Should Christians support "same-sex marriage"?
That is the question I have been considering this past week. I have seen several Christian friends and acquaintances come out in support of same-sex marriage via social media recently. I have also heard many raise their opposition to same-sex marriage. I believe that there is an argument against same sex marriage which has been tragically neglected in recent weeks. The argument had two sides, a negative and positive. Let's consider the negative first.
Same-sex marriage, as it is presently propounded, is incompatible with what is good for men and women according to what God has made plain in Scripture. Why? Because same-sex marriage is founded on something sinful - homosexuality. You cannot support same-sex marriage without supporting something which God disapproves. Christians should never encourage anyone to sin, whether they are believers or not. Standing up for same-sex marriage is to promote a life where one can accept homosexual desire and pursue it in the context of a homosexual relationship. Christians should not encourage this. To accept homosexual marriage is to accept sin and Christians should never accept that which brings death to mankind (cf. Romans 1-6).
What is the positive side of the argument? The glorious, beautiful, and tragically neglected side of the argument? Christ, the one to whom Christians should point their same-sex friends to, is scorned. Here is one way of stating the argument all too absent as of late:
"There is something far better for the homosexual man or woman than to be married to another homosexual man or woman - to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus and be forever married to He who is ultimately and most fully good for men and women - Jesus!"
We should encourage homosexuals to flee to Christ and repent of their sin (including homosexual passions) and believe in the gospel of grace. Christians can't promote something that brings death (as all sin does) and at the same time promote Christ. I think many Christians mistakenly support same-sex marriage because they have a skewed view of what is marriage, love, happiness, and the ultimate purpose of life. The Bible gives the truth of what is good for men and women: to know and be known by God in Christ. Or, as many have confessed over the years: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
I am deliberately leaving many things out of this post for the sake of trying to present a singular point. Comments are open.
I agree and appreciate your point. Sad seeing Christians celebrate sin. Everyone is a slave to sin and no one gets to "choose", and there's only healing and change in Jesus for their sin and mine. The issue is close to my family so I've had to wrestle with and research it quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteThank you. That was good. I've also been tossing that idea around. It's obvious that Christianity's stand against homosexual marriage does not help us reach them. It tends to turn homosexuals away - angrily.
ReplyDeleteBut then what would it show us to be as Christians if we didn't stand against this sin? I can't help but think of what Spurgeon said:
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
This issue obviously calls for a lot of wisdom. I think Christians need to be very careful that they're standing up against the sin, and still accepting the person. We can't do this with our ownown wisdom.
Thanks for the comments, fellas. Good points from each of you.
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