A court has ruled that Yad HaShmona, a kibbutz run by Messianic believers in Israel, must pay two lesbians 60,000 shekels after they cancelled a reception they had booked for their friends and family.

The judge ordered the community to pay an additional 20,000 NIS in legal fees after ruling that Yad HaShmona had unfairly discriminated against the two and caused them humiliation regarding their sexual orientation. The two women, who entered a Civil Partnership in Britain in 2008, had booked the reception at the kibbutz without informing them of the nature of their relationship. When Yad HaShmona did find out about it, they told them they would have to cancel the event. But the two lesbians brought the matter to court and the judge subsequently ruled in their favour, effectively declaring that equality laws trump freedom of conscience...

Quote: ““Every person who opens a public business in Israel should know that they must serve the whole public equally, without discrimination, according to laws, which cover sexual orientation as well. As soon as the defendants opened their doors to all, they cannot close them for those who they believe do not meet the requirements found in the Bible or New Testament, thereby damaging their dignity and sensitivities,” explained the judge.

I had the privilege of visiting Yad HaShmona in 2008 during my first visit to Israel, and for me it was the highlight of my trip. It was wonderful to see how the volunteers brought out the truths of the Scriptures in their 'Biblical village' and to see Jewish believers that had put their trust in the Messiah of Israel for salvation. I am very saddened to hear that Yad HaShmona may now be considering closing their hotel as a result of this débâcle. But like so many Catholic adoption agencies in the UK that have already been forced to close their doors as a result of the Sexual Orientation Regulations, Yad HaShmona has become the latest victim in this politically correct war on Christian values. Just last week the British Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, was forced to recall a speech he was due to give in the House of Commons in which he would have branded opponents of the government's plan to legalize same-sex 'marriage' as 'bigots'...

Quote: “”Continued trouble in the economy gives the bigots a stick to beat us with, as they demand we 'postpone' the equalities agenda in order to deal with 'the things people really care about'.”

He later apologized for that statement. But his remarks show just how out of touch our government is when they call the voters 'bigots' for holding an opposing view on an issue that many have strong beliefs about.

The Lord Jesus Christ warned that just as it was in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot, so it would also be in the days of His Second Coming (Luke 17:28). The days of Noah were characterized by violence and corruption (Genesis 6:11), while the days of Lot were characterized by sexual immorality (Genesis 19:5). As Christians, we are not intolerant of homosexuals or lesbians, nor do we think that their sin is greater than any other type of sin. The Bible says all manner of sin shall be forgiven men (Matthew 12:31). And praise God that Christ died for all sin (Isaiah 53:6). God is merciful. But we must heed the warning given. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ...

Luke 13:3
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish

Do not be like the people of Lot's day, who scoffed at the message of salvation and perished in the overthrow of the city. Be like the people of Nineveh, who “believed God” and repented at the preaching of Jonah. Do not be like the people in Noah's day, who refused God's ark of salvation and perished in the flood. Be like Noah and his family, who were safe on board the ark when the judgement fell. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source Haaretz, BBC