A Tale of Two Kingdoms
In This Corner -- By Brian Knowles

The Dead Sea Scrolls include an interesting story about the battle between "the Sons of Light" and the "Sons of Darkness." I couldn't help but think of it when I picked up the Los Angeles Times this morning.

One of the reasons we cancelled our subscription to the Times is its relentless propagandizing on behalf of gay and lesbian issues. The amount of copy devoted to promoting gay movements, causes and issues is far out of proportion to the number of readers who could be homosexual. This morning's edition ran a major article, starting on page 1, entitled "Zimbabwe's Gays Go 'Out' at Great Risk."

Zimbabwe's gays! Where on earth is Zimbabwe? Zimbabwe is a land-locked nation of just under 12 million people situated in Southern Africa on the borders of South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana. Except for its occasional political upheavals, we don't hear much about it. But now that gays are having trouble coming out of the closet there, it's front page news. The Times will compass land and sea to find any pro-gay story.

The story started on page 1 and took up most of page 12.

Curiously, on page 13, taking up the whole page, was an ad sponsored by an assortment of Christian organizations the headline of which read, "We're standing for the truth that homosexuals can change." The ad featured a group picture representing a cross section of more than 850 former homosexuals who had, with the help of God, changed.

It was as though "the sons of darkness" got one page, and the "sons of light" got another. On the pages, the positions of the two kingdoms regarding homosexuality were clearly articulated. Satan got his licks in via the feature story. God's response was represented in the ad. At the level of words, it was a clash of kingdoms.

In today's insane world, moral wrongs have become a basis for civil rights. Those who take exception to that approach have become the leaders of the opposition in the so-called "Civil War of Values." Ultimately, it all focuses on the Bible. Is it really God's word? Does it -- should it -- have moral authority in the real world? If the answer to those questions is yes, then the editors of the Times should hear the words of one of its prophets who spoke on behalf of God:

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)."

As the world chooses up sides, which side will you take? Will you be a son or daughter of light -- or of darkness? As the battle heats up, the servants of light may take some casualties. But in the end, the light will prevail.