New York is the latest state to approve same-sex marriage. That makes the Empire State the sixth and largest state to approve of the practice.
Make no mistake, these are defining moments for the United States. As marriage goes, so goes the culture. Marriage has a very particular meaning. By its very nature marriage is between a man and woman. Procreation and the stabilizing of societal norms are fundamental to marriage.
Certainly we ought to reject all notions of theocracy. God's kingdom will not be established in this dying era. The state cannot be the church. We can even debate the propriety of laws banning homosexual acts. However, the state must never put itself in the position of approving that which God has condemned.
The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is an abomination. It is a sin that characterizes a people in the final death throes of moral and societal decay. It is a sin that is particularly degrading to our identity as those who are made in the image of God. It reeks havoc upon the offender physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Homosexuality is the evidence of a people who have been given over to a wicked mind (Romans 1:18ff).
Granting that the state is not the church, the civil magistrate is nevertheless provided by God for the purpose of ordering society and suppressing evil (Rom 13). In this way God provides common grace to believer and unbeliever alike. It is therefore a frightening reality when the state becomes blind to obvious evil and even celebrates wickedness.
The following are a few articles that are helpful in the same-sex marriage debate:
What is Marriage? by George, Girgis, and Anderson
Offense and Criticism in the Marriage Debates by R.J. Snell
The Abolition of Marriage by Christopher Wolfe
So, What's Really At Stake in the Gay Marriage Debate? Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 by Al Mohler
The Compassion of Truth by Al Mohler
5 comments:
What a great day for America. (sarcasm)
If we make the argument that same-sex marriage is wrong b/c of the Bible's pronouncement against homosexuality..I can buy that argument. If we make it based upon the idea that we must define marriage between a man and woman in order to sustain procreation and therefore the stabilization of societal norms, I find that a harder pill to swallow.
Let's look at the evidence...to our neighbor to the north. Canada has legalized same-sex marriage since July 2005. How has this affected them from a societal POV? Do they stop having heterosexual marriages that produce children? I don't think so. Is there societal structure any less stable? I don't think so.
Now one could argue that 6 years is not enough time to see the effect it has on Canadian society as a whole (and I would tend to agree)...but let's not pretend that this will be the end of the world as we know it...in my opinion, our culture is already in decline and I don't think same-sex marriage will expedite or slow down the process.
Mike you are making assumptions based upon non existant data. No one knows, after six years, what the effect will be on society in Canada.
In the 60's divorce laws were liberalized, and sexual freedom was welcomed. 50 years later are you going to say that there has been no fall out from the so called 'sexual revolution.' 40% of all pregnancies in NY end in abortion. WE cna start wiht that.
Jerry F. you make my point...We don't know what the long-term effect will be..for good or ill...but the evidence I see so far does not lead me to think we will see the type of cultural and societal decay that has been predicted...in the short as well as long term.
Mike,
What long term data have you studied?
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