In Israel. Tel Aviv had a gay pride parade in June 1 (its 18th annual). 200,000 were said to attend. Some Israeli Defense Force personnel participated. Israel’s Tourism Ministry markets Tel Aviv worldwide as “the premiere LGBT tourism destination.” Jerusalem had a gay pride parade in July (its 15th annual). Some participants waved rainbow flags with the Star of David at the center.

I mention these parades not to “bash” gays or gay pride parades. I mention them because they were held in Israel and were not small, isolated events. I mention them because many conservative Christians make the mistake of confusing the biblical people of Israel with the country of Israel as whole or the government of Israel. These parades must be quite embarrassing to those conservative Christians who consider homosexuality to be a grave sin and at the same time blindly follow whatever Israel does and its leaders say.

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