Same Sex Marriage--Some Thoughts 

So, I’m getting books in the mail, form letters from various organizations, and personal calls, each regaling me with reasons for why I should contact my elected representatives and push for a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA).  I have to admit, my bias is against fiddling too much with the Constitution.  It has worked pretty well, broad enough in its design that the need for modifying it has arisen only sporadically over the years.  Its structure allows for interpretation in both right and left directions.  The majority of amendments have been right and good (for example, unreasonable search and seizure, trial by jury, abolition of slavery, and women’s suffrage.)  At least once, an amendment did not worked as intended and had to be repealed.  In light of recent Supreme Court decisions (e.g., Lawrence v. Texas), and the high-handed (illegal) activity of various county clerks scattered around the country—New Mexico finds itself in the dubious company of California, Oregon, New York, and New Jersey in this regard—I am thinking a constitutional amendment that settles the issue is not such a bad idea.  Such an amendment would hold in check the license the Supreme Court grants itself to redefine and reorder societal mores.  It might also go a long way toward relieving the chaos and confusion that will result if the decision is left to 50 states! This is an important issue in many ways.  Social stability, protection of children, what is taught in public schools and possibly religious freedoms are all involved here.  You and I should educate ourselves on the issue and take action.  There are other thoughts which continue to haunt me, however, as I consider the implications of this issue for Christians and the church.  Strident Christian voices are warning that if we do not get this amendment passed, life as we know it is about to end.  Here are some of my reflections on this. “Life as we know it” is always about to end.  When will we get that into our heads?  As much as we value life in these United States, we know that our beloved country will not be here forever, and this culture is not the source of our hope and peace.  This world is passing away, if Scripture is correct, and our last, best chance is active, obedient faith in the living God.  This is not to say we are not interested in moral issues or responding appropriately to them.  It is to say that our message has eternal dimensions which transcend our need “to preserve our way of life.” While we are getting wound up over saving the world, perhaps we need to do a better job of defining (redefining?) marriage.  The issue at hand (“same-sex marriage”) is the perfect foil for the discussion.   Too many Christians opt in and out of marriage because they have swallowed the shallow, self-serving, culturally conditioned definitions of “being in love” and “happiness.”  When will we realize that the Bible says a lot more about being “holy” than it does about being “happy” and maybe, just maybe, God’s plan for marriage has something to do with helping us become more holy?  We must be cautious lest we Christians think we have done our job when we get a new law passed which “protects” the family.  Anyone who believes that is living in “la-la land.”  Laws can change and amendments may be repealed.  We have done our job when we understand marriage and the family, and when we teach these truths and practice them.  We have done our job when we stand firm in the Scripture, showing our children the way, putting the kingdom of God first.  Perhaps some Christians should gripe less about the loss of morals and the destruction of the family, etc., ad nauseum, and put that energy into working with children and youth who need Christian adults as role models, teachers, friends and mentors.  I fear that modern Christians live with too much fear.  One would think that the bad guys are going to win.  Haven’t we read the Bible?  The “homosexual agenda”, whatever it is, will not win if it is not of God.  No human agenda, in this world, which goes against God, will prevail.  God will accomplish what He purposes.  He will, furthermore, use people in His cause who, unbroken in their triumphant faith, persevere to the end, worshiping, praying and speaking the truth in love. Moms and dads must teach biblical principles and live them out in front of their kids.  No amendment, no public school, no Sunday School in fact, replaces this responsibility.  No constitutional amendment will replace families in worship, praying together, clarifying right and wrong, and exercising grace and love. We must ask why the church sometimes appears so weak.  Why do people not listen?  Is it because we have engaged so much in the cultural battle, that we come off sounding not like we have a message of hope and wholeness, but as simply angry, vindictive, and punitive?  Do we sound like we are just against everything?   Perhaps we should re-examine our approach to the broken, searching people of the world, and look for ways to touch their lives with grace and love, not judgment and hatred.  As an outpost of the kingdom of God, the church has a great adventure before it, filled with risk and danger.  The God of the universe has called us to march forward with boldness and confidence, armed with truth, righteousness, peace, and prayer.  We should get used to “Christian bashing.”  Have you heard that term?  Do you hear Christians whining about it all the time?  “Poor us.  It’s not fair—we are being unfairly portrayed in the media, and in political arenas, and by those who disagree with us.”              This kind of stuff is inevitable—and it is at most an irritating annoyance.  You will be called all kinds of names if you say you are against “same-sex marriage” and for time honored, historically normative, socially-stabilizing, one mom-one dad  marriage.  You will be labeled a homophobe, a hopeless relic, and an insensitive brute who wants only to punish and deny equal rights to gays. But you need not chafe too much under this attack (such irony, being accused of intolerance by immensely intolerant people!), because you know (1) what is in your heart, and it is neither hate nor phobia, and (2) you know you are standing for what is right in God’s eyes.  Jesus said you should rejoice (not whine!) when you are persecuted for what is right.         The challenge is to remain gracious, caring, and forgiving, while holding to the truth. The church must keeps its eyes on the upward calling, while keeping its doors open to all sorts of sinners, as we walk together toward hope and healing and wholeness in Christ.  We cannot reject people simply because we disagree with them.  This is, in fact, all the more reason to be the face and voice of Jesus, inviting them to share the journey into faith. Some of the many things I love about you, people of God, are your intelligence, wisdom, biblical insight and desire to follow the Lord.  I trust implicitly your decisions and actions in these matters.  Looking forward with you to how God will use us for His kingdom purposes, I am Yours, Pastor Chuck   If you have any questions, please contact us.