Pastor's Update
Gay Marriage and the Bible
By Rev. Dallas E. Henry
Jan 30, 2009 - 10:00:00 AM

Fifty years ago, if you said, "I’m gay", people would have thought, "Oh, he’s happy." If you said that today, most would think that you are either lying or homosexual.  That shift shows the major changes we’ve gone through in the past decades.

Until 1973, homosexuality was considered to be a mental illness.  Many treatments were used to cure people of their homosexual orientation: electroshock therapy, lobotomies, aversion therapies, etc.  In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association, under considerable pressure from homosexual activists, decided that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness.  As a result, homosexuality was withdrawn from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), which is the diagnostic reference guide used by all health and social services professionals in North America.

The process has continued over the past decades with what appeared to be nearly insignificant advances.  We were told all they wanted was equality in bank loans, rent, employment and on it went.

Now, Maine is looking to redefine marriage.  Pastors, in Maine, could be looking at receiving instructions on how to change our current marriage registration forms.  For instance, in a same-sex wedding, we would cross out "bride" and "groom" and write in "applicant one" and "applicant two".

If you were a landlord, and a gay couple wanted to rent your house, what would you do?  If your grown up child wanted to bring home a gay partner, you would have to decide if you would let them stay at your house.  Would you let them in?  What if they invited you to their wedding?

As Christians, we have a responsibility to respond as Christians.  What can homosexuals expect from Christians?   I am referring to Christians who follow the whole Bible, not just parts of it. 

Some who follow just parts of it say, "I hate homos", and they believe they are being true to God.  Other churches who like other parts of the Bible say, "Gays and lesbians are oppressed and need our support. Let them marry.  Let them become our pastors and teachers."

One side believes they are holding up the truth.  The other believes they are being loving.  Actually both are wrong.  The Bible does better.  It calls us to speak the truth in love.  That’s the goal.

If we follow the Bible, gays and lesbians can expect respect from us; not respect for being homosexual but respect outlined in 1 Peter 2:17; "Show respect for everyone."  When we talk about homosexuality, we’re not primarily talking about some thing, but about someone.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Gay"?  Possibly real faces and people come across your mind.   All Bible-believing Christians believe that everyone deserves human rights; including homosexuals.

Some put homosexuality into a category above, beyond and separate to all other categories.  It’s not. Look at 1 Cor. 6:9-11: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed . . .”

Many times we can see our self in that verse.  Even Christians have flaws - in thought or action.  We don’t have to name them all, but one that is very active in the church is gossip, which is actually slander.  Another threat to the believer is porn on the internet.  We’re all human.   One individual’s struggle may be different from the next person’s.  But because we all struggle somewhere, it calls for some understanding.

We need to give respect, understanding and love.  Jesus said it as simply as it gets, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31.  He said love your friends and your enemies.  It’s as close to loving God as you can get.

When using the word “acceptance”, I’m talking about acceptance of a sinful practice.  Christians need to learn how to appropriately deal with homosexuality and not ignore it, hoping it will go away.

Here’s a test; if a gay couple moved in next door, would you invite them over for coffee?  Would you be as friendly to them as you are to the neighbors on the other side?  Would you, could you invite them to church?

Many gays and lesbians have come out of their lifestyle through the love and support of others.  One wonderful ministry that trains believers to help in this regard is Focus on the Family’s ministry Love Won Out.  Gays need love as much as we do.

God’s Order for the Family

First, the created natural order sets the pattern.  God could have made humans reproduce like amoebas with only one sex, but He chose male and female.  Masculine and feminine complement one another and fit.  Children are naturally born only to male and female.

Second, children deserve a daddy and a mommy.  In general, if a boy is raised without a dad he will be desperate for a leader.  If a girl is raised without a dad, and she will often go looking for love in the wrong places.  A boy without a mom grows up hard.  A girl with two daddies will never learn what it means to be a mom.  You learn how to be a parent from both parents.  We know that heterosexual relationships and marriages fail, but the ideal still holds.

Schools may force children to read a book about "My Two Mommys".  But you can be sure that the child with two Mommys wishes she could be hugged by a daddy.  Adult homosexuals cry for their rights, but what about the rights of the child?

Third, a redefinition of marriage means anything goes.  In Missouri, one man wanted to marry his 22 year old mare named Pixel.  He said, "She’s gorgeous.  She’s sweet.  She’s loving.  I’m very proud of her. Deep down, way down, I’d love to have children with her."  The courts said no . . . for now.

But a more real possibility is polygamy.  Why should marriage be just two people?  On what basis do you argue that?  Unless we develop some firm definition of what a marriage is, the options are endless.  If these options sound absurd, remember that all it takes is a few activist judges to use their power to open the door.

Fourth, up until now, every culture on earth has understood that marriage happens between male and female.  Our state is now on the verge of tampering with that deep ancient universal principle.  Right now, gays in Maine can have a committed partnership, if they want to, without changing the definition of marriage. 

Fifth, no matter what they may claim, there is no guarantee that state law will protect the rights of clergy who don’t want to comply.  In other words, down the road, pastors could be prosecuted for refusing to perform a gay marriage.  Also, our tax-exempt status could eventually be up for discussion.

Most serious believers are not angry with individual gay people but they are very concerned with the agenda of radical homosexual movement to erase all moral lines, and to mess with areas that belong to God and the church.

We should also be very concerned about the possible and probable interpretations of judges who are willing accomplices to this whole thing of the redefinition of marriage, and that people will have no say in the change of something so foundational to society. 

This whole area has crossed the lines of sanity.  It’s no longer separation of church and state.  Our government does some wonderful things, but this is not one of them.  As a citizen, I am disappointed. There’s still a chance to stop the legislation, but I think the chances are rather slim unless each and every believer in the state of Maine becomes activated to stop this train wreck.

We’re drifting further and further from all biblical memory, and closer and closer to rocky shores.

But the drift of the culture doesn’t mean that, as the church, we have to follow.  You already know how to fill in the blanks on this principle: We can’t sacrifice truth for love.

So where are you on this one?  Most people don’t have trouble holding a strong opinion.  Some need to study the Bible more.  For others, the truth seems to be a moving target on this to the extent that they have difficulty distinguishing between right and wrong. 

Christians need to determine if they can stand up for truth.  Some may need to pray for a softer heart towards homosexual people.  We need to determine whether we are really committed to love them as much as any straight person. 

Christians who have voiced their opinions concerning the negative consequences of homosexuality have been called bigots.  Most Christians that I know are the farthest things from being bigots.  Actual bigots can’t represent Christ.  We need to hate gay bashing, whether it’s a little jab or comment or a big effort.  We should always stand up for anyone who is wrongly treated. 

We also need to pray urgently for our legislators.  They are under a lot of pressure from the homosexual lobbyists who walk the halls in our State House every single day putting pressure on legislators to make laws that are favorable toward them.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.”  -Phil 1:9-11

HELPFUL LINKS FOR LEADERS:

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Truth, Love, and Endurance; [the call for activism]

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