Is legalized same-sex marriage "inevitable"?
Why do “half of conservative Christians” believe it is inevitable? The article offers this tidbit - “…same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue like age, race, and gender…” (aka “it isn’t a faith issue”)
I wonder, do they think:
1) “It’s not that big a deal — why is everyone so uptight?”
2) “It’s a political-social issue, not a religious one; therefore, it doesn’t affect me/my faith/our local church”
3) “It’s gonna happen since we’re entering the end times anyway….”
4) “I don’t believe God is big enough to do anything about it or I’m afraid of trusting God since I could be hurt or embarrassed if this happens anyway after praying in faith.”
If Christians believe it is inevitable, they’re not praying about it (and if they are — what could the effectiveness level be of faithless prayer?)
So would the same folks (who think it is inevitable) wear a T-Shirt that says “God spoke the Earth into existence, breathed the breath of life into a pile of dust to make Man in His Image, and He is all powerful” — “except with regard to same-sex marriage”?
Wow. Why can’t we all pray like King Asa; “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” (2 Chron 12:11NASB)
What do you think — is it inevitable, and if yes, does that reflect a lack of faith in God, a suspicion that God may tolerate it (i.e. not find it acceptable, but hold back His Divine Wrath a little longer) because it is part of a larger timeline of heading to the final days or something else entirely?
Paul,
For those who reach those conclusions, I would say it would be due to the perception that the people who surround them in their neighborhoods and workplaces would generally think that it is none of our business who people can “fall in love with.” Marriage today is viewed as the natural culmination of that “falling” process, and not as a foundational institution of a society.
That’s not to say that we don’t continue to make stands, vote based on our position on that issue, and generally work against what appears to be the inevitable. But living here in Minnesota where last year’s same-sex marriage ban was rejected by voters (even though we had plenty of support for it out here in the rural areas), and seeing other states implementing it, I don’t wonder that it is perceived as inevitable. The majority of our country would think it foolish to teach that God created the world in six days. Why wouldn’t they reject the institution He created?
This is a helpful perspective to consider: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2013/02/27/gay-marriage-and-c…
Again, that’s not to say we give up. We learn to live as salt and light in a culture that will continue to be hostile towards the gospel. We maintain our public position that homosexuality is wrong, and accept the societal consequences (even as we seek to engage sinner in need of a Savior, including those who practice this behavior). But I don’t think it’s a lack of faith in God to expect moral decline, any more than it would be to expect fornication, cohabitation and divorce to continue to be as socially acceptable as they are.
Greg Linscott
Marshall, MN
Thanks for the feedback, Greg. I appreciate the input and a larger perspective.
I agree that many of my neighbors here in NJ would reject a lot of Christian ideals, but what about the 50% of the folks who are members of my church (if the stats from the article were brought home to our local congregation?)
I read through the article you linked — it makes some great points that debaters are not willing to hold the Bible as a credible authority or source for “statistics” but that doesn’t mean a Christian worldview can’t be supported using secular statistics — the debater just didn’t go there (i.e. the effects of non-typical parenting on children, the need of boys to have strong male role models, et.al. have been studied frequently by many psychologists and generally the trend has been to represent the interests of who ever paid for the study - sarcasm -)
I’d also cite a “secular” editorial: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/12/3910408/marriage-truth-and-consequences.html for ‘examples’ of non-scriptural defense of traditional marriage (its far from perfect, but gives a representation).
Bottomline is that we “could” march in parades, sign petitions, etc. (and that’s not bad/wrong) but at the end of the day, we don’t make change in society as much as God can and does. We build relationships, discuss, dialog and love other people while offering testimony and Good News. But I firmly believe that when a nation slowly turns its back to God, preferring to accept the inevitable in their hearts, they shape a self-fulfilling prophecy. In a spiritual battle, we need spiritual influence ex. Psalm 5, Psalm 6, Psalm 140, Proverbs 15, et.al. not just votes, debates, and such.
When fathers lead families in prayer, and commit in their hearts to follow Deuteronomy 6:4-9 in very literal ways we’re drawing a line in the sand spiritually. I think God can and does honor that commitment. I believe God can and may do all sorts of surprising things when we really dig deep and obey, pursue holiness and trust Him to do the heavy lifting.
Again, thanks for the input — I do see how it would appear a given that we don’t control civil government, and on that basis, they will likely enact legislation that opens up our nation to more wickedness and deception (Rom 16:17-18)
After the last couple of pres. elections, it’s easy to feel like everything bad—as far as our civilization is concerned—is inevitable. There just doesn’t seem to be either (a) enough common ground from which to reason good policy decisions or (b) enough capable (and deeply conservative) leaders to do the reasoning… or maybe both.
But there is still time to turn that around (maybe… assuming the End doesn’t come in the next decade).
I for one don’t believe for a minute that “political” questions are outside the scope Christian responsibility or that we experience no important results from political decisions. Ideas have consequences, and sooner or later the consequences impact our kids or grandkids if not ourselves.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/03/the-world-canrsquot-hear…
Of course, in the past “same-sex marriage would have been unthinkable or considered ridiculous,” but that’s just my point. When the current president and a popular former president both endorse something, it’s no longer considered ridiculous. (emphasis mine- GJL) And Obama and Clinton aren’t out on a limb (politicians rarely are). National Review Online’s Daniel Foster reports that “exit-polling data from the 2012 election shows that while support for gay marriage sits at 37 percent with voters 65 and older, 52 percent of younger voters support ‘freedom to marry.’” Other than white Evangelical Protestants, a majority of all religious groups in the U.S. supports same-sex marriage.
By all means, defend marriage, invoke the weight of tradition, make all the arguments you can invent with all the passion, compassion, and cunning you can muster. But we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking any of this readily touches the experience or intellectual habits of a majority. Even Roberts acknowledges that “few people are really listening, that the debate is politically rigged, that few people have the nerve or willingness to hold unpopular positions” and “the development of the culture over the last few decades has inured people to the creational realities.” He makes my point: Surrounded by the white noise of late modern culture, many regard marriage as Roberts and I understand it nearly as exotic as a confession of one person, two natures.
Greg Linscott
Marshall, MN
Now, I’ll confess up front that I favor gay marriage as a policy matter (the legal arguments before the Court are a different issue altogether). If you want to litigate that point in the comments, fine, but we’ve been down that road a million times before and I think the arguments are pretty well-rehearsed. You either think the definition of marriage is fixed as a metaphysical matter or that it’s capable of evolution. For what it’s worth, I’ve found the arguments on this site for the position contrary to mine better than what I’ve found virtually anywhere else.
There seems to be a growing recognition amongst both supporters and detractors, however, that this increasingly looks like a fait accompli. Even if the Supreme Court doesn’t advance the ball down the field, the sea change in public opinion seems to presage a day in the not-too-distant future when gay marriage will be something approaching the norm.
There are a few reasons why I think it’s inevitable:
1. Man’s condition will get worse and worse in the end days, as the Bible says.
2. People today see the wreck of traditional marriage and see Christians as hypocrites.
3. It’s easier to go along with something instead of fight against it when it’s being portrayed as a ‘civil right’ or ‘human dignity’ issue - who wants to be against human dignity?
4. That battle has already been lost - we lost it years ago. Today’s young adults just don’t care the Biblical view that has to be in existence for marriage to be properly understood before they’re willing to defend it.
5. John 3:18-20
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
I saw this article today and thought it would be a good read.
Think of all the ways gay marriage fits in with our cultural mood and assumptions.
1. It’s about progress.
2. It’s about love.
3. It’s about rights.
4. It’s about equality.
5. It’s about tolerance.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Some things ought to be opposed because they’re wrong, not because we might succeed.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
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