To anyone bemoaning Marriage Equality…
We have such unlimited freedom in this country to live lives of love, mercy, kindness, forgiveness & compassion, I believe that if “God will hold us accountable” for anything it will be for the freedom we’ve been bestowed.
This was no surprise as people saw it coming for some time. There will be debates that will not be settled. People in the church will make it known they would love to conduct services for same sex marriages. Others will not.
Always percolating under the surface is that Christians (especially evangelical) are the source of hate and phobia in our nation. Time will tell what is coming down the pike.
Now is not the time for the self-proclaimed spokesmen of the Christian faith to predict God’s imminent destruction of the U.S.A. due to legalizing gay marriage, you know, like how God destroyed Canada for legal gay marriage….oh…wait….
Dan, I hope those type statements from high profile folks don’t take place yet at the same time I see many end times people declaring this as a sign the rapture is imminent.
We’re going to be targeted by many simply because we believe a marriage is to be between a man and a woman. That’s for sure.
Most of us live life in the trenches trying to make our mortgage or rent, put food on the table, keep the utilities on, make sure our children and grandchildren are safe, etc. The list could go on. Just watch the nightly news.
For those of us who don’t agree with this decision, we have the choice to either get hysterical or historical.
I want to be historical. Throughout the ages, church morals and societal/ governmental morals have NEVER matched up. There have always been things that the church calls wrong that society or government has considered OK. Our society has no laws against pride, gossip, gluttony, adultery, fornication (among consenting adults), most types of lying, selfish anger, and so on.
There have also been things that the church considers good that some societies have called wrong, including worshiping our Lord. I am thankful that I live in a country that doesn’t kill Christians for daring to worship. Too many are killed every year for this societal “sin” in other parts of the world.
I choose not to get hysterical just because society celebrates something I consider to be sin. All of my life, society has been doing that. Our whole advertisement culture is based on greed, pride, lust, and envy. And it is celebrated by most as the American way. That doesn’t mean that I need to celebrate it too.
Gay marriage? It is just one more vice that society has declared to be a virtue. That is nothing new. We, as a church, have faced this problem for thousands of years.
I just keep going back to the truth that our God reigns and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I may believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, but I don’t need to be posting things on FB that look as if I hate my homosexual friends. I certainly do not. I love them, I pray for them, I wish them joy, peace, love, and God’s very best….just as I would anyone.
Shortly after my wife and I heard the news about the Supreme Court’s horrid decision about gay “marriage,” we listened to the 6/26 devotional on Our Daily Bread http://odb.org/
The story of Elisha and his response to the Aramean threat was extremely timely, reminding us that greater is he that is with us than those who come against us and how we are to treat our enemies.
I do not agree with this decision from the Court, as I presume is the case for many of us here. I did more-or-less expect it as this is the way things are going in our country and culture. That doesn’t make me any happier about it. I do not think this is good for our country. While I have multiple concerns about the acceptance of gay marriage and homosexuality in our culture, both from a popular and official capacity, my greatest concern is for my children. The more and more these things are accepted, the more and more the culture will try to influence my children that these things are good.
That being said, I don’t get the mass hysteria I see from some (and it only takes a quick look at my Facebook feed to see it). America is coming to an end and God is going to bring his judgment. First, how does anyone know that this one specific act is going to bring God’s judgment? Did they receive a direct divine revelation from God, Himself, telling them? Is there a verse in the Bible I’ve somehow missed that states when the Supreme Court of the United States of America legalizes gay marriage, God will then bring his wrath upon the country?
Where was God’s judgment when this same Court legalized abortion? What about when portions of the country passed and abided by Jim Crow laws? Or how about before that when slavery was allowed? When slave masters could beat and treat their slaves however they wanted to? Or how about when we were forcing the Native Americans out from their homes and land? Where was God’s judgment during all this time? Why didn’t America come to and end because of all those horrific acts? Why is God’s judgment only coming now because of gay marriage?
I believe the acceptance of gay marriage will have a degrading effect on our country and society. In the long run it will have harmful effects because I believe God calls it sin and is not what He desires. And there will always be consequences for sin.
But, please, let us keep our perspective. This is far and away not the first time our government and country has sanctioned something that is not right. And well, well before America, this type of thing has been going on since almost the beginning of time. America is not the first nation to do something antithetical to God’s ways. Why do we act as if we’re shocked? And please don’t act like you know this is the thing that is going to bring God’s judgment upon our country.
The difference with this law is that it provides a weapon to immediately go after Christians and churches. It is definitely not live and let live. The church needs to immediately stop participating in civic marriages of any type. Let the state do what it wants and call marriage what it wants. Calling a cat a dog does not make it a dog.
If anyone wants to make additional vows before God, churches will need to decide if they will participate.
In regard to your #10, I agree. But I have heard it said that sometimes God’s judgement for sin is more sin. Maybe the world didn’t come to an end but sin seems to be more in vogue than ever. Your post made me think of this when you gave us a history of our country’s laws. Maybe we are reaping judgement already by making sin so lovely in our land. I can only imagine what is next.
I absolutely refuse to cave into the belief that somehow, today’s ruling has put God and his soverignty on the ropes. Last I studied, it was quite clear that God wins.
This is not a 4th and 10 situation; it was expected and such, is already dealt with.
What I am saddened by is how weak the church chooses to be in light of this, as if our God is impotent and cringing from the onslaught of sin. The world is not one bit more or less sinful than it was a moment ago.
Instead, get back to the book and read not only of what He has done (and will do again) but of what is to come and let (allow) that to strengthen your faith. This is battle and we are to take part but we can’t if we don’t know what we are fighting for.
You are right, the world is not one bit more sinful but sin sure got a lot of accolades today. What does this mean? I think the job of the church just got a lot harder. If you can’t convince someone they are sinners, its next to impossible to tell them they need a savior.
If the church does not believe that the Lord is serious about sin and has the power to deal with it, then we are showing up to the fight with no weapons.
There is no convincing someone of their sin as if you were presenting them a business franchise opportunity; we go to those who are in need and minister first. Jesus did and it was pretty effective. We have the power within us to do the same.
There is no convincing someone of their sin as if you were presenting them a business franchise opportunity; we go to those who are in need and minister first. Jesus did and it was pretty effective.
Laura Scott, the biggest need everybody has in life is to know they are forgiven. This is applicable for both the rich and poor. This is the ministry we should be doing. Unfortunately, the gospel message either gets distorted with strictly a social gospel or it gets distorted the other way around that God hates people because they are sinners. The truth is God loves them and he offers forgiveness for sins. Anything less is a distraction.
The affirmation of Gay marriage isn’t an affirmation of love between people of the same sex at all. It is an affirmation of the legal right for these people to be have a binding contract to be seen as one by the community.
Love has nothing to do with attempting to fit parts together, whether it be hetro or homo.
Now will this decision bring destruction to USA?
No the decision is destruction. Ironically it will contribute to more divorce and the non-marriage couplings of “hetro” couples (I can’t say normal).
Divorce of same sex couples? Since we don’t agree with the marriage its not hard supporting the divorce. In fact if a homosexual friend wants my honest advise, I would never encourage them to stay in the fake marriage. I would imagine this may lead to tons of divorces when few will encourage them to stay married.
#19-hmmm… does that jibe with the Church not being under the law, but under grace? … are we flaunting grace or just very poor at honoring the giver of grace? … just thinking, or trying to do so….
Michael, number 19, couldn’t agree with you more. The church at large continues to shake their fist at the world for doing what comes natural to them, while continually sweeping under the rug their own sins.
“But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”But he turned and rebuked them.”
(Luke 9:53–55 ESV)
” they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”” can we do that? 😯 today would not be a good day for me to find that i have the power…
“When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.”
Imagine the power one person can have. If another conservative had been on the court the law wouldn’t have been passed. For that matter having 9 people wielding that much power can be very dangerous depending on what your beliefs are.
Listened to a bit of the program. She is passionate and willing to go on the record in doing so. I line up more with what Michael has been sharing in cleaning up our own house.
“God is not going to bring judgment on America for SSM until He brings it on the church for how we’ve cared for heterosexual marriage…”
Michael summed it up perfectly. I’ve felt for years that the whole evangelical church and the time and money they’ve dumped into fighting for traditional, Biblical marriage has been a waste, and that time and money would have been better spent on strengthening the marriages and families in the church body.
We’re fighting to protect a high ground that, in reality, we abandoned many years ago. We don’t have a moral leg to stand on outside of Scripture – and our actions have rung hollow on this for years.
Is this an example of the government staying out of the bedroom?
Now the government will adjudicate gay relationships like never before.
I long ago argued that the government has no compelling stake in these relationships.
This is also an example of government by jurisprudence.
America has long ago decided to be governed by the courts.
Get ready for the most unrelenting assault on religious freedom in our history.
Part of the liberation of LGBT group is the “B” which stands for Bi-sexuals. Some one could make the point that the only way these folks can love the way they want to love is have more than a two person union. This is on the horizon in my estimation when all chaos breaks loose.
Bob @ 31 you might be right. There is still the International stage though. Unless other countries accept these perverted unions, you will continue to run into many issues. International adoption is one such issue. Some countries will just plain refuse to allow gay couples to adopt from their country whether the US legitimizes it or not. I’m not putting any hope in other countries but I’m just making a point that the LGBT community will never be done until they evangelize the entire globe.
You write we could have better spent the money to strengthen traditional marriage. I ask what could be done to strengthen traditional marriages.
PP is a product of a single man, for his own personal reasons, so how does he strengthen traditional marriage? MLD has a long term marriage but his passion is the defense of his doctrines and practices, how does he strengthen traditional marriage?
I guess my point is many on this blog can’t agree on what it means to love God and live it out how can they agree on how to love their spouse and live it out.
The only way to defend traditional marriage is to demonstrate what it means to love your spouse and enjoy the life one has with him or her. Stay married, not for the kids or because God hates divorce but because you love your spouse. Put your money where our mouths are, invest in your spouse.
I don’t understand the hand wringing over this. Nothing in this forces churches to do homosexual wedding – churches are not forced to do state sanctioned weddings in the first place.
The state legalized no fault divorce and that never forced the church to accept divorced people into communion – the dreaded Roman Catholics were the only ones to take and maintain a biblical stand. I am sure that many churches were lined up waiting for the new laws so they didn’t have to confront the issue.
Also, the SCOTUS decision actually paves the way for a good many churches to do what they have been lobbying for – to perform homosexual marriages.
Now, on a political side, this may be a terrible constitutional decision and will remain a political hot potato – but to the church, nothing.
it is interesting that we use the vernacular “traditional marriage” in these discussions… when really our concern is God’s definition of marriage… i’ve been pondering the woman at the well to whom the Lord said, you’ve had five husbands… John 4:17-18
were those marriages? as God defines marriage? can one have a spouse, yet not be married? … kinda looks that way…
I think you are right about the homosexual community wanting to evangelize the world. My homosexual uncle after the the decision posted on Facebook that it is now time to work on the Churches.
A tip to help others, maybe you could pass on some more?
It’s easy to say (I’m not pointing at you MLD), “God bless you…” but the rubber does make contact with the road. What makes a good marriage and how do we humans live with another for just a few decades? Considering the divorce rate, how do “Christians” expect to live with God forever?
It’s difficult for me to listen to confirmed bachelors pontificating about marriage. The bottom line is — the Christian reaction is not so much against gay people, but FOR God’s definition of marriage.
“The only way to defend traditional marriage is to demonstrate what it means to love your spouse and enjoy the life one has with him or her. Stay married, not for the kids or because God hates divorce but because you love your spouse. Put your money where our mouths are, invest in your spouse.”
I agree 100%. I didn’t mean to imply that money or time would strengthen traditional (Biblical marriage). What I was trying to say is that the energy and effort churches spent fighting against same sex marriage would have been better spent working on our own house. Setting up effective marriage ministries that focused on teaching husbands and wives what a Biblical marriage entailed, with lots of mentoring by older, more experienced married couples.
Of course, this also means that couples need to be teachable (i.e., wiling to be taught). That may be part of the larger problem as well.
Ms. ODM – I can’t speak for the blog at large, but I’m not a confirmed bachelor (I am currently a divorced man), but I’ve been through the trenches and feel I am qualified to “pontificate” about marriage. Even in failure, lessons can (and should) be learned.
Thanks for the clarification. The problem is there are wonderful teaching ministries and tools for couples to help them have great marriages. Family Life Today, and Focus on the Family are just two of the well known national resources available. Both of these have been valuable resources for my wife and I over the 39 + years we’d been married and I can safely say things are better today than they were 20 years ago.
The truth is the tools are available, and even at little or know cost if people want them. However, I think people really don’t want to have a successful marriage today. Our culture has made it seem childish or old fashioned to have two well adjusted people (male and female) stay married or even together for more than a decade or so. You know men and women were really never meant to be monogamous; so they say.
That is except for two people of the same sex, they are the new culteral heroes who have overcome adversity in the name of love.
More on that here…
To anyone bemoaning Marriage Equality…
We have such unlimited freedom in this country to live lives of love, mercy, kindness, forgiveness & compassion, I believe that if “God will hold us accountable” for anything it will be for the freedom we’ve been bestowed.
This was no surprise as people saw it coming for some time. There will be debates that will not be settled. People in the church will make it known they would love to conduct services for same sex marriages. Others will not.
Always percolating under the surface is that Christians (especially evangelical) are the source of hate and phobia in our nation. Time will tell what is coming down the pike.
Now is not the time for the self-proclaimed spokesmen of the Christian faith to predict God’s imminent destruction of the U.S.A. due to legalizing gay marriage, you know, like how God destroyed Canada for legal gay marriage….oh…wait….
🙂
Dan, I hope those type statements from high profile folks don’t take place yet at the same time I see many end times people declaring this as a sign the rapture is imminent.
We’re going to be targeted by many simply because we believe a marriage is to be between a man and a woman. That’s for sure.
Most of us live life in the trenches trying to make our mortgage or rent, put food on the table, keep the utilities on, make sure our children and grandchildren are safe, etc. The list could go on. Just watch the nightly news.
For those of us who don’t agree with this decision, we have the choice to either get hysterical or historical.
I want to be historical. Throughout the ages, church morals and societal/ governmental morals have NEVER matched up. There have always been things that the church calls wrong that society or government has considered OK. Our society has no laws against pride, gossip, gluttony, adultery, fornication (among consenting adults), most types of lying, selfish anger, and so on.
There have also been things that the church considers good that some societies have called wrong, including worshiping our Lord. I am thankful that I live in a country that doesn’t kill Christians for daring to worship. Too many are killed every year for this societal “sin” in other parts of the world.
I choose not to get hysterical just because society celebrates something I consider to be sin. All of my life, society has been doing that. Our whole advertisement culture is based on greed, pride, lust, and envy. And it is celebrated by most as the American way. That doesn’t mean that I need to celebrate it too.
Gay marriage? It is just one more vice that society has declared to be a virtue. That is nothing new. We, as a church, have faced this problem for thousands of years.
I just keep going back to the truth that our God reigns and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I may believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, but I don’t need to be posting things on FB that look as if I hate my homosexual friends. I certainly do not. I love them, I pray for them, I wish them joy, peace, love, and God’s very best….just as I would anyone.
The Supreme Being has spoken.
Shortly after my wife and I heard the news about the Supreme Court’s horrid decision about gay “marriage,” we listened to the 6/26 devotional on Our Daily Bread http://odb.org/
The story of Elisha and his response to the Aramean threat was extremely timely, reminding us that greater is he that is with us than those who come against us and how we are to treat our enemies.
I do not agree with this decision from the Court, as I presume is the case for many of us here. I did more-or-less expect it as this is the way things are going in our country and culture. That doesn’t make me any happier about it. I do not think this is good for our country. While I have multiple concerns about the acceptance of gay marriage and homosexuality in our culture, both from a popular and official capacity, my greatest concern is for my children. The more and more these things are accepted, the more and more the culture will try to influence my children that these things are good.
That being said, I don’t get the mass hysteria I see from some (and it only takes a quick look at my Facebook feed to see it). America is coming to an end and God is going to bring his judgment. First, how does anyone know that this one specific act is going to bring God’s judgment? Did they receive a direct divine revelation from God, Himself, telling them? Is there a verse in the Bible I’ve somehow missed that states when the Supreme Court of the United States of America legalizes gay marriage, God will then bring his wrath upon the country?
Where was God’s judgment when this same Court legalized abortion? What about when portions of the country passed and abided by Jim Crow laws? Or how about before that when slavery was allowed? When slave masters could beat and treat their slaves however they wanted to? Or how about when we were forcing the Native Americans out from their homes and land? Where was God’s judgment during all this time? Why didn’t America come to and end because of all those horrific acts? Why is God’s judgment only coming now because of gay marriage?
I believe the acceptance of gay marriage will have a degrading effect on our country and society. In the long run it will have harmful effects because I believe God calls it sin and is not what He desires. And there will always be consequences for sin.
But, please, let us keep our perspective. This is far and away not the first time our government and country has sanctioned something that is not right. And well, well before America, this type of thing has been going on since almost the beginning of time. America is not the first nation to do something antithetical to God’s ways. Why do we act as if we’re shocked? And please don’t act like you know this is the thing that is going to bring God’s judgment upon our country.
Kevin H,
I’m with you and Nonnie…
Kevin H:
The difference with this law is that it provides a weapon to immediately go after Christians and churches. It is definitely not live and let live. The church needs to immediately stop participating in civic marriages of any type. Let the state do what it wants and call marriage what it wants. Calling a cat a dog does not make it a dog.
If anyone wants to make additional vows before God, churches will need to decide if they will participate.
Kevin H,
In regard to your #10, I agree. But I have heard it said that sometimes God’s judgement for sin is more sin. Maybe the world didn’t come to an end but sin seems to be more in vogue than ever. Your post made me think of this when you gave us a history of our country’s laws. Maybe we are reaping judgement already by making sin so lovely in our land. I can only imagine what is next.
Wow… just got an earful on Facebook.
I absolutely refuse to cave into the belief that somehow, today’s ruling has put God and his soverignty on the ropes. Last I studied, it was quite clear that God wins.
This is not a 4th and 10 situation; it was expected and such, is already dealt with.
What I am saddened by is how weak the church chooses to be in light of this, as if our God is impotent and cringing from the onslaught of sin. The world is not one bit more or less sinful than it was a moment ago.
Instead, get back to the book and read not only of what He has done (and will do again) but of what is to come and let (allow) that to strengthen your faith. This is battle and we are to take part but we can’t if we don’t know what we are fighting for.
Laura Scott,
You are right, the world is not one bit more sinful but sin sure got a lot of accolades today. What does this mean? I think the job of the church just got a lot harder. If you can’t convince someone they are sinners, its next to impossible to tell them they need a savior.
Andrew,
If the church does not believe that the Lord is serious about sin and has the power to deal with it, then we are showing up to the fight with no weapons.
There is no convincing someone of their sin as if you were presenting them a business franchise opportunity; we go to those who are in need and minister first. Jesus did and it was pretty effective. We have the power within us to do the same.
Psalm Chapter 2
There is no convincing someone of their sin as if you were presenting them a business franchise opportunity; we go to those who are in need and minister first. Jesus did and it was pretty effective.
________________________________________________________________________
Laura Scott, the biggest need everybody has in life is to know they are forgiven. This is applicable for both the rich and poor. This is the ministry we should be doing. Unfortunately, the gospel message either gets distorted with strictly a social gospel or it gets distorted the other way around that God hates people because they are sinners. The truth is God loves them and he offers forgiveness for sins. Anything less is a distraction.
I might as well get this off my chest…
God is not going to bring judgment on America for SSM until He brings it on the church for how we’ve cared for heterosexual marriage…
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/06/26/why-conservatives-should-rejoice-at-the-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling-and-then-do-this/
Wholeheartedly agree with this.
God has a long history of giving people what they want.
The affirmation of Gay marriage isn’t an affirmation of love between people of the same sex at all. It is an affirmation of the legal right for these people to be have a binding contract to be seen as one by the community.
Love has nothing to do with attempting to fit parts together, whether it be hetro or homo.
Now will this decision bring destruction to USA?
No the decision is destruction. Ironically it will contribute to more divorce and the non-marriage couplings of “hetro” couples (I can’t say normal).
Divorce of same sex couples? Since we don’t agree with the marriage its not hard supporting the divorce. In fact if a homosexual friend wants my honest advise, I would never encourage them to stay in the fake marriage. I would imagine this may lead to tons of divorces when few will encourage them to stay married.
#19-hmmm… does that jibe with the Church not being under the law, but under grace? … are we flaunting grace or just very poor at honoring the giver of grace? … just thinking, or trying to do so….
Michael, number 19, couldn’t agree with you more. The church at large continues to shake their fist at the world for doing what comes natural to them, while continually sweeping under the rug their own sins.
“But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”But he turned and rebuked them.”
(Luke 9:53–55 ESV)
Prophetic…
“God is not going to bring judgment on America for SSM until He brings it on the church for how we’ve cared for heterosexual marriage…”
” they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”” can we do that? 😯 today would not be a good day for me to find that i have the power…
If today’s ruling doesn’t vex your soul as Lot’s soul was vexed, then your conscience has not been regenerated. –
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rapturereadyradio/2015/06/27/scattered-sheep-report-with-jackie-alnor
“But He turned and rebuked them”
No Elijah meeting today.
“When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.”
Andrew
You miss my point, it won’t be the same sex couples it will be the others.
“Hetro” couples, in their confusion, will neither get married nor stay married in droves.
Same sex couples will “stick it out” to prove the validity of their perverted union.
Ms ODM, I’d like to listen to your link but it’s not working.
Okay… now it shows the program will begin in about half an hour.
Imagine the power one person can have. If another conservative had been on the court the law wouldn’t have been passed. For that matter having 9 people wielding that much power can be very dangerous depending on what your beliefs are.
Nonnie the wise woman has spoken well. 🙂
Hi there Ebrother
Hi Dusty!!
Listened to a bit of the program. She is passionate and willing to go on the record in doing so. I line up more with what Michael has been sharing in cleaning up our own house.
“God is not going to bring judgment on America for SSM until He brings it on the church for how we’ve cared for heterosexual marriage…”
Michael summed it up perfectly. I’ve felt for years that the whole evangelical church and the time and money they’ve dumped into fighting for traditional, Biblical marriage has been a waste, and that time and money would have been better spent on strengthening the marriages and families in the church body.
We’re fighting to protect a high ground that, in reality, we abandoned many years ago. We don’t have a moral leg to stand on outside of Scripture – and our actions have rung hollow on this for years.
If we lost the high ground and all we have left is a small hill, then let’s defend the small hill.
Is this an example of the government staying out of the bedroom?
Now the government will adjudicate gay relationships like never before.
I long ago argued that the government has no compelling stake in these relationships.
This is also an example of government by jurisprudence.
America has long ago decided to be governed by the courts.
Get ready for the most unrelenting assault on religious freedom in our history.
Part of the liberation of LGBT group is the “B” which stands for Bi-sexuals. Some one could make the point that the only way these folks can love the way they want to love is have more than a two person union. This is on the horizon in my estimation when all chaos breaks loose.
Bob @ 31 you might be right. There is still the International stage though. Unless other countries accept these perverted unions, you will continue to run into many issues. International adoption is one such issue. Some countries will just plain refuse to allow gay couples to adopt from their country whether the US legitimizes it or not. I’m not putting any hope in other countries but I’m just making a point that the LGBT community will never be done until they evangelize the entire globe.
A time
You write we could have better spent the money to strengthen traditional marriage. I ask what could be done to strengthen traditional marriages.
PP is a product of a single man, for his own personal reasons, so how does he strengthen traditional marriage? MLD has a long term marriage but his passion is the defense of his doctrines and practices, how does he strengthen traditional marriage?
I guess my point is many on this blog can’t agree on what it means to love God and live it out how can they agree on how to love their spouse and live it out.
The only way to defend traditional marriage is to demonstrate what it means to love your spouse and enjoy the life one has with him or her. Stay married, not for the kids or because God hates divorce but because you love your spouse. Put your money where our mouths are, invest in your spouse.
I don’t understand the hand wringing over this. Nothing in this forces churches to do homosexual wedding – churches are not forced to do state sanctioned weddings in the first place.
The state legalized no fault divorce and that never forced the church to accept divorced people into communion – the dreaded Roman Catholics were the only ones to take and maintain a biblical stand. I am sure that many churches were lined up waiting for the new laws so they didn’t have to confront the issue.
Also, the SCOTUS decision actually paves the way for a good many churches to do what they have been lobbying for – to perform homosexual marriages.
Now, on a political side, this may be a terrible constitutional decision and will remain a political hot potato – but to the church, nothing.
And what is traditional marriage anyway? My parents were divorced in 1956 when I was 7 years old – to me that is traditional marriage.
“MLD has a long term marriage but his passion is the defense of his doctrines and practices, how does he strengthen traditional marriage? ”
That’s how I strengthen traditional marriage – I stay out of my wife’s way! 😉
it is interesting that we use the vernacular “traditional marriage” in these discussions… when really our concern is God’s definition of marriage… i’ve been pondering the woman at the well to whom the Lord said, you’ve had five husbands… John 4:17-18
were those marriages? as God defines marriage? can one have a spouse, yet not be married? … kinda looks that way…
Andrew,
I think you are right about the homosexual community wanting to evangelize the world. My homosexual uncle after the the decision posted on Facebook that it is now time to work on the Churches.
“I stay out of my wife’s way!”
A tip to help others, maybe you could pass on some more?
It’s easy to say (I’m not pointing at you MLD), “God bless you…” but the rubber does make contact with the road. What makes a good marriage and how do we humans live with another for just a few decades? Considering the divorce rate, how do “Christians” expect to live with God forever?
It’s difficult for me to listen to confirmed bachelors pontificating about marriage. The bottom line is — the Christian reaction is not so much against gay people, but FOR God’s definition of marriage.
Bob –
“The only way to defend traditional marriage is to demonstrate what it means to love your spouse and enjoy the life one has with him or her. Stay married, not for the kids or because God hates divorce but because you love your spouse. Put your money where our mouths are, invest in your spouse.”
I agree 100%. I didn’t mean to imply that money or time would strengthen traditional (Biblical marriage). What I was trying to say is that the energy and effort churches spent fighting against same sex marriage would have been better spent working on our own house. Setting up effective marriage ministries that focused on teaching husbands and wives what a Biblical marriage entailed, with lots of mentoring by older, more experienced married couples.
Of course, this also means that couples need to be teachable (i.e., wiling to be taught). That may be part of the larger problem as well.
Ms. ODM – I can’t speak for the blog at large, but I’m not a confirmed bachelor (I am currently a divorced man), but I’ve been through the trenches and feel I am qualified to “pontificate” about marriage. Even in failure, lessons can (and should) be learned.
AT
Thanks for the clarification. The problem is there are wonderful teaching ministries and tools for couples to help them have great marriages. Family Life Today, and Focus on the Family are just two of the well known national resources available. Both of these have been valuable resources for my wife and I over the 39 + years we’d been married and I can safely say things are better today than they were 20 years ago.
The truth is the tools are available, and even at little or know cost if people want them. However, I think people really don’t want to have a successful marriage today. Our culture has made it seem childish or old fashioned to have two well adjusted people (male and female) stay married or even together for more than a decade or so. You know men and women were really never meant to be monogamous; so they say.
That is except for two people of the same sex, they are the new culteral heroes who have overcome adversity in the name of love.