Family/Social Issues Failed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: YES

Pornography adulterates society; civil government must restrain evil (Rom 13) and protect marriage.

Summary

Allows local governments to zone sexually oriented businesses to restrict their location.

Biblical Reasoning

Adultery was a capital crime in the Old Testament ( Lev. 20:10). Our English word tells us something about this sin. Adultery adulterates (debases, contaminates, makes impure) the relationship with one’s mate. It eats away at the very fabric of society. It must be restrained. Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil ( Matt. 5:27-30; Rom. 1:24; Gal. 5:19; Rev. 21:27). It must be strongly discouraged by the civil government.

The Bible wholeheartedly affirms the beauty, blessedness and joy of sexual relationships in the context of marriage… But this is precisely what is attacked by the satanic pornography industry. The horror of pornography is that it removes the wonder and beauty of Biblical sexuality in the context of marriage, tarnishing the most intimate of our human relationships.

The Bible is the standard by which all men’s actions must be properly evaluated and governed. It tells us that civil government’s job is to effect public good by restraining certain sins as it punishes those that do evil (Rom. 13:4) and by praising the righteous (2 Pet. 2:14 ).

Leviticus 20:10 — “Adultery was a capital crime in the Old Testament”
Matthew 5:27-30 — “Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil”
Romans 1:24 — “Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil”
Galatians 5:19 — “Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil”
Revelation 21:27 — “Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil”
Romans 13:4 — “civil government’s job is to effect public good by restraining certain sins as it punishes those that do evil”
2 Peter 2:14 — “and by praising the righteous”

Election Results

47%
53%
YesNo

Voters rejected the regulation of sexually oriented businesses (53% No).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: If passed, Measure 87 would change the Oregon Constitution and permit local governments to regulate the location of sexually oriented businesses through zoning. (The courts have found that under the current language of the Oregon Constitution, civil government can do nothing to check the spread of pornographic businesses in neighborhoods.) We strongly support this Measure.

Adultery was a capital crime in the Old Testament ( Lev. 20:10). Our English word tells us something about this sin. Adultery adulterates (debases, contaminates, makes impure) the relationship with one’s mate. It eats away at the very fabric of society. It must be restrained. Clearly, the Bible asserts that pornography is a like sin, an adulterating evil ( Matt. 5:27-30; Rom. 1:24; Gal. 5:19; Rev. 21:27). It must be strongly discouraged by the civil government.

The Bible wholeheartedly affirms the beauty, blessedness and joy of sexual relationships in the context of marriage. In the most intimate of our moments as man and wife, we express love in a way that is most blessed. Clearly, this is what we desire for our children as they mature and move towards marriage. But this is precisely what is attacked by the satanic pornography industry. The horror of pornography is that it removes the wonder and beauty of Biblical sexuality in the context of marriage, tarnishing the most intimate of our human relationships. How can it help but wreak havoc on the public good?

The Bible is the standard by which all men’s actions must be properly evaluated and governed. It tells us that civil government’s job is to effect public good by restraining certain sins as it punishes those that do evil (Rom. 13:4) and by praising the righteous (2 Pet. 2:14 ). We would prefer an outright ban of pornographic materials. But this Measure provides at least one tool by which the civil government can restrain evil in our neighborhoods. We therefore support Measure 87, and strongly urge you to vote Yes on it.

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