Hope Reformed Church, RCA

In his book 'The Screwtape Letters' (the letters are 'advice' from Uncle Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood concerning how humans should be tempted) CS Lewis writes:

"Aggravate that most useful human characteristic, the horror and neglect of the obvious. You must bring him to a condition in which he can practice self-examination for an hour without discovering any of those facts about himself which are perfectly clear to anyone who has ever lived in the same house with him or worked in the same office." The Screwtape Letters

The foundation of our country is obvious, given the faith of our Founders. The foundation of how to live is obvious, given the authority of Holy Scripture.

A foundational question in the gay marriage debate is the authority of Scripture. Those who believe the Bible to be God's revelation of Truth believe that both human reason and emotion must be under God's authority. More liberal or "progressive" Christians believe the church is free to respond to changing social values and pressures.

But according to the Book of Genesis, God's marriage model is clearly articulated in the Garden of Eden. And that model is presented as one man and one woman.

Essentially, here is the debate: Should marriage laws be biblically based? The Bible - when read and understood in a straightforward, historical-grammatical framework - is no friend to gay marriage proponents. This is why most gay marriage proponents have resorted to attacking, undermining, or redefining the Bible.

The argument for not allowing Scripture to influence same-sex marriage is this: The Bible...was once quoted to support slavery, to oppose science and to prevent women from achieving equality. On every one of those issues the Bible was quite simply wrong. To quote it now to uphold the perceived evil of homosexuality is no less wrong.

The Apostle Paul urged his readers to “test all things” and to “study to show yourself approved unto God.” To examine the Bible objectively and fairly (including whether our interpretations of or understandings of it are flawed) is something that we are encouraged to do. But remember: The accuracyor authority of the Bible is not based on our own preferences and emotions. If it's God's Word, then God expects us to bring our lives in conformity with what is revealed. Doctrinal issues aren't questions of wish or desire. It’s all about obedience.

When God created a partner for Adam God created Eve - not another Adam. This means that perfect partnership requires some level of difference as well as a level of similarity so great that Adam could cry out loudly, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." Sexual intimacy between a man and a woman is the typical method of male/female bonding (emotionally and physically) because it corresponds to the design of our bodies and because it is the natural means by which offspring are created.

The image of God is both male and female and is reflected in a godly union between male and female where the creative power of God, his life-giving, his self-giving and his moral nature are perfectly expressed. If God had intended the human race to be fulfilled through both heterosexual and homosexual marriage, God would have designed our bodies to allow reproduction through both means and made both means of sexual intercourse healthy and natural.

When Jesus was asked questions about marriage he went back to the defining passages – foundational passages - in Genesis that clarify humans have been made in God’s image as male and female. He saw the creation accounts in Genesis as

Foundation in Scripture is important. Morality in Scripture is also important. The Apostle Paul includes homosexual offenders in his list of moral offences that will be denied entrance to the Kingdom of God.

“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Like adultery, like the abuse of alcohol or the love of money, or the power rush of human ego trips, or using drugs, there are emotions which are powerful and addictive and ultimately terribly destructive. A marriage is more than a sexual pleasure center. A marriage is a social unit that is interwoven with dozens of other lives. Same-sex marriages must satisfy criteria other than emotion. Marriage is a fundamental social institution that does not exist just for the emotional satisfaction of two individuals but for the greater good of society. Just because an emotion is deep or powerful does not justify acting upon it. Homosexuals feel deeply for their partners; however, no matter how deep the feelings, it is not a marriage in God's sight.

Gay marriage proponents often argue that all those who oppose same-sex marriage fall into the category of "hate" - stating that "hate has no place in our culture." But Christian opponents of same-sex marriage point out that it is possible to disagree with someone or something (even strongly), and not be guilty of hate.

While Scripture clearly teaches that homosexual behavior is wrong, Scripture also teaches that the priorities of Believers are the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love you neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27). That’s how Jesus answered the ‘expert’ who was testing Jesus with the question: What must I do to inherit eternal life? And when asked “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the ‘expert’ the story about the Good Samaritan. Remember how Jesus concluded that story? He asked the expert: "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" The expert replied, "The one who treated him kindly." Jesus then said to him, "Go and do the same."

^{1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)}

Every biblical reference to homosexual sin occurs in passages which include a list of other sins. These sins include idolatry, greed, disobedience to parents, pride, injustice to the poor, drunkenness, slander, self-indulgence, gossip and murder. It’s wrong when Christians cite Scripture against homosexuality while at the same time excusing things like lying, gossiping, stirring up dissension, dishonest business practices, and self-righteousness.

Are homosexual persons (as with other offenders) genuinely at risk in their relationship with God through unrepentant behavior? If the answer is “yes,” then what does love mean in that context? Love must mean ending the cycle of behavior lest the individual not inherit God’s kingdom.

Yes – it’s easier to hate. Yes – it’s easier to judge. But Jesus aggressively reaches out in love to sinners and tax collectors, inviting himself into their homes, eating with them, preaching the kingdom of God, focusing his ministry mostly on them for the express purpose of recovering them for the kingdom. While others didn’t care that they were being destroyed, Jesus cared and reached out to them in love. When do people most need a life preserver? They need it when they are in the ocean drowning. That’s why he said, “I’ve come to bring wholeness, to save the lost, to heal the sick because the spiritually sick and lost need to be recovered.”

There is a place to stand which is faithful to Christ and his love for people. As a Body of Believers, we need to be filled with grace and truth. As a Community of Faith, we need to be places of truth where sin is taken seriously and where love is redemptive. With God’s help we can be that kind of place.