I have started and restarted several posts on the redefinition of marriage. Before posting one of them, I read a blog by Andy Jerome. He’s the pastor of the Parsons Primitive Methodist Church in PA. It’s a great take on the issue and I’d like to share this blog with you. Please consider his words.
Why Marriage Equality (Same- Sex Marriage) Is A Huge Issue
The United States Supreme Court is in the process of deciding two cases that could literally change the moral fabric of our society. Last week the court heard arguments asking it to declare proposition 8, a California ballot item establishing marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and the defense of marriage act (DOMA) signed into law by President Clinton doing the very same thing on a Federal level, unconstitutional. If the court would rule on either case it would most likely open the door for same sex marriage to become the norm in our society. Some might ask the question, so what is wrong with that? After all, we live in a very diverse society and shouldn’t everyone enjoy the same rights? I’d like to address that question and a few others from a Biblical perspective because I unashamedly believe the Word of God is the source and standard of all truth.
For a true Christian this issue is rather quite simple. The Bible is very clear on several key things surrounding this issue. 1) God loves all people and so should we. Just because someone might disagree does not necessarily make them a hater. Every person should be affirmed as a human being but sinful lifestyles can never be accepted as being ok in the sight of God. 2) The Bible (both the old and new testaments) refers to homosexuality as a sin (Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) just to name a few. The argument that because Jesus never specifically spoke against homosexuality so we really can’t say how God feels is not a valid argument. God inspires all scripture so no section of scripture has any more authority than others. 3) Some of the harshest language is used when referring to the sin of homosexuality- words such as abomination, detestable, perversion, and unnatural. 4) All sins are not equal- the Bible states that sexual sins are in a different class than other sins- (1 Corinthians 6:18-20.) 5) Believers are called to be salt and light in the world. We are called to preserve the truth of God’s word and illuminate the darkness of sin in this world. The Bible makes it very clear how God feels about sin, including and especially the sin of homosexuality.
For those who do not believe in God or accept the Bible then this issue is not as clear-cut since unbelievers do not look to the Bible for the definition of right and wrong or use it as a moral compass. I can certainly understand why a non-believer would look at the issue of same-sex marriage as a rights issue.
With that said, I would never deny anyone’s right to believe whatever they want to believe as long as everyone understand that not everyone is looking at this issue through the same lens.
So why should believers be concerned about what our supreme court does? First, since the whole concept of marriage originated with God (Genesis 2:23-24) it is God’s definition that believers are called to uphold. Secondly, history tells us that the sin of homosexuality has led to the downfall of other great empires, specifically the Roman and Grecian Empires. Thirdly and most compelling is the fact that the Bible pronounces a judgment upon those who give approval to sinful behavior- (Romans 1:32).
To sum it up, while many are trying to frame this issue as an equality issue, or a generational issue, or a diversity issue, or a rights issue, the truth is- it is a moral issue. God, not man, is the author of morality. Since this is a moral issue we really have to ask ourselves, is this an issue we really want our supreme court to act upon? If you say you believe in God and accept the Bible then the only acceptable answer is no! If you say you’re a believer then you simply can’t go around saying, “I believe in God and His Word but…” When it comes to this issue, it is very clear how God feels.
So how should a believer respond? First we should affirm everyone as a human being loved by God. But we cannot under any circumstances condone sinful behavior or worse yet endorse laws that would contradict God’s Word. As a believer I would personally like to call upon the church to be in prayer for our Supreme Court justices. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction upon them and when it comes time to render a decision, that they would uphold the constitutionality of both Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. This is a huge issue that could impact our nation for decades to come.