Franklin Graham: Christians should prepare for persecution
NEW YORK (Christian Examiner) -- One of the nation's most prominent evangelical leaders issued a dire warning for the nation in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling on homosexual marriage.
"I believe God could bring judgment upon America," said Franklin Graham in an exclusive interview.
Graham told me that Christians should be prepared for persecution in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling on homosexual marriage.
"You better be ready and you better be prepared because it's coming," Graham said just moments after the court handed down its ruling. "There will be persecution of Christians for our stand."
Graham, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, said he was disappointed in the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling.
"I'm disappointed because the government is recognizing sin," he said. "This court is endorsing sin. That's what homosexuality is – a sin against god."
Graham said regardless of the ruling, he will refuse to marry any same-sex couple.
"I will never recognize it in my heart because God gave marriage between a man and a woman and that's what marriage is," he said. "And I don't think the court – since it never defined marriage – doesn't have the right to redefine it. God gave us marriage. Period. And God doesn't change his mind."
The Supreme Court's decision means gay rights now trump religious liberty. And if you think the cultural purging of the Southern States has been breathtaking, wait until you see what LGBT activists are about to unleash on American Christians.
"If pastors are going to be forced to provide marriage services for gay couples, I'm not going to do it," Graham declared.
Churches and faith-based business should prepare for lawsuits and government investigations. Pastors who refuse to perform gay marriages and preach from the Bible should prepare for hate crime charges. All dissent will be silenced by the government and the activists.
But I believe that an overwhelming number of Christians will defy the law.
Governor Mike Huckabee posted this message on Facebook: "I will not acquiesce to an imperial court," vowing to "resist and reject judicial tyranny."
In closing, I am reminded of something the late Charles Colson wrote: "If we're not willing to fight this, even to the point of breaking the law, or refusing to recognize the law, then we will lose everything."
Given the choice of obeying God or the government, I believe Christians will obey God - even if there is hell to pay.
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Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him onTwitter. His latest book is "God Less America."
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