neither moral or ethical to place literal life and death decisions into the hands of an impersonal, uncaring and unaccountable government bureaucracy. The history on that in our own country and in nations around the world is appalling. (Think of the cruel forced sterilization of the poor in Oklahoma and the gruesome Tuskeegee syphilis experiments on black airmen.)

Ask yourself if you trust “the government” to care for a newborn with birth defects, a severely brain-injured loved one or an elderly parent or grandparent. I know, many private insurers are no better, but if they aren’t, you have legal or at least public relations options for punishing them. Not so with the government. In fact, their involvement with health care caries the coercive power of the law. So, the question becomes, Who will make decisions about which health care insurers and which specific packages will be included in the menu of choices available to people? That will be delegated to a nameless group of career bureaucrats responding to political pressure from the top. That can’t be any better than the structure in place now–and my be far worse.

Your prayers and your voice need to be heard TODAY. Please take time to pray and take time to call your member of Congress and US senators. If you fail to act now, you can’t complain about what you get in the future. God help us and have mercy on our nation!

More to follow.

Rob +

As you may have noticed, I haven’t posted here in a while.  I’ve been in a sort of self-imposed exile writing feverishly. I am finally doing what so many have asked me do: Put the amazing story of God’s Work in Washington into a book. The result, by God’s grace and help, will be a book that tells the story of how this ministry called Faith and Action came to be.

In connection with three speaking engagements in Florida, I was able to sequester myself for two weeks in the beautiful winter home of two of our most staunch supporters–on Siesta Key along the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast, no less! Don’t be too envious, though–they were two of the coldest weeks on record for otherwise warm and balmy Southwest, Florida! I was glad for it because it kept me inside, doing what I needed to do–exhaustive research and writing.

I hope to have the manuscript done by May and the book released in the fall. Please pray with me. This is not just a memoir of what I or a host of others have done; it’s a record of what God Almighty has wrought, using a few of us as His tools. As I wrote, it proved more than a chronology–it felt like I was producing a chapter in the modern-day Book of Acts!

Oh, I should say you’re as much a part of this story as anyone, so it’s your book as much as mine. Without your prayers, friendship and support, none of it would have happened. Because you’ve been obeident to what God has called you to do, we’ve been enabled to be obedient to what God has called us to do.

I’ll keep you posted on the upcoming “epic” of our pilgrimage together toward God’s purpose here in the nation’s capital.

Blessings,

Rob +

PS Some have already asked what the title will be. I have no idea. If you do, post it here. Who knows?

You haven’t seen much from me lately. That’s because I am sequestered in Florida (far from the epic snowstorms back home) on a mini-writing sabbatical. I hope to chronicle the amazing journey God led us through when He took us from my native home of Buffalo, New York, to the nation’s capital, 1994 – 2000. Maybe you are one of the thousands that have asked me over the years, Are you going to put this story into a book? The answer now is, Yes. Hope to release it in the fall.

While I’ve been down here in chilly Sarasota (longest cold spell anyone can remember), I’ve met some wonderful and interesting people. Among them, Randy Honaker, a solid Christian brother and outstanding professional in the field of wealth management. Barron’s Weekly, the unmatched authoritative journal on global finance, rated Randy among the top US financial advisors. I talked with him about America’s economic future and captured his thoughts on mobile video (see below and on the front page of our website).

My posts will be sparse over the next week; I’ll be working on the book morning till night. Pray for me as I will be for you!

Rob +

As you may know, we continue to help with the situation in Haiti. Although we officially closed our appeal for cash contributions, we know there is still more inbound. The generosity of readers has allowed us to send money to three organizations that have provided direct aid to victims on the ground since only days after the earthquake. The next wave of money will go to Shelter Box, an ingenious disaster relief program that provides instant–well–”shelter” along with implements for basic living. Shelter Box has already placed 10,000 units in the field and continues to ship more as they are able. Please take four minutes to check out the little video interview I did with Shelter Box Founder and CEO Tom Henderson at the group’s US headquarters in Sarasota, Florida. You’ll find it on the front page of our website: www.faithandaction.org

Thanks,

Rob +

This Sunday is, of course, Valentines Day. (Or, is it Valentines’ Day, or, Valentine’s Day?) Anyway, this is more then just a hint to my gentlemen readers. I really LOVE Valentine’s Day (my preferred rendering) because of the real story behind it. The best accounts I can find have nothing to do with romantic or erotic love.

The holiday (read that “Holy Day”) began as a feast to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of Valentinus, a priest in ancient Rome. He was arrested during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, or, Claudius Gothicus,who persecuted Christians. The Emperor required young men to remain unmarried until after they had completed their compulsory military service, but the later “Saint Valentine” persisted in marrying Christian couples. Historians say the Emperor actually took a liking to his kind prisoner, but later condemned him to death because the priest  had dared to write notes to him seeking to convert the maniacal ruler to Christ. Valentine was subsequently pummeled and beheaded, then buried on or around February 14.

Our modern celebration of Valentine’s Day is relatively recent and derives from the custom of young French women eating special foods on the holiday while they imagined their future husbands. How that came to be part of what was a Christian feast day is largely lost to antiquity. One thing we do know from the record is that birds in Europe pair at about the same time that Valentine’s death occurred. Apparently, that observation led to the match-making component.

I’m not necessarily hung up on setting the record straight about Valentine–I just like that aspect of the story better than the other. I do do my part in keeping with the popular Hallmark Holiday. My dad was a real romantic and always made a big deal over Mom on Valentine’s Day; something I haven’t been that good at doing for Cheryl! I will be sure to have a special delivery made to her this year, though, because this Sunday I’m in Sarasota preaching and she’s in Seattle studying for her master’s.

Oh, and because I don’t think Dad can dispatch his normal Valentine’s Greeting to Mom from his new home in Heaven, I’ll team up with my brother and sisters to do it for him!

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day to you and all yours,

Rob +

St. Valentine administers Baptism to Lucilla.

Rob Schenck with host pastor Jay Dennis of First Baptist, Lakeland, FL

What could beat being in Florida when an epic snowstorm hits Washington, DC? Being with the good people of Lakeland’s First Baptist Church at the Mall! Pastor Jay Dennis, his wife Angie, and their ministry team could not have been more gracious, hospitable and generous. Their reception was even warmer than the Florida sunshine! Man, these people are great! We know we have a new partner church with First Baptist and are so very grateful to God for it. Check out their website at www.churchatthemall.com. BTW: You’ll read about why it’s called “Church at the Mall”– they aren’t renting space–they own all 400,000 + square feet!

Please join us in thanking God for Pastor Jay and this wonderful congregation–and THANK YOU, each and every one, at First Baptist, Lakeland, for making us part of your extensive missionary family!

Rob +

Yesterday’s annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington was more interesting than usual. Of course, anytime the President of the United States is present for a religious affair, it’s interesting. This year, though, the attendance was particularly strong, and the keynote address was both fascinating and disappointing. While the President brought what I thought were fairly unremarkable remarks, Hillary Clinton’s talk was much more memorable.

Before I go much further, I will say, in the end, Secretary Clinton went from meaningful refection to meaningless political talking points. Still, what was meaningful, albeit paltry, had, well . . . meaning.

The nugget was her story about Mother Teresa. She candidly recalled how, at the same event in 1994, when Mrs. Clinton was on the dais as First Lady, the Saint of Calcutta used the podium to openly rebuke America (and the Clintons by her glower at them) over our hideous practice of abortion. (Click here to read a transcript.) I was impressed that Hillary would even mention what was then an embarrassment to her and her husband.

Sec. Clinton went on to say that after the speech, Mother Teresa asked to see her privately backstage. “I thought, oh boy, I’m in trouble,” Hillary remembered. That’s when the otherwise electrifying regalement went flat. Instead of telling us more about her possible discomfort (which she did mention in passing), or even recalcitrance, or possible momentary penitence, she instead explained how all Mother Teresa wanted was the First Lady’s help on a charitable project.

Well, knowing Mother Teresa and her incredible internal fortitude, piety and pastoral concern for every impoverished soul on earth, including Hillary’s, it’s hard to believe that’s all there was to the story. Something tells me something was left out–and perhaps rightfully so. After all, if what really happened was a further chastening and the offer a means to prove repentance, that should remain private between confessor and penitent. Whatever transpired didn’t have an immediate effect, nor one to date. As far as anyone can tell, Hillary is still a proponent of abortion, what the Saintly Nun had publicly told her that day in 1994, is “the greatest destroyer of love and peace.”

Still, whatever effect Mother Teresa’s pastoral rebuke had or didn’t have on Hillary, it was enough to be remembered 16 years later, which probably means it will still be remembered well into the future. That gives Hillary an opportunity to still process it and repent, which is always God’s greatest gift to each of us.

Let’s pray for Hillary . . .

Rob +