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Last May, then Vice President Joe Biden praised Tim Gill for his wonderful work in advancing the LGBTQ agenda saying "no telling where the agenda would be without Gill."
Attorney Mary Bonauto, who argued successfully in the same-sex marriage case "Obergefell v. Hodges" ---the case where the Court supposedly redefined marriage---agrees with Biden in praising Gill.
Tech Millionaire Tim Gill is now telling Rolling Stone Magazine he is going to "punish the wicked" who stand in the way of "progress."
Who are the "wicked" in his mind?
Christian writer Rod Dreher in his new book, "The Benedict Option," is calling for Christians to retreat to "conscience-forming communities" similar to those of 3rd and 4th-century monks to avoid the coming persecution.
Some Christian leaders agree.
Tim Gill told Rolling Stone Magazine he plans to "punish the wicked who hold traditional views about sexual morality."
That would be most biblical Christians.
He says he is not satisfied with the fact that marriage has been redefined by the Supreme Court, he now plans to target conservative "red states" with laws that protect religious people who disagree with the homosexual movement---and the people who support those laws.
Gill has already poured $422 million of his own wealth into this assault on the "wicked"---more than any other individual in America.
His Gill Foundation underwrites academic research, polling, litigation, data analytics and field organizing---all to advance the agenda---and now "punish the wicked."
He reminded Rolling Stone last week that he has already had success.
Last year he rallied more than 100 corporations, including Coca-Cola, Google, and Marriott behind a front group called "Georgia Prospers," threatening to pull out of the state unless Christian Georgia Governor Nathan Deal vetoed a "Religious Freedom Restoration Act."
Deal caved and vetoed it.
He has also had success in North Carolina. NC Gov, Pat McCory signed a state law regulating public restrooms, locker rooms, and other intimate facilities on the basis of biological sex---not gender preference or identification.
Gill did the same thing in NC. He rallied PayPal, the NBA and other high profile companies who promised to pull out corporately or cancel events if McCory didn't veto the bill.
You may recall that Seattle Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson had planned to get married in North Carolina last year, but moved the wedding to Europe because of this issue.
McCory did not cave.
When McCory wouldn't veto, Gill then attacked the "wicked" Christian Governor and succeeded in defeating him by the narrowest margin in his reelection campaign. The election winner Democrat Roy Cooper had attended Gill's meeting in Manhattan where Biden was praising Gill.
Clearly, all this has an impact on Christians in the culture.
The Christian Post reported on a meeting a couple of weeks ago where scholars and defenders of religious freedom had come together at the National Press Club to discuss a new book by author and columnist Rod Dreher titled, "The Benedict Option," which is creating a onsiderable buzz both in and outside the Christian community.
Dreher says two events have changed everything. "First, the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision redefining marriage, and secondly, the capitulation of conservative politicians under pressure from big business in not backing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act."
I agree that those two issues are monumental to freedom of religion in America.
The book explains at great length how dramatically American culture has shifted away from Judeo-Christian norms and argues that "Christians who value theological orthodoxy must create conscience-forming communities patterned after Benedict of Nursia, an Italian monk who lived from 487-547 AD."
He says, "Such an effort is necessary if the Christian faith is to survive the onslaught from increasingly hostile secular progressives."
I disagree. Christians are not called to survival. We are called to be "salt" and "light."
While the Christian Post reports on the discussion, I found very little substance in relation to what is a major consideration of our time---how should Christians respond to the chaos in our culture?
On the other hand, The Atlantic, a widely read Left to far Left magazine, has written a feature article on Dreher's book titled, "The Christian Retreat From Public Life."
Ironically, The Atlantic, while not supportive of biblical Christianity at all, has raised the questions you would expect in a Christian publication.
They begin with this: "Rod Dreher makes a powerful argument for communal religious life in his book, 'The Benedict Option'. But he has not wrestled with how to live side by side with people unlike him."
Their point of view in the question is that of so-called politically correct "tolerance," but the question must be asked.
After their review of the book, they say, "Nothing in this language [of the book] suggests that Dreher is ready to live tolerantly alongside people with different views. If progressives wrote about the Bible as a 'lot of babble about Jesus and God', using language similar to that of the parent Dreher cites, he would be quick to cry foul against the ignorance and intolerance of the Left," calling his language "dismissive and mocking."
Clearly this shows their own intolerance toward biblical Christianity.
While they miss it, it also reveals the difference between the goals of the secular progressive and the biblical Christian.
While the New Testament instructs us to be at peace with others, it also instructs us not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed---different than the others outside of Christ.
Secularists want to "conform people" while biblical Christians are called to be "transformed."
And, frankly, the biblical goal for God's people is not a contrived unity, but it is to influence---go into all the world and preach the gospel---to be "salt" and "light."
The Atlantic says this: "Dreher does not engage: How should Christians be in fellowship with people unlike them?"
Christians are not called to "fellowship" with unbelievers, but to influence unbelievers.
The lengthy Atlantic article claims Dreher and others like him are acting out of fear---fear of people who are different then him.
Tim Gill is counting on that.
And they conclude that Dreher probably wrote the book for people like himself---"those who share his faith, convictions, and feelings of cultural alienation," but even for those Christians who want to withdraw from society...they say, "Dreher's monastery walls may be too high, and his mountain pass to narrow."
This, I believe, brings focus to a very important question---perhaps the most important question of all for biblical Christians.
How then should we live? In fear? Or in faith? In isolation? Or in the world, but not of the world?
I'm talking more about this on the radio today. Join me live at 9 AM from anywhere in the world. Here's how.
Be Faithful. Be Bold. Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.