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Opinions/Editorials Title: What Should Be Christians’ Response to ‘Same-Sex Marriage’? The attempts to redefine marriage have been going on for more than a decade. In the past few months, Ireland and USA have made overt, definite steps to legalize same-sex marriage. Many other countries around the world are moving in the same direction. In Singapore too, the voice in favor of same-sex marriage is getting louder. There is an incredible surge of interest in affirming homosexuality over the last few months. In my opinion, ‘gay marriage’ will soon become a common practice across the world. Therefore, we must not dither over this issue! Should Christians go along with the changing mindset of modern society about marriage? Unfortunately, some churches around the world have made public affirmation of their approval of same-sex marriage as an acceptable practice. Some churches have accepted unrepentant homosexuals as members, and even appointed such as leaders of their denominations or congregations. Though it is a very sad phenomenon, we do know that such spiritual and moral erosion and decadence have already been predicted in the Scriptures as signs of the end-times. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). The Spiritual and Moral Evil of Same-Sex Marriage It Despises the Authority of God: Same-sex marriage despises God’s authoritative word on what marriage is all about. It is God who instituted marriage after He created the woman from the rib of Adam for a helpmate (Genesis 2:20-24). In Genesis 2:24, the Word of God says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This original blueprint of marriage has been reaffirmed repeatedly in the New Testament as well. Jesus categorically declared the marriage union as between a man and a woman in Matthew 19:4, 5 (cf. Mark 10:6, 7). The apostle Paul also upheld the “man-woman” marriage union, just as God has originally intended it to be (Ephesians 5:31). Marriage is created by God, and is defined by God’s Word as a covenant and sexual union of a man and a woman in lifelong allegiance to each other alone, as husband and wife. God created man male and female, each with distinctive masculine or feminine natures and thereby distinctive roles in marriage as husband and wife. For modern churches and their leaders and members to “rewrite” the marriage institution as including same-sex union is an appalling defiance of God’s sovereignty over this solemn institution. No government or judge or church leader is above God! If human institutions and authorities would defy and violate the divine purposes and authority, then every faithful church and Christian must seek to stand firm for the declaration and practice of God’s command. As Peter and other apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). It Distorts the Scriptural Portrayal of Christ and the Church: The solemn relationship between Christ and the church is depicted through the husband-wife relationship between a man and woman (Ephesians 5:22-33). Paul wrote, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32). The mysterious and profound meaning that Scripture gives to marriage is that God has instituted the marriage relationship between male and female — which is the only manner they may fulfil their distinctive roles as husband and wife so that they may manifest the pure, sanctifying love that is between Christ and the church. The husband is commanded to pattern his relationship to his wife after Christ’s headship over the church; he is also to relate to her with the sacrificial love that Christ has demonstrated through His life and death for the church. The “great” (and thus glorious) mystery of marriage, as God has instituted it when He created man and woman, is that in the marriage relationship as male and female, they may represent Christ and the church. Thus, it is incumbent that the roles of man and woman as husband and wife should not be exchanged. It Defiles and Damns Man: Scripture has clearly depicted it as a damned sexual perversion, which results from increasing wickedness and immorality in the society. Romans 1:24-32 depicts it thus, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, spiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” It Demeans the Gospel: The Gospel calls all sinners, including those who commit homosexuality, to come with repentance to put their trust in the redeeming death of Christ, that they may be forgiven and restored. Scripture clearly warns us that same-sex desires and same sex intercourse are all part of man’s fallen, sinful nature; unless we repent from them, we will not inherit God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). However, ‘same-sex marriage’ proponents teach people not to repent from the sin of homosexuality for the salvation that Christ offers. The Gospel of salvation is also offered to repenting homosexuals. But habitual, permanent engaging in same-sex activity, and the rejecting of the Gospel call to repentance and belief on Christ, will exclude a man from God’s kingdom and will utterly condemn him. The recognition of ‘same-sex marriage’ is a clear social and personal statement against God and His sovereignty, against Christ, the Church and the Gospel. It will lead to greater spiritual and moral declension in our homes, churches and society. May our church continue to preach the Word, rebuking sins and calling people to repentance, faith and salvation. May all our members walk to please God and, by their words and actions, promote godliness and the Gospel.
Poster Comment: Homosexuality itself, aside even from two perverts wedding, is an affront to God and the holy plan for mankind to grow and be pleasing to God. The only salvation for homosexuals is repentance and striving to lead a good clean Judeo-Christian life. Additionally it is repulsive behavior that separates the evildoers from those living an honorable life. And, it is definitely unsanitary.
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#11. To: IbJensen (#0)
Call it what you want, same-sex marriage is a deliberate affront to Christian people and Christian beliefs. In my nation the heat has been taken out of the debate since the community voted for its adoption and LGBTI issues are rarely heard about, where before there was constant media coverage
#14. To: All (#11)
How about not establishing a religion or making laws associated with religion
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