By Clint Pollard – Editor
Blue Ridge Christian News
Following “An Evening of Salt and Light”, a gathering of hundreds in support of the NC Marriage Amendment, Dr. Mark Creech, Executive Director of the Christian Action League, addressed the semi-annual meeting of the Mitchell Baptist Association at Bear Creek Baptist Church on February 27th.
Dr. Creech was in Spruce Pine to inform Western North Carolinians about the May 8th ballot initiative, known as the North Carolina Marriage Protection Amendment. His organization has joined others statewide to educate citizens of the choices before them. “God’s definition of marriage is perfectly clear, it’s the union of one man with one woman,” Creech said. “From our beginnings in Genesis, the Lord intended marriage to be the bedrock of our society. And Jesus, in Matthew 19:4-6, affirms quite adamantly, what marriage is… “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Creech called on the pastors to “speak up and speak out” in the weeks to come. He explained that opposing forces are outspending the “pro-marriage” advocates by a wide margin. According to Creech, North Carolina is the only southeastern state without constitutional protection for the institution of marriage. “Pastors, you need to understand that our state is in the opposition crosshairs; if they can defeat the cause of traditional marriage in North Carolina it will provide momentum for future cases. My greatest concern is that your church people think ‘We’ve got this one in the bag!’, and will fail to GO VOTE FOR the amendment. Believe me, there is passion and emotion on the other side of the issue…they WILL show up on Election Day. I am reminded of a line from Yeats’ poem, titled ‘The Second Coming’, which says, ‘The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.’”
Reverend Matt Mills, Pastor of Grassy Creek Baptist Church, recommended to the others that the Mitchell Baptist Association make a $2,500 one-time gift to the Christian Action League, along with a $100 monthly pledge from the Association’s budget. “This brother, and his staff, is making a difference for the cause of Christ in Raleigh. I move that we demonstrate our support for the work by tithing on our resources,” Mills said. The proposal was approved by all present.
Pastor Don Ford, White Oak Baptist Church, prepared and read the “Mitchell Baptist Association Resolution for the NC Marriage Amendment 2012.” In part, the resolution declared support for the amendment, “Resolved, that we challenge pastors and leaders within the Body of Christ to support, inform and maintain the Biblical model of marriage.” The resolution was approved and endorsed by all attendees.
In closing the evening, Pastor Dean Honeycutt of Snowhill Baptist Church, and moderator for the meeting, again urged church leaders to talk to their counterparts at other churches. “We need everyone who loves Christ, regardless of denomination, or political party, to rally behind this important measure.”
Picture courtesy of the Blue Ridge Christian News.
This story was used by permission of the Blue Ridge Christian News