Amid some disturbing events over the past week (Tony Campolo’s retreat on the issue of marriage, etc.), there is some VERY encouraging news coming out of my home state of North Carolina!
Today, the NC House followed the lead of the NC Senate in overturning a veto by Governor Pat McCrory on a bill (SB 2) that allows magistrates in North Carolina to recuse themselves rather than being forced to issue same-sex marriage licenses or perform same-sex marriages! SB 2 is now the law in North Carolina! This is a HUGE accomplishment for our state!!! This highly important bill is a MAJOR victory for religious freedom and is the result of courageous leaders within the NC General Assembly who voted for this bill and the necessary veto override!
Though I cannot mention all the names, I do want to thank Senator Phil Berger for his phenomenal leadership on this issue! As well, many thanks are due to my friend Senator Warren Daniel for his non-stop, courageous stand for righteousness in the NC Senate. Without the exemplary leadership of Tami Fitzgerald (NC Values Coalition), John Rustin (NC Family Policy Council), and Dr. Mark Creech (NC Christian Action League), this landmark victory would have never occurred! So, thank you all for being friends of righteousness, truth, and the institution of marriage!
Friends, may I encourage you with this overwhelming fact! The Holy Spirit directed, dynamic, courageous efforts of UNITED hearts CAN/WILL accomplish much for the glory of our Great God and Mutual Savior! The countless hours of labor behind the scenes to even get a bill like this on the calendar is, in and of itself, an amazing accomplishment! Yet, those who love righteousness have toiled tirelessly in pursuit of this protection of religious liberty.
So, be encouraged! God still has His 7000 who have not bowed the knee to the Baal of our day–moral coalescence and political correctness! So, let’s continue unabated in our proclamation of the truth and courageous defense of the same! Because of God’s omnipotence, I can boldly say, “They that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16).
Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)