The Evolution of the Views of a President

Well, it was all over the news yesterday and seen in headlines this morning in our newspapers: “Obama: ‘I Think Same-Sex Couples Should Be Able to Get Married.’”

In an ABC TV news article, we read, “In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an ‘evolution’ that led him to this decision, based on conversations with his staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and his wife and daughters” (emphasis and link in the original).

Also, see this video clip AiG staff member Tim Chaffey sent me to help show you how the president’s view has changed:

As you can see from that video clip, when Pastor Rick Warren interviewed Obama in 2008 before the election, he said that marriage was between a man and a woman. As he declared this, he said he was a Christian and that “God's in the mix.” Now I do not know what he meant by that statement, but I’m assuming he’s implying that God has something to say about marriage. And God does have something to say about marriage—He says marriage is between a male and a female and that homosexual behavior is an abomination, and thus “gay” marriage is as well!

Four years after Pastor Warren’s interview, President Obama has now used the word “evolution” to describe his new view of marriage. I guess that means that he believes his view of “God’s role in the mix” has now changed! According to a transcript of the ABC interview, the president injected this religious beliefs into the marriage question and also twisted Scripture: “When we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated.”

However, the truth of the matter is that God’s Word does not change, and it is for all people for all time. What is happening in our culture can really be summed up with this verse of Scripture: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Once a person abandons the absolute authority of the Word of God, then that individual determines what is right and wrong for himself—just as President Obama is doing. It is a sad day for America when the leader of the nation has publicly rejected God’s Word on this important cultural topic. You see, the family is the first and most fundamental of all human institutions God ordained in Scripture. The family is the unit God uses to transmit the knowledge of God to the world and from one generation to the next. The relationship of the husband and wife is linked to the relationship between Christ and the church.

What does the Word of God say about “gay” marriage?

We have a number of articles on the AiG website that discuss the origin and nature of marriage. Here is one I wrote: “How Should a Christian Respond to “Gay Marriage”?”

I would also recommend you read the following article that was a feedback item about this very issue, written by Tim Chaffey. I have reprinted it for you:

I have read your articles on homosexuality and wondering if anyone has read the article [Editors’ note: the article title and author removed per our feedback rules.]

It’s on the net. I have a christian friend who thinks God is not clear that homosexuality is wrong and gave me this article as her evidence and proof....

I am overwhelmed as i read, with all my counter-arguments but wondering if you have a succinct article for me to send her, or someone that has actually written a response to this??

—J.L, Australia

Thank you for contacting Answers in Genesis. God’s Word often comes under attack by those who want to live their lives apart from certain aspects of it. Those caught in adultery want to reinterpret the Bible on that subject. Thieves want to reinterpret it in areas that speak against stealing. It is no different with the issue of homosexuality. Many people want to give the appearance of keeping the morality of God’s Word, but they don’t want all of it.

God does not allow us to pick and choose which verses to follow or reject. By doing this, people actually raise their own thoughts and beliefs in authority over God and His Word. It is the same kind of problem when people reinterpret God’s Word. Rather than simply ignoring a particular verse, they change the meaning of it to make it fit their view. In a very real way, they place themselves as the authority over God's Word. But who is the real authority? Ultimately, this is a biblical authority issue.

I have read your articles on homosexuality and wondering if anyone has read the article [Editors’ note: the article title and author removed per our feedback rules.]

Thanks for taking the time to read through our articles on the subject. I have read the article you referenced.

It’s on the net. I have a christian friend who thinks God is not clear that homosexuality is wrong and gave me this article as her evidence and proof....

It’s interesting that your friend would use this article as evidence that God isn’t clear about homosexuality. After all, the writer of the article did state that the Bible consistently condemns homosexuality as a sin. This is one of the few accurate statements in the article. Both the Old Testament and New Testament classify homosexuality as a sin (e.g., Leviticus 18:22; 1 Timothy 1:9–10).

The main purpose of the article you referenced, however, was to declare that the Bible is wrong on this issue. This shows us the writer’s starting point: man’s ever-changing opinions over the unchanging, inspired Word of God. Notice the word choice the author uses: the Bible is a “witness to the Word of God.” This is typical language used by liberal theologians and pastors who do not believe the Bible is the Word of God.

A couple of points must be made. First, the Bible explicitly calls homosexuality an abomination (Leviticus 20:13) and places it in a list of other vices (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). It is wrong for any Christian to condone homosexuality, since God’s Word clearly speaks against it. However, it is also wrong to single out homosexuality and shrug off the other sins listed in these passages.

Second, 1 Corinthians 6:11 reveals the incredible mercy of our God. After emphatically stating that homosexuals, drunkards, adulterers, idolaters, etc. will not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” The church in Corinth consisted of former homosexuals, drunkards, adulterers, idolaters, etc., but they had been washed, sanctified, and justified. This shows us that God is willing to forgive sinners, including homosexuals, but they must turn from (repent of) their rebellious ways and place their faith in Christ alone.
I am overwhelmed as i read, with all my counter-arguments but wondering if you have a succinct article for me to send her, or someone that has actually written a response to this??
First, I would encourage you to take a look at some passages from God’s Word on this issue without the influence of humanistic reinterpretations. The Bible is crystal clear about homosexuality, but remember that God extends His grace to all who repent of their sins and receive Christ as Lord and Savior. This elevates Him to His proper position as the authority on all matters.

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)

If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. (Leviticus 20:13)

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Romans 1:26–27)

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)

Second, this lengthy article is riddled with logical fallacies, and the writer often pulls verses out of context in an effort to support his view. Let me give you some examples from this article, which are also commonly used by others seeking to justify homosexuality.

After citing passages which state that we are no longer under the Law, the writer says, “We cannot then take even what Paul himself says as a new Law. Christians reserve the right to pick and choose which sexual mores they will observe.” While Christians are not under the Mosaic Law in the same way as the nation of Israel, there are still specific commands for Christians in the New Testament. We are to make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20), imitate God (Ephesians 5:1), and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Furthermore, the New Testament directly contradicts the writer’s claim by explicitly stating that it is God’s will for us to “abstain from sexual immorality” and that “he who rejects this does not reject man, but God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 8).

The writer implies that homosexuality is genetic. This has never been demonstrated, and there is strong evidence opposing this view. There are many thousands of former homosexuals, and numerous ministries are devoted to helping them. This suggests that a homosexual can choose to become heterosexual. Some people seem to be more predisposed to certain types of sin than others, but ultimately every person must decide whether he or she will give in to sin. Furthermore, this argument misses the point. We are all sinners by nature, yet God’s Word tells us not to sin.

“Adultery is condemned in the Bible, and yet Christians don’t usually speak out against it.” This claim is merely a smokescreen. It commits the logical fallacy of the irrelevant thesis (i.e., the argument has nothing to do with the issue in question). Christians should speak out against adultery, idolatry, drunkenness, and every other type of sin, including homosexuality. The Bible is very clear on all of these issues (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). The fact that some have not stood against these ideas does not justify the acceptance of another vice.

The writer claims that those who believe the Bible on this issue are homophobic and intolerant. This is an example of the logical fallacy known as the question-begging epithet, an emotionally-charged response intended to persuade by appealing to emotion rather than reason. We could just as easily call the writer a “heterophobe” or “God-hater,” but that doesn’t accomplish anything. Instead, we should point out that most of those who point out the sin of homosexuality do not have an irrational fear (phobia) of homosexuals. No, we love them and want them to know and understand the truth that they can be “washed, sanctified, and justified” by repenting of their sins and trusting in Christ. Also, while we are being accused of being intolerant, we must ask why this writer and others who resort to name-calling are so intolerant of the biblical view.

Although we have not written a detailed response to this particular article, we have written several articles dealing with this subject, such as this one about how a Christian should respond to the idea of gay marriage.

When Jesus was asked about the subject of divorce and marriage He quoted from Genesis:
And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus showed us that marriage is based in a literal understanding of Genesis 2:23–24, which states, “‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The reason husband and wife become one flesh is that Eve was taken from Adam’s side. They truly were one flesh. Jesus also pointed out that marriage was to be between a man and woman. Any alteration of this message serves as a flat-out denial of the clear words of our Creator.

If we claim to be followers of Christ, then we must be willing to take Him at His Word rather than trying to use man’s ever-changing opinions as our authority. The Bible’s instruction on this issue may be extremely unpopular in our society, but we must desire to please God rather than men. Too often, professing Christians are like the Pharisees Christ rebuked in that they are more interested in the praise of men than the praise of God (John 5:43).

May God give us the courage and strength to stand for the truth and to speak the truth in love no matter what consequences may come.

Sincerely,
Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S.

Tim’s article was originally posted at this link.

Here are some other articles that deal with this topic:

You may also purchase my booklet on this subject from the online store.

How America needs to remember this verse: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 33:12). And to follow up Tim’s use of Leviticus 18:22 above, I want to close with additional verses taken from the same chapter that should serve as a sober warning to a nation that disregards God’s commands: “Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants” (Leviticus 18:24–25).

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

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The Evolution of the Views of a President

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