Bible thumpers fire back at Georgia Straight post on Pride flag flap in Abbotsford

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      In the name of Christianity, Richard Peachey of Citizens for a Morally Strong Abbotsford is calling on people to email Abbotsford's mayor and councillors in protest of the decision to fly the Pride flag at City Hall next month.

      As I previously blogged, Abbotsford council voted on Monday (June 15) to hoist the Pride flag from July 13 to 20, the week of the Fraser Valley Pride Celebration.

      Peachey's call to action was posted on the blog of his wife, Gerda, who has responded to my post with a post of her own.

      On her blog that promotes Creationism and attacks the scientifically-accepted theory of organic evolution, Gerda begins:

      Stephen Hui at the Georgia Straight, in commenting on Richard’s letter to Abbotsford church leaders,…..writes:

      “(warning: some of our readers will find the following offensive and ignorant):”

      That editors at the ‘Straight’ consider us offensive does not surprise.  Generally this paper is not known for its advocacy of holy living.  And as firm believers in the Evolution Religion they deny the existence of their Creator.

      I have bad news for the folk at the Georgia Straight.  God is real, and He is present in our universe.  Their displeasure at His existence will not make Him forsake His throne.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

      The good news for Stephen and his colleagues is that God loves them, and proved that when he sent His only Son to pay the penalty for their sins.  The free gift of salvation and eternal life in His presence is extended to fallen, rebellious humanity.

      I’d love to be able to tell Stephen that the people of God in the Bible Belt of BC will rise up and take a stand for sexual purity, for families as God intended them to be,  but I haven’t seen much zeal for God’s truth reflected on our city council, and hardly any more among church leaders.

      The Bible gives all we need to live in His light, but here in our city so full of large evangelical churches it has been sad to see the apathy displayed when some very immoral events have come to our publicly-owned venues.

      Later in the same blog post, Gerda writes:

      On Monday our Christian councillors, Les Barkman, Dave Loewen and Ross Siemens quickly approved the hoisting of a flag that symbolizes a life-style in direct violation of the clear teaching of God.  Henry Braun as mayor did not vote.  I don’t know if the other council members have any Biblical compass for their lives.  But shame to you so-called Christians.

      People are free to live as they wish but where did you, our City Council get the mandate to make what people do in bed, something that we should all focus on, and celebrate?

      Unbelievably, in another blog post on her site, Gerda compares the raising of the Pride flag to flying the flag of the militant group ISIS:

      A flag is a symbol of conquest.

      Amundsen planted his flag on the South Pole as a symbol of conquest.

      ISIS plants its flag over every town and village it conquers.

      As I stated yesterday, if you support equality for LGBTQ people and the flying of the rainbow flag at Abbotsford City Hall, you can send your own message to the mayor and council.

      Comments

      50 Comments

      S keptically A gnostic D eviant

      Jun 19, 2015 at 1:48pm

      I can't help but question a person who fights to destroy love.

      Richard Peachey

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:01pm

      Several commenters in Stephen's earlier blog accused us of such things as "cruelty" and "hate".
      We certainly do not believe in bullying or any other form of abuse against anyone. Look at it this way: if your doctor tells you that you have a serious disease and surgery is required, that may feel cruel, but it is simply reality. (Assuming the diagnosis is correct, of course.)
      Similarly, if a Christian advises you that sin in your life will destroy you if you don't deal with it, that is not intended as cruel or hateful. It is simply reality. (Assuming the diagnosis is correct.)
      We do not act out of hate, but out of concern for our community. We want the best for everyone.
      Encouraging a group of people in their destructive sins (even when those sins happen to be legal) is not what we consider "the best". Therefore we are challenging the Abbotsford council to "consider the well-being and interests of the municipality and its community," as BC's Community Charter (section 115) requires.
      I confess that sometimes I do get tempted to "hate." Especially when it come to politicians, and lawyers. But then, I am required to pray for my enemies — and to bless those who curse me.

      Well...

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:09pm

      I find it odd how people feel like somehow they are qualified to speak on God's behalf. Isn't there a word for that?
      God doesn't hate anybody, but I think it's safe to assume that he/she/they would more likely have an issue with a terrorist organization committing murder and cultural genocide than with a rainbow.

      Let's not forget, as that song about the 40 days of rain goes, "he signed his name with a rainbow".

      ursa minor

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:23pm

      @ Richard Peachey - Wow. That is amazing false equivalence there between your proselytizing and the legitimate practice of Medicine.

      When you go to your doctor, the doctor conducts a physical exam, takes a case history, and runs test in order to establish a prognosis and diagnosis. Exactly what tests are you and your Christer ilk running to determine that someone is "sinning" and that his or her life will be destroyed by "sin"?

      Of course you don't have any tests, do you? Would it be because unlike Cancer, or Bursitis or the Common Cold, "Sin" only exists as an abstract philosophical construct that rational people dismiss out of hand? What you actually claim to be "sinful" behavior is really just cognitive and confirmation bias on the part of Reactionary Christers?

      As for Section 115, Abbotsford Council decided that tolerance and acceptance are in the best interests of the community, as opposed to pandering to broken, outdated and irrelevant concepts like "sin".

      Bruce Dean

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:24pm

      I couldn't read past, "God is real..."
      I can't take anyone seriously who protests a gay flag while professing to a lifestyle of "holy living".

      "Thus I clothe my naked villainy in old odds and ends stolen forth from holy writ, and seem a saint when most I play the devil."
      (Shakespeare)

      jiminy k

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:52pm

      @ Richard Peachey
      I agree with ursa minor. And the difference between a doctor and you (a "spiritual doctor") is that your text, your guide, your "medicine" has been the recipe for unknown amounts of suffering over the years based on non-science. SINCE, luckily, Western society has adopted science--a workable rationality and reasoning able to accommodate new evidence--unfortunately for you and quite thankfully for me and many others, it is the paradigm of our state, where law--not religion--is supreme. It would seem that there lurks a belief in your higher law, which is a disrespect not only for the law that actually governs you, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but also for the life here on earth, that is, the ONLY LIFE THERE IS.

      Mark

      Jun 19, 2015 at 2:54pm

      I completed my BA at a bible college in Abbotsford, and am sorry that this is how the Christian religion is being represented in the Fraser Valley. Questions of the morality of human sexuality are incredibly complex, and it's unfortunate to read that some who claim to represent my faith are so hateful towards others.

      Stay Proud, Abbotsford. Looking forward to coming home!

      Professor Frink

      Jun 19, 2015 at 3:15pm

      To Quote George Carlin, "Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it, religion has actually convinced people that there's an INVISIBLE MAN...LIVING IN THE SKY...who watches every thing you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten special things that he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish where he will send to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry for ever and ever 'til the end of time...but he loves you"

      Holly Parker

      Jun 19, 2015 at 3:31pm

      Hahaha thank you for the laughs, Gerda and Richard. Why are you so concerned with a flag, though? Where's the outrage over divorce? Over people who eat shellfish? Over the way society treats the poor? Stop using your holy book as justification of your hate- yes, it's hate. Don't try to pass it off as concern; if you had any compassion at all, you'd realize that forcing queer people to adhere to your morals only ends in misery. Forcing queer people into straight relationships or celibacy is cruelty. Forcing trans people to try to ignore who they really are often leads to suicide- more cruelty. You are ignorant, you are bigoted, you are hateful, and you give Christians a bad name. Stop.

      Perda Geachey

      Jun 19, 2015 at 4:21pm

      These fools are getting exactly what they want. Attention. People like the Peacheys are a very small minority in Abbotsford. In another generation, they'll be gone.

      Where's the fast forward button?