Joseph Farah: Why sin cannot be condoned by state

"The issue Christians and Jews should be focused upon is whether it can ever be acceptable for the government to condone sin – or, worse yet, encourage it by making it a 'right.'

"I don't believe government can do that without dire consequences.

"In Romans 1:18-32, a Hebrew scholar named Shaul, known to Christians as the Apostle Paul, wrote the following:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

"Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

"Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

"What is he saying here?

"He's saying something to which every Christian, every Jew and every American should pay close attention:

"* God has revealed to all men the difference between right and wrong. You may not like God's rules, but we are all without excuse as to what those rules are.

"* If you don't obey God's rules, your heart becomes darkened to the truth. You might think you know better than God, but you are actually a fool if you do.

"* When a whole society rejects the One True God and begins worshipping false gods, it opens the society up to judgment.

"* Those judgments include the following: more unrighteous behavior, sexual immorality, meanness, greed, envy, violence, conflict, lies, gossip, hate for God, pride, self-centeredness, mercilessness and disrespect for parents by children. Notice that No. 1 on that list is homosexuality. However, also notice, it's not just homosexuality, but an increase in those who take pleasure in the exhibition of homosexual behavior that comes as a judgment on a society rejecting God.

"Does this sound like any societies you know?

"America is being judged by God."