The world is changing. It is changing at an ever quickening pace and it is changing in a more dramatic and fundamental way than ever, as well. Within the last few months, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of gay marriage, changing the definition of a 6,000-year old institution. Okay, so what should we as Christians be doing now? Complain? Protest? Fight? Accept? What does the Bible really say about marriage, homosexuality and our Christian responsibilities?
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To begin, we want to clarify, that we do not condemn or shun fellow members of the body of Christ for having a gay disposition of mind. We understand that for the most part, gay people were not heterosexuals who one day decided, “Hey, I think I would rather be gay.” In Matthew 19:12 (NASV), Jesus said, “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb…” Some take this to refer to a physical defect and others to the disposition of mind. Either way, it was not a choice, but rather either a condition someone was born with. If a gay person was born with that disposition of mind or developed it at any early age through social influences, in either of these two cases, it does not seem that a conscious choice was made. Nor did most of us make a conscious choice to be attracted to the opposite sex. We are just wired by God that way to fulfill his purpose to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:28 – NASV). Also, Genesis 2:24 (NASV) says, “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”
SUPREME COURT DECISION
On June 26, 2015, in a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5 to 4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation across the country by it’s supporters.
Rather than galvanizing Americans into a unified body, the Obergefell decision has left U.S. citizens more divided than ever on the question of gay marriage, after the court itself showed a deep divide on the issue. In an unprecedented move, the four opposing justices each published an independent dissent, leaving a mine of legal reasoning contrary to the majority opinion.
OPINION POLLS
The AP poll reveals that 42% of Americans favor legal gay marriage, while a similar poll carried out last April showed 48% in favor. Moreover, in conflicts between the interests of same-sex couples and those of religious liberty, a majority of Americans (56%) believe that government should rule in favor of religious freedom.
WARNING FROM JUSTICE ALITO OF CONSEQUENCES
In his strongly worded dissent from the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito warned that the ruling would have iniquitous effects on religious Americans and all those who believe in marriage as it has been understood in every culture until now. He said that the decision, “will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy. In the course of its opinion, the majority compares traditional marriage laws to laws that denied equal treatment for African-Americans and women. The implications of this analogy will be exploited by those who are determined to stamp out every vestige of dissent.”
Alito went on to say that people with a historical understanding of marriage will be considered to be extremists whose opinions have no place in polite society. “I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes,” he wrote, “but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools.”
CONSEQUENCES TO CHRISTIANS FOR REDEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY lists 9 ways redefining marriage impacts Christians.
“Children and religious freedom will be most negatively impacted by the U.S. Supreme Court decision redefining marriage:
“Harms Children: Redefining marriage denies children of same-sex couples either a mother or a father. Decades of social science research has shown children do best when they’re raised in a home with their married mom and dad. Government policies should reflect the benefits of both a mom and a dad.
“Forced Closures: Faith-based adoption agencies are being forced to close their doors when faced with laws and mandates requiring them to violate their religious beliefs by placing children in homes with same-sex parents. This pressure will increase in the coming days.
“Legal/Public Challenges: Christian business owners – photographers, bakers, inn keepers, florists and others – who politely decline to use their talents and businesses to participate in same-sex ceremonies experience harassment, legal challenges and crippling fines.
“Parental Rights: Parents who want a say in what their young children are being taught in school about homosexuality have found legalized same-sex marriage is a “trump card,” which overrides their parental rights, leaving them no say in the matter.
“Tax-Exempt Status: Pastors and churches will eventually face pressure to perform and celebrate same-sex marriages or face government retribution, such as the loss of tax-exempt status, or possibly be prosecuted for discrimination.
“Accrediting/Licensing: Private religious school accreditation, professional licenses and even employment criteria will increasingly require affirmation of homosexuality and same-sex marriage as a condition for approval.
“Counseling: There will be a continued push to ban counseling for teenagers who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions, and who desire therapy to address this.
“Grant Exclusions: Faith-based charities that adhere to God’s design for sexuality, marriage and family will be excluded from government grants that help serve the poor and needy at home and abroad.
“Endangered Freedoms: Freedom of speech will become endangered as the government passes regulatory and even criminal laws punishing Christian views of marriage, deeming it as “hate speech” in any type of media, including radio, print, television, and the Web. This is already the case in Canada and the U.K.
Those who adhere to a biblical view of sexuality, marriage and family will need to increase their efforts to share this truth with love, as opponents of God’s design push to silence and penalize supporters of one-man, one-woman marriage.”
IS GOD PRO GAY MARRIAGE OR IS HE A BIGOT?
Not only is opposing gay marriage politically incorrect, but sometimes those who hold this belief are more and more being viewed as bigots whom our society should punish and/or shame and bully into apologizing. So we ask the question: If Bible believing Christian’s are bigots for accepting God’s prohibition of gay sex, does that not make God himself a bigot for prohibiting gay marriage?
WHAT DOES GOD ACTUALLY SAY?
Many liberal Christians and advocates of same sex marriage will argue that the Bible does not prohibit gay sex and gay marriage for Christians. Let’s see what the Bible actually says and you can decide for yourself.
Leviticus 18:22
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.” (NLT)
Leviticus 20:13
“If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.” (NLT)
Romans 1:18-32
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness…. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (NLT)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NLT)
1 Timothy 1:8-10
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine … (ESV)
Check out the audio link above for elaboration on some of these verses.
Being gay IS a choice! Just as one chooses to take other immoral courses. When we choose to commit adultery, its a choice, when we choose to commit fornication, again a choice! The Bible is clear on this. Just as it is said in the Bible, he that keeps on looking at a woman has committed adultery in his heart. the same goes for those that have as you say, a gay frame of mind etc.
Thanks David. Yes, the act of gay sex is a choice, just as the act of adultery is a choice. However, gay feelings, depending on how and when they came about, may not have been a personal choice. To please our heavenly Father, we can resist our feelings and lusts and then be obedient in behavior and pray for his help that our feelings will align with his moral standards.
1 Corinthians 6:13 (NIV) “You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
Galatians 5:16 (NIV) “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV) “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Homesexuality is a choice! Just like one chooses to commit fornication, adultery or beastality. People may have certain desires, but they choose to act on them! The Bible clearly condemns gay marriage and homosexuality. It is very very clear!