I have found that whenever we preach or emphasize one truth of God’s Word to the exclusion of the others, it becomes a mixture and produces both good and bad fruit. For example, this has happened with the hypergrace movement, as well as the view of hyperfaith. From an overemphasis on outward holiness, we get legalism. And we come into a form of fatalism when we emphasize God’s sovereignty at the expense of human responsibility.
- Nick Clegg’s speech to Lib Dem conference 2013 (libdemvoice.org, 18 September 2013)
- Same-sex marriage opponents ARE bigots, says Clegg ex-aide (21 September 2012)
- Clegg’s ‘bigots’ jibe was like bullying, says poll (19 September 2012)
- Clegg tries to reassure churches over ‘bigots’ gaffe (13 September 2012)
Thu, 19 Sep 2013
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg used his conference speech to sneer at those who wanted to maintain the traditional meaning of marriage.
He said that while he was celebrating the redefinition of marriage outside the House of Lords, “dinosaurs” were on the inside voting against it.
As the vote was taking place, Mr Clegg said the right place to be was with campaigners outside Parliament clapping along to the Abba song, ‘Dancing Queen’.
Concerns
Lib Dem grandee Shirley Williams was one of those within his own party who had raised concerns about redefining marriage.
Last year Nick Clegg’s office was forced to retract a speech, issued to the media, which called opponents of gay marriage “bigots”.
Beating a hasty retreat, Nick Clegg said he never intended to make the remark and it was a drafting error by his officials.
Respect
He wrote to the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, insisting he respects those who disagree with him over the redefinition of marriage.
But a former aide to Mr Clegg said people who want to retain traditional marriage are bigots and the Lib Dem leader should have said so.
A poll conducted in the wake of the “bigot” slur showed that most people thought it was wrong to use the word, and half thought it was a form of bullying.
At the time, Colin Hart of the Coalition for Marriage said: “Mr Clegg has badly damaged his reputation by throwing around this cheap insult.”
