Why does the American Family Institute (AFA) and their local affiliates feel that they are above both the rule of law and the the rules set forth in the Bible they claim to follow so closely?

notjesus.pngIn June of 2007, I had to send a cease and desist letter to the AFA for stealing a copyrighted photo we ran on the site. This time I'll be sending another one since AFA's Michigan chapter has violated copyright law by thieving one of my articles word for word.

Since when is theft a family value? These groups remind me of the Pharisees Christ condemned in the Bible for their constant adherence to the Biblical laws that made them powerful but lack of respect for the parts of the Torah that actually empowered and uplifted the people.

I'll let my attorney explain copyright law to the organization, but I'd like to take a moment to give the supposedly Christian group a quick lesson on Biblical values from a gay man.

In case they've forgotten, "Thou shalt not steal" is one of the Ten Commandments. These commandments are one of the highlights of the Torah - the first few books of the Bible that both Jews and Christians follow. Straight from the Old Testament come these relative tidbits:

Jeremiah 7:9-10 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Leviticus 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Psalms 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Amos 3:10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Hosea 4:2-3 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Of course, there's also the New Testament, which continues along the same theme.

Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Of course, one of the main problems with these "family values" organizations is that they often forget the basic tenet of Christianity - the religion they supposedly follow:

Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Since they often overlook the entire "Thou shalt not bear false witness" part too when they're looking for new condemn and castigate LGBT people, are we shocked that they can write off theft so easily? Maybe they'll understand a take down letter and a cease and desist letter since the Bible seems a little tough for them to grasp.

The worst part is that I'd never have to explain this or send the letter to the Savior they mouth lip service to - the same one who didn't say a word about homosexuality.

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