Thank God, Clerics Support Anti Gay Marriage Law, Amid Threat

THE Bible in Leviticus 18:22 says, “you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6 reiterated this, and the Nigerian government recently affirmed it by prohibiting same-sex marriage in the country. The recent Nigerian law, though praised within its boundaries, is however, making countries such as the United States of America and others that have accepted same sex marriage as part of their culture uncomfortable. The US, in reaction to the new Nigerian law, has threatened to withdraw some of it aids from Nigeria if the country does not change its stand. OMIKO AWA, CHRIS IREKAMBA, ISAAC TAIWO and JOSEPH ONYEKWERE spoke to some clerics on the implication of this threat to the nation.
Islam Prohibits Same-Sex Marriage

Islam prohibits same-sex marriage. Islam frowns at all forms of indecency ranging from premarital sex, extra marital affairs, fornication, homosexuals to lesbianism and others. As deterrent to this, Sharia prescribes stoning to death for whoever is guilty of the offence. However, since an individual cannot carry out the punishment, it is left for a properly constituted authority to effect it if there are sufficient proves that those concerned actually committed the offence. Islam has legalised marriage and this can be found in Q4 vs.3.
   Coming to the US threat, we must ask ourselves, ‘of what benefits are US-AIDS to the Nigerian masses?  We have been getting Aids from US in the past, yet Nigerians are still suffering. US should know that apart from religion, same-sex marriage is alien to our culture.
  Alh. Qasim Alabi, Alubarika Mosque, Akeredolu, Ogun State.
We Cherish Our Religion And Cultural Sanctity 
There is nothing like keeping our religious sanctity and cultural value. America has become a permissive society and it is not advisable for Nigeria to follow suit. Nigeria is a sovereign state and should know what is good for her. Christianity, Islam and other religions in Nigeria condemn same-sex marriage and in the absence of every ambiguity, God Almighty condemns it in the Bible. If any nation because of her support would want another nation to incur the wrath of God, I think it is better for that nation to keep her gift or withhold her assistance.
   The US and its allies can never give us economic freedom; in fact, some of our corrupt leaders go there to save the money they have looted from our treasury.
  I commend our President and the members of the National Assembly for taking the stand that Nigeria would not join countries that prefer to do things the way they want at the expense of their relationship with God, their Creator in the name of human right. It is better to offend man than to offend God.  The Bible says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God. We cherish our religion and cultural sanctity. 
   His Eminence, Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate Emeritus, The Methodist Church of Nigeria
Nigeria Should Take Her Stand On Her Conviction
The President has done well and I commend him along with the members of National Assembly for signing into law anti same-sex marriage bill. The President should not be afraid of US threat or give in to intimidation. There was a similar threat to the Anglican Communion and Nigeria Anglican Church called their bluff and if the Church can do that, Nigeria should equally be able to take her stand on her conviction without shaking. The President should know that we cannot because we want to please a nation or become members of those nations that take God for granted, turn our backs against God and swallow the bitter bill that would invite the wrath of God.
   Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Chairman, CAN, South-East and Bishop of Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion).
Think Of The Consequences Of Gay Marriage And Not Aids From America Or Europe
Romans 1: 26-28, which reads: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affection: 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 recompense 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 ….” The Bible in ages past talked about homosexuality and God’s position on the abnormal game!  Therefore in clear term, it contradicts the bible and there is no genuine man of God that can support such evil.
  The President has done the right thing by rejecting the evil because it is not only that God is against it, it is also alien to our culture in Africa.  It is not the will of God for mankind and the Bible speaks vehemently against it.  The President got it right and it is an evidence that he fears God.
    We should be thinking of the consequences of the evil rather than the material things we get in terms of aids from either America or Europe.
   Rev. Olusola Akinkuolie, Overseer, The Overflowing Life Ministry, Lagos
Mr. President’s Action Is To Save Nigeria From God’s Wrath
The effect of what Mr. President has done is to save Nigeria from the wrath of God. Of course, the implication of this, is that foreign countries would stop their financial aids or assistance; but come to think of it, do these aids really get to the people? Those in authority, those we call our leaders collect them and repatriate same back to the foreign banks. The action of Mr. President is a step in the right direction. For God’s sake, gay marriage is not the only sin in the world; it’s not the only moral issue, so, why would foreign governments pick on it?
  In the Bible we saw how God rained fire and brimstone on a city that really started this thing. And if God used them as example by visiting them with His wrath, why would Nigeria want to participate in it? Take a look at the nations supporting gay marriage and what is happening in them.
   Those who are into gay marriage or lesbianism affect other people because most of them become sexual predators, for instance, the Catholic Church, it has been revealed that more than 400 priests were sexual predators, they abused innocent boys.
  What government has done is not an infringement on human rights. It is the duty of government to correct morals. If people are behaving like dogs we should not leave it only to religious leaders. It is part of the responsibility of a leader in the society to correct such errors. And President Goodluck Jonathan has done just that.
   Dr. Francis Akin-John, Church Growth Consultant Expert.
Gay-Marriage Is Satanic And Destructive
President Jonathan’s decision to ignore western pressure and support homosexuality is one of the boldest steps that an African President has ever taken in recent time. Western support for gay-marriage comes with enticement wrapped in dollar, euro and pounds, but our President was not moved by that. It is a good thing that Nigeria has a President who recognises the fact that dollar euro and pounds cannot change Nigeria’s good relationship with God. Islam and Christianity forbade homosexuality because it is an act that can neither be defended in the physical nor spiritual.
 What is satanic is satanic no matter whether it is coming from people who claim to have universal power or not; God will for no reason change His standard. God did not make a mistake by creating Adam and Eve. Neither was the scripture wrong when it stated that a man shall leave his father and mother (Parents) and cling to his wife and both shall became one. Anything aside from this is not only satanic, but also destructive.
   Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South South zone.