Same-Sex Marriage, the Bible, and Christ’s Disciples

Home > blog > Same-Sex Marriage, the Bible, and Christ’s Disciples

Discussion Board
This discussion board is intended to be an extension of our fellowship as a FAMILY of GOD from all nations and to foster our desire to passionately exalt Jesus Christ as Savior, Treasure and LORD over all of life, and to express His love through the transforming power of the Gospel.

Friday, 01 June 2012 06:16

Same-sex "marriage" has been an increasingly hot topic in this country of late. Most highly publicized in recent days has been the President’s vocalized support of it and the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that the Defense of Marriage Act (which had denied federal benefits to partners of same-sex unions) is unconstitutional. A vote is set for this coming November in our own state to decide whether marriage should legally be defined as limited to one man and one woman. To date, thirty eight (38) states have adopted prohibitions against same-sex marriage while another six (6) and the District of Columbia have enacted laws in support of it.

That this issue must even be debated (something unheard of not many years ago) is telling about the moral condition and direction of this country. Morality and truth are increasingly viewed as matters of individual opinion subject to popular vote when they impact the wider culture. But as Christ’s disciples we cannot accept or adopt this way of thinking. Morality and truth are not matters of personal opinion, nor are they subject to popular vote or court decisions. We are clearly told the truth about morality and life in the Bible, which remains today just as “profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness” as was when originally inspired and authored (2 Tim. 3:16). And though it may frequently be mocked, reinterpreted, and outright disregarded when raised as an authority in matters of morality and public policy, that does not change the reality of its God-endowed authority over all of life (any more than, for example, denying the existence of Paris as a city changes the reality of its existence as a city). We must continue to look to it as the authority and not be swayed by the changing tides of human sentiment (whether on the issue of marriage or any other matter).

Regarding the matter of marriage, God speaks clearly through the Bible. “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) Never is the possibility of a legitimate same-sex marital relationship raised within the Bible’s 1,189 chapters. Whenever the matter of homosexuality is addressed, it is clearly acknowledged as sin resulting from mankind’s disregard for and distrust of God (see 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:18-27). Because mankind has chosen to exchange the truth about God for a lie, “God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:25-27)

While we should and must sincerely love those whose views differ from our own, we cannot in the name of “love” disregard the truth or conform to the prevailing notions of the day. True love keeps God’s commandments (1 John 5:3). A “love” which disregards holiness and truth encourages the corruption of society, the damnation of individuals, and the dishonor of God. We are called to be a people who not only “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness”, but who instead even “expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). This applies as equally to the matters of homosexuality and marriage in our present day as to innumerable other issues. We cannot remain aloof as evil is popularized and sin seeks protection through the enactment of illegitimate laws.

Do not let the culture around you discourage, overwhelm, or scare you. We have already been told that the world will hate us, because it has hated Christ (John 15:18-21; 1 John 3:13). Our mandate has not changed. We are to believe and declare the truth of the gospel in love and boldness, in season and out (2 Timothy 4:2; Matthew 28:18-20). Let us therefore pray(!), speak, act, and vote in regards to marriage and every other issue of our day in a manner that reflects that our citizenship and hope are in heaven, where laws do not change with the tide of human opinion, but where the one true, gracious, and righteous God reigns as King and is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 13:8).

Comments

Add New