Nearly 2,000 ‘Rally for Sally’ at Capitol
- May 4, 2008 - 3
Nearly 2,000 supporters enthusiastically clapped and chanted “Sal-lee, Sal-lee, Sal-lee,” during an energetic “Rally for Sally, Traditional Family Values and Christian Free Speech” April 2, which spilled over from the first floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol to the building’s second and third floors.
The object of their affection and support, State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, expressed gratitude for their endorsement of her secretly recorded comments against homosexuality, which had been posted on the Internet site YouTube in early March. Since then, the comments have been viewed more than 1 million times and Kern has received more than 30,000 e-mails, letters and phone calls, including several death threats. Several individuals and groups also have called for her resignation.
Kern has stood firm in the wake of the controversy that stemmed from the YouTube incident, and she stood firm again at the rally.
“I want to thank everyone for coming here today. This Freedom of Speech Rally for Sally is really about freedom of speech for all who want to stand for the truth of God’s Word,” she said. “This is not about me. It’s about the Church having the right to speak out for the redeeming love of Jesus Christ Who died to set us all free from sin. The Lord gave me a verse I’ve been claiming. Philippians 1:12, “I want you to know that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel.’”
As her husband, Steve, pastor of Oklahoma City, Olivet, stood nearby, Kern acknowledged that her e-mail in-box has been inundated of late.
“I’ve gotten lots of e-mail lately,” she said. “Some good, some not so good. I’ve been called lots of names. I can’t repeat most of those names. Some of the good names have been courageous, brave and hero.
“I want you to know I have more trouble relating to the good names than the bad,” she added, her voice breaking. “I know I’m a sinner, but I’m not courageous, brave or a hero. I’m just an earthen vessel, and an old clay pot.
“II Corinthians 4:7 says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, clay jars to show that this surpassing power is from God.” The last few weeks have been tough, but God’s grace has been sufficient. So if I seem courageous, brave or a hero, it’s not me, but God’s grace.
“When I gave that now infamous speech, I was not putting down any individual. I believe each and every person is precious in God’s sight. He loves us all. He loves us all equally, and He loves us regardless of our sin. Yet, God is not just a God of love, but also a Holy and Righteous God who sent His Son to die for our sin so we could have forgiveness and experience life abundantly. To have His forgiveness, we must first acknowledge our sin. We can’t excuse it or justify it.
“Let me tell you why I will not, why I cannot, apologize for my comments. First, I believe God’s Word. When God calls something a sin, then it is a sin. God never changes, and neither does His Word. My opinion doesn’t matter. His Word is all that matters.
“Second, this nation was founded on Christian principles. We all know Patrick Henry’s famous words ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’ He also said ‘It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’
“Some say we should separate church and state, but Noah Webster said when writing to school children, “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God.”
“Third, when I was running for office, I told the people I was running as a Christian candidate because I believed we were in a cultural war for the existence of our Judeo-Christian values. This situation is evidence that the cultural war is real. And it gives me the opportunity to keep my promise to those who voted me into office.
“Psalms 11:3 says, ‘When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ We can remember that the foundation of society is the home as established by God-one man and one woman. Stand up for it. We can remember that the foundation of this nation was Christianity. Teach it to our children. We can remember that the foundation of the Church is God’s Word. Believe it and practice it daily. We can remember that the foundation of salvation is Christ dying for a world lost in bondage to sin. Proclaim the Truth that will set people free.
“Thank God we still have Freedom of Speech in America. Let’s speak out while we still can. God bless you, and God bless America.”
Other speakers at the rally included Stephen Black, director of First Stone Ministries, and Peter LaBarbera, Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. Kern’s husband, Steve, pastor of Oklahoma City, Olivet, helped to begin the rally with a few comments and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The rally was streamed live around the world at http://www.crusaderadio.com on the Wiley Drake show from Buena Vista, Calif.
This article is reprinted from the April 10, 2008, issue of the Baptist Messenger, the newspaper of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Sexual Purity, Homosexuality
3 comments (post your own) feed
1 On May 5th, 2008, at 3:20pm, Stephen Black wrote:
There is another story… “The Untold Story About Sally Kern” that people should read. I wrote this article with Representative Kern’s approval. Sally and her husband Dr. Stephen Kern actually love and support our ministry, First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City. Our ministry helps people overcome homosexuality. You can read “The Untold Story About Sally Kern” on our web site, located at: firststone.org
This is the story the liberal media does not share.
God bless you!
Sincerely,
Stephen Black
Executive Director
First Stone Ministries
Oklahoma City, OK
2 On May 6th, 2008, at 9:58am, Dan Valdes wrote:
Ms. Kern said in her now infamous “private” speech to Republican supporters....
“It’s a matter of fact, studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it’s the death nail for this country. I honestly think it’s the biggest threat, even in our nation. Even more so than terrorists, or Islam, okay.”
Okay then, what study exactly showed any society’s collapse based on full inclusion of gay and lesbian people? Did it happen in 20 years, in 40 years? What does Ms. Kern mean to say here? Is Europe falling into chaos? Are international markets failing? Is there “gay anarchy” in the world? Where exactly is this happening in the world to any given society?
Did gay people hijack US airliners and run them into buildings? Did gay people attack the USS Cole? Did gay people bomb the US Embassy in Kenya and Tanzania?
3 On May 6th, 2008, at 10:06am, Dan Valdes wrote:
Ms. Kern said in her speech...."You know, gays are infiltrating city capitals. Did you know, Eureka Springs, anybody been there? Have you heard that the city council of Eureka Springs is now controlled by gays? There are some others, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kensington Maryland, Vermont, Oregon, West Palm Beach, Florida and lots of other places in Florida. What’s happening?”
What is happening is that these people are being ELECTED. It’s the way we do things in this country. Elected, fair and square by their constituents. Perhaps people are no longer satisfied with the politicians that were voted out.
Change is happening all across this great land. Ms. Kern could hardly argue with the process by which these people got into office.