Fire & Ice!

Last night, our pastor debated the editor of Q Salt Lake, Bob Henline. Originally, Mr. Henline asked Pastor Mallinak to write an article explaining the Biblical position on homosexuality. Shortly after this, Mr. Henline invited Pastor Mallinak to debate the Non-discrimination ordinance in Ogden...that is, the debate was over the possible Ogden ordinance, and the debate was held in Ogden.

In an admirable show of respectability and propriety, both sides were mostly able to maintain a civil front and actually discuss the issues. This debate was very different than what you might hear on most talk-radio or TV shows. The tone was fairly calm and honorable, but the debate did become somewhat heated.

Discussions began with opening arguments and follow-up rebuttal speeches. Following that, Darcy Goddard, of the ACLU, moderated questions from the audience and responses from participants in a fair and gracious way. She did an excellent job.

(Darcy Goddard)

Pastor Mallinak made the points that this ordinance, which prohibits someone from "harassing" or "discriminating" against someone who is LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender), will restrict a Christian's right to express himself according to his faith and belief in the Bible. He further pointed out that this ordinance was coercive, and it allowed the city government to venture in to an area that should not be part of its jurisdiction...religion and morality.

Mr. Henline argued that this does not restrict a person's right to express his religious beliefs, but it does govern his acting upon those beliefs. He said, "Your religious freedom stops when it causes you to take actions that harm other people."

Pastor Mallinak countered by saying that at some point, two people with two different standards of morality will collide on an issue. When that happens, one or both will be "harmed" in the process. Who then is to say which standard of morality should outweigh the other? He also went on to deliver an enthusiastic appeal for the protection of private property rights of both business owners and landlords.

In the end, it was a good opportunity to see a topic discussed, challenged, examined, and contested in a manner that allowed the focus to remain on the issue, not personal antics, as is usually the case.

To counter any heated tempers or fiery debates, we had another snowstorm. About three inches fell in three hours. After that, everything froze. It made for quite a "Winter Wonderland'...in March.