Is Economics(Love of Money) Fueling Gay Marriage?

Can you say dollar signs $$$!

I initially wrote this story with GCMWatch back in March 11, 2010, called "For the Love of Money and Same-Sex Marriage," currently the United States Supreme Court is hearing cases on the ban on Same-Sex Marriage in California along with the defense of marriage act(DOMA). If the ban on Gay Marriage(Prop. 8) be lifted so that Same-Sex Marriage would be legal in the state of California, and defense of marriage act is repealed then it is a possibility Same-Sex Marriage would become legalize in the entire United States. Is economics one the factors for the push to legalize Same-Sex Marriage? Let us examine this question.

Although the people of California voted yes on Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriages, the battle still rages on in the homosexual community to make it legal.  But the battle involves more than just gays and lesbians fighting for and gaining the right to marry both in California and elsewhere. Believe it or not, economics is now playing strong role in the same-sex marriage.  How, you ask?  Through the wedding industry!  If same-sex marriages were legalized everywhere the wedding industry would experience an economic increase through the onslaught of new homosexual clients.  Let me explain…

Forbes Magazine’s online article on June 16th, 2009, estimated that the financial impact gay weddings would have if legalized nationally, would add up to a whooping $9.5 billion if you added engagement rings, banquet halls, wedding dresses, and honeymoons. This would most definitely have a financial impact in our country.  But is it really worth the cost of selling our morality for the almighty dollar?

In the June 15th, 2008 online article, “California Boosted by Gay Marriage Bonanza,” the University of California at Los Angeles did a study stating that the same-sex marriage industry would create 2,100 new jobs.  In addition, the spending of same-sex residences would boost the economy by $683.6 million dollars.  Analysts also feel that California would have a monopoly on the same-sex marriage industry and would cause a boom in tourism business.

When gay activists believed that Proposition 8 would be defeated cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Palm Springs were ready to market themselves as gay-friendly wedding destinations.  Jack Kyser, the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, said that same-sex marriages would lift local tourist sectors as fears of recession gripped the tourist industry.

First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through many sorrows.” Many lobbyist and politicians are influenced by money these homosexual groups pump into their pockets.  In return these wayward politicians come up with gay-friendly laws and get bills passed through the state and federal governments. It’s all about the Benjamin’s!  The love of money has made these judges, lobbyist, politicians; businesses sell out their morals to the “dolla’ dolla’” bill. The fact is this: behind the wicked collaboration of homosexuals, attorneys, lobbyist, judges, and politicians there is the love of the money same-sex marriages can introduce into the national economy.

Today, Hollywood does an excellent job promoting homosexual lifestyle through movies and television. Let’s remember that Sodom and Gomorrah were prosperous cities in their time.  But despite their prosperity, God still judged them for their unrighteousness.  In the days of the Prophet Jeremiah, Judah was prosperous nation but backslidden from God.  Jeremiah tried to tell the nation to repent and return back to God. However his words fell on deaf ears.  Judah trusted more in their riches and they were eventually judged and taken into Babylonian captivity. 

Updated Estimated Projected  Economic Numbers 2013 for Same-Sex Marriage

In New York City, it has been reported that the city has obtained $259 million boost from Same-Sex Marriage weddings since it was legalized last year (source)

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With state of Washington it reported that Same-Sex Marriage will boost the economy of Washington by $88 million in the next three years(source).

The state of Maryland since legalizing Same-Sex Marriage is looking at an estimated $62.6 millions boosted by homosexuals couples spending money on weddings(source).

In a new economic study of the state of Hawaii, they found that if same-marriage was legalized in the state it boost the economy between $46 million to $258 million between 2014-2016, because of increase of same-sex couples visiting the island to marry, wedding ceremonies, and by out of state same-sex couples coming to Hawaii to honeymoon/tourism (source).

The Image of Jealousy(Sexual Sin is Idolatry)

Multiple Breast Goddess Idol

In today's times, the Church really needs to examine what may provoke G-d to jealousy. Exodus 20:5 says, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them, for I am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third, and fourth generation of them that hate me." Looking at Ezekiel 8:3, it states, "And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate, that looketh toward the north; where was the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy." The notes from NIV(New International Version) Study Bible for that verse states that the idol that was in the temple was statue of the Canaanite fertility goddess Asherah(Astaroth).

Who is Asherah? 

    Goddess Asherah

Asherah is an idol goddess that was worshiped by the Canaanite people. This goddess is known as Venus by the Romans, Diana Greco-Romans, Artemis Greeks, Isis by the Egyptians, and Ishtar by both the Assyrians and Babylonians. Asherah's name means lasciviousness, lust, and seduction. This goddess represents sexual perversion, along with the male idol counterpart Baal. 

Sexual acts were conducted during the worship of Asherah, abominable acts of multiple sex partners, sodomy(homosexual activity), and sex with temple prostitutes, women dressing like men and men dressing like women(transvestites), and pornography. The idol of Asherah had sexually perverted overtones, showing multiple breasts. Asherah places of worship had groves, which were altars of worship of mostly sexual perversion and were also called the high places. Asherah was the worship of sexually perverse demons.

Judah in Ezekiel 8:1-18 was guilty of setting up an idol of Asherah in the temple of G-d, and was thought that they were practicing these acts in secret, where G-d did not see them. Ezekiel 8:12 says, "Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?  For they say, the Lord seeth us not; Lord hath forsaken the earth."

21st Century Church and Worship of Asherah 

The church of the 21st century has fallen into the worship of Asherah in an indirect way. Statistics show 80% of Christians are dealing with sexual sins(source/source). A survey of lay leaders and pastors conducted by Leadership Magazine revealed that 62% have viewed pornography. New Man magazine states that 1 out of 10 men attending church are dealing with a sexual addiction. 37% of pastors in a Christianity Today survey indicated that they struggle with internet pornography.

Young, old, single, married, lay member and those in ministerial positions come on Sunday morning to worship in the house of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yet, in private, they have erected an idol of Asherah in their temple, which is their body. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 says, " Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

The modern idols of Asherah have been set up in the hearts and minds of some in today's church as follows: singles who continue to have pre-martial sex(fornication), adultery, men and women viewing pornographic material(via the Internet, magazines, and DVD's/Videos), men and women committing homosexual acts, teenagers viewing pornography on the internet and watching music videos on stations as BET and MTV(which is nothing more than soft porn). In the Greek, the word porneuo means to indulge in unlawful lust of either sex, to practice idolatry, to commit fornication.

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is soon. The Church must cry out with a loud voice to its people to rid their hearts of Asherah and any sexual sin that has ensnared them; we must warn them that they need to cleanse their personal temples. Do not provoke G-d to jealousy by having the image of jealousy in your hearts. Tear down the high places of your hearts. Let Jesus be number one in our lives. The people of G-d need to confess sin and repent. G-d will forgive and deliver you. Saints, let us live holy and sanctified lifestyles. AMEN.