Thursday, 10 May 2012 06:45
This is an essay I don't want to write. I'd much rather talk about Josh Hamilton's four home runs, an historic event that is still making news in Texas and around baseball. Or the underwear bomb plot foiled by a CIA double-agent. But the same-sex marriage issue won't go away. On Tuesday, North Carolina voters approved a state constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage and civil unions in their state. Yesterday a bill granting civil unions to same-sex couples failed to advance in Colorado's legislature.Then President Obama made his landmark declaration to ABC's Robin Roberts: "It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." His statements mark the first time a U.S. president has publicly endorsed gay marriage.
What are his reasons? Mr. Obama knows aides "who are in incredibly committed monogamous same-sex relationships who are raising kids together." He thought about members of our military "who are out there fighting on my behalf, and yet feel constrained . . . because they're not able to commit themselves in a marriage." And he believes that the Golden Rule requires him to support what he calls "same sex equality."
Taking Scripture as my highest authority, I must respectfully disagree with the president's position and logic. As I stated earlier this week, the Bible intends marriage to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). Undoubtedly there are people in "committed monogamous same-sex relationships," as Mr. Obama observed. But should we build our moral positions on unchanging truth or personal experience? Would his logic endorse committed polygamous relationships? What about adult-child or inter-family relationships? Once we change our laws on the basis of personal experience or preferences, where do we stop?
I am as grateful as the president for our military, but question whether unbiblical activity is more legitimate because it is practiced by soldiers or any other subset of our population. And given Paul's opposition to homosexual activity, I wonder if the apostle would feel that the Golden Rule sanctions such behavior. If you were engaged in harmful behavior, would it be better for me to affirm you or warn you?
This essay is not an endorsement of any political candidate, and I hope it will be my last comment on gay marriage for a while. But I am convinced that a nation which wants to experience God's best must live biblically. As I continue to intercede daily for our president (1 Timothy 2:1-4), I will pray for him to lead our nation according to God's standards. And I will pray that I live the same way.
Related Article: Same Sex Marriage - What Do You Tell Your Kids
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Jeani d
I would agree that his statement has more to do with grabbing votes than actually caring about the rights of same sex partners. Mr. Obama and his staff can read the poll numbers and they know that unless something drastic happens he is going to lose the next election.
This is the same man who has called the US Constitution an outdated document after swearing, on a Bible no less, that he would defend this country and it's Constitution. I am assuming that he had no regard for either the Constitution nor the Bible that he swore on because as far as I can tell he did not take that oath seriously.
An issue arose yesterday in the New York Court of Appeals that is even more important and disheartening than this one:
news.yahoo.com/.../...
Frankly I am surprised to find you don't mention it. I assumed you would. But I know this is a favorite subject to wring our hands over as evangelicals, so perhaps that is why you chose to write about his instead of the above issue. And I understand that.
But might I suggest that while Jesus never really mentioned homosexuality, he did mention the protection of children as being a high priority with grave consequences for not doing so. In fact, I would argue he views no class of people more important than children.
On the issue of gay marriage, I couldn't agree with you more. And yes, I also think the gay marriage issue impacts some children. But not nearly the impact the NY Court of Appeals decision will have, if allowed to stand by higher courts.
My intent was not to criticize, but to register my surprise. Sorry you were offended.
Bill Propes
First the administration is above the Constitution and now they are above the Bible! What is next???
And that my friends is NOT George Bush's fault!
He needs our prayers desperately, and so does our nation.
Having said that, we must not be surprised; because The Body Of Christ has been living like the world -the divorce rate testifies to that- and GOD CAN NOT BE MOCKED.
May we turn from our wicked ways; so that He will have mercy on us.
Also, I hope, at some point, you will address the fact that the presumptive GOP nominee holds a high position of leadership in a cult (by Northwest Bible Church's definition). I have a much harder time supporting a member of a cult as our president than I do supporting our Christian president who desires fairness for all Americans. Thank you, Dr. Denison,for considering my remarks and have a great day!
Jean,
I for one do not fully understand the inner workings of the Mormon faith, but those against Romney have framed it as a cult. Having said that, would President Obama's church in Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ, be considered a cult of some sort. I base that on the hate speech that was used by the pastor Jeremiah Wright for so many years. I am not familiar with any christian churches that preach the way Pastor Wright preached
There is a difference between a deceived Christian, an atheist, and a Satan worshiper. Based on the Bible, Jeremiah Wright is in no way a Christian. In biblical reality anyone who believes in anyone or anything other than Christ for guidance or salvation is technically no different than a Satan worshiper. In such a case, Satan has a legal right to engage and possibly possess a person.
Without actively knowing it, you have hit the problem directly on the head: With the Bible as my highest authority...."
This is the exact trouble with the society in these United States of America.
We have allowed others to displace the Word of God with the opinions and preferences of the ungodly.
However, there is good news even in this. Kindly review the message of Psalm 1. It says clearly that "the way of the ungodly will perish." And that includes all this slimy fascination with homosexuality.
Once again, your wisdom and intellect are apparent in your consistently biblical commentary.
One thing I think it is important to add: It seems to me that being homosexual is not the sin; it is practicing homosexuality. Just as being heterosexual is not a sin, but wanton sexual conduct is.
Of course, we are all sinners. The problem really comes to the forefront when people identify themselves by their sexual proclivities, celebrating sexual conduct as their identity, rather than as being children of God.
Thanks again for your willingness to tackle the most difficult issues.
Thanks for the biblical perspective and the potent statement about authority vs. emotion. As a pastor, I fully believe we, as a church, will be challenged to confront this issue head-on when eventually gay marriage is ultimately legalized. Too many people, even within our churches, see it as a civil rights issue, not a biblical one. Too many see it as cast by the media and those favorably disposed to it, not in the light of the timeless unchanging Word of God. Thanks for your remarks and your willingness to stand on the Word of God as your ultimate authority.
GMother, I would invite you to read the context of Psalm 109:8 and really look at what it is wishing upon Michelle Obama. Would you wish that for your daughter and grandchildren? Would you want it prayed for George Bush? Would you want it prayed for your pastor?
I have read your devotional as long as you have been writing it, and I was fortunate enough to have been your parishioner at Park Cities Baptist, so let me start by saying thank you for all the ways you speak of God's love. I do have an earnest question for you - do you believe that it should be legal to marry more than once in your life other than in the cases of widowhood? To be more clear, do you think that because I divorced my first husband, I should be legally barred from marrying a second time? Because it is my understanding of the Bible, that should be the case. I truly would like to know if you think we should have National rules for marriage based on Biblical teachings. Your response would be greatly appreciated.
I asked a similar question. To be sure, I agree about Scripture being our Authority.
People are going crazy about Same Sex Marriage, but there is NO talk about Divorce. Why aren't there laws prohibiting that and/or punishing those who do it?
It is clear to me that for Decades the enemy has been working to make us complacent and accepting of sin. It is high time the Bride wakes up!
You are a wise and courageous truth-teller.
Thank you for taking a firm stand on Biblical authority.
May your tribe increase!
My issue with the whole Gay Marriage debate is not if it is Scriptural or not (I know it is sin), but if it is allowed under our Constitution or not. (Keep in mind, folks, just 40 years ago it was illegal in some places to be married to a member of the opposite race. USSC ruled that unconstitutional in Loving VS Virginia)
Don't they have a right, under our Constitution, to choose what they want? Everybody is guaranteed the right to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" under American Law. Are they not?
I'm not saying I like and/or support Gay Marriage. And obviously there are Higher Moral Laws involved with anything (I.E. me saying "my happiness is contingent on your death" would be trumped by your right to live life). But what do you do with that, when they have rights? Nazi Germany protected those who killed Jews. It doesn't mean it was right, but it was there.
Lastly, my issue is that we're up in arms about legalizing/banning Gay Marriage because it is sin.
But so is divorce. (Ouch.)
Using this mentality, then why don't we enact Legislation prohibiting divorce and/or punishing those who do it?
You came to ETBU in 2009 for Spiritual Renewal Week and you forever challenged me and rocked my world. Thank you for your continued Forums and Dialogue. Many blessings!
We should all just try to love one-another like Jesus told us to do and let GOD be the judge. In other words, the person without sin in his/her life, can throw the first stone.
NONE of us is without sin. Sure we can gently remind each other (as Christians) what the Bible says. AND we should share the Good News. But we should not force our rules on others. Doesn't this make sense?
I can understand why you would want to focus on other things. The dialog seems to heat up rapidly where the issue of homosexuality is concerned. One thing is for sure, our country is in the process of losing its way. What we really need is another Great Awakening. Lives can only be changed from the inside out. Without a Spiritual awakening the Church in America and America itself is in deep trouble.
In a parallel example, why is it that some states have laws against cannibalism? Are they really needed? Shouldn't consenting adults have the right to eat each other or be eaten if that is what they want to do? Oh...maybe it is because it threatens the existence of the society.
“…’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
If we want to please God, it seems this is the first thing we ought to legislate… The Greatest Commandment.
Many of us have already casted the first stone; we have been willing to be God’s judges based on the Law (and want to pass laws based on our judgement). We have passed judgement on people engaged in same-sex love because we might assume what their hearts are like. Some of us might even assume they are not capable of loving God with all their heart, soul and mind; we might even be convinced they are not able to love their neighbors as themselves.
What would happen if we put fear of the Law aside (about 3,000 people died the day Moses brought it down, Exodus 32:28) and allow God's Grace, Love and Light shine in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (about 3,000 people were saved the day the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Acts 2:41)
Dear Dr. Jim, while I too believe that same-sex marriage, like homosexuality, is clearly not condoned by the Holy Bible and therefore neither by our God and Jesus Christ, I also believe our government body as stipulated in our Constitution should be (and hopefully is) secular in administration. Any person's religious beliefs, whether it be none or any of a hundred religions, should be of inconsequential attention in our country which is governed by the rule of law, not of man, and not by a morality strictly biblical. I believe you will understand my feelings on this matter when I say, "Let God be the judge of our sins, for He is to be sure, but in this temporal place, let man take care of the secular law."
In my opinion, I believe that President Obama believes he can approve of same-sex marriage as a secular issue without being sacrilegious. We'll all wait for God's judgement of us on this issue. And, I know God will be fair.
Choosing a homosexual lifestyle is clearly not in God's will for his children, but it is not the place of government to withhold such basic rights as inheritance, property ownership, parental responsibility, and healthcare decision-making based on that decision.
The United States is not now and never has been a theocracy. It is not the duty of our government to legislate morality (the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages is the classic example of the truth of that maxim). I am a Southern Baptist and proud of the heritage of Baptists in America. Roger Williams was among the first in America to flee the religious persecution of a de facto theocracy in Puritan Massachusetts in the 17th century and the "wall of separation" between church and state spoken of by Thomas Jefferson is the legacy of our committed Christian forefathers such as Williams.
Legislation that tries to impose the will of the many at the expense of the rights of the few is firmly at odds with those principles. Let us pray that we are never at the mercy of a majority that wishes to restrict the rights and privileges we cherish as Americans and as Christians.
I end with a question or two? What is it that we fear so much more about homosexual sin than we do about adultery and fornication? Why have we Christians decided to make such a stand here, on this issue, but have let others go largely unheeded.
If legalizing same-sex marriage affirms "harmful behavior," why should any same-sex sexual acts/relationships be legal?
Question! How can a christian accept this homosexual thing after recieving the spirit of our Lord and savor Jesus Christ?