Marriage: No Neutral Stance!

It seems like everywhere in the news these days there are continual signs of the times we live in. We’re clearly living in a generation that has rejected God’s Word as the authority, and has instead replaced that firm foundation with the changing opinions of man as our culture does “whatever is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

This rejection of God’s Word as the authority is clearly seen in issues related to marriage. Since God created marriage, only God has the right to define marriage. But, as our culture has rejected God’s Word beginning in Genesis, we’ve quickly seen biblical marriage disappear. For example, recently parts of Alabama began reportedly issuing gay marriage licenses. Apparently this has been a very controversial decision in the state and the controversy is just another sign of the times.

Secular companies are increasingly producing ads that promote or attempting to what they call “normalize” homosexual behavior and gay marriage. For example, as a part of its “Put Your Heart to Paper” campaign, Hallmark featured the story of a young lesbian couple. And Nikon featured the story and a gallery of photos of a family of three children with their gay fathers. Now, these companies are secular companies that don’t claim to start their thinking on God’s Word, so of course they will develop their companies based on their own reasoning. But what these ads show is the increasing acceptance in our culture of ideas that are completely contrary to biblical principles. They are a sign of the times we live in—times of disobedience to, and a rejection of, God’s Word!

And I believe they are a sign that we live in a time in which God is turning the culture over, withdrawing the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit, and pouring out judgment. I suggest that Romans 1 is really a picture of the culture in the US today (and really throughout the Western world). In Romans 1 we read about those who rebel against the Creator God:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. (Romans 1:18).

And so we are told, “Therefore God gave them up” (Romans 1:24).

And as we read on in Romans 1, we are told that as a consequence—as a sign that God is judging and giving the culture over—is the sign of increasing homosexual behavior:

For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:26–28)

This is clearly a picture of our culture today—a culture that has been progressively throwing out reminders of the Christian message and imposing the religion of naturalism (atheism) on generations of children in much of the public education system. This is a culture where much of the church has compromised the authority of the Word, and many Christians as well as non-Christians condone the murdering of millions of children (over 55 million since 1973) by abortion. Yes, God’s wrath will be felt in this culture.

Sadly, we do hear many people (even a segment of the church) that claim when it comes to moral issues like marriage and abortion that we need to be tolerant of other views. But such a position is really intolerant of any view that says this is what is absolutely right or wrong—based on the absolute authority of the Word of God.

Jesus Christ, our Creator and Savior, the Word and the Truth, tells us that “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

There is no neutrality on issues like these. Scripture makes it clear that you are either for Christ or you are against Him (Matthew 12:30)—you cannot be both nor can you be somewhere in between. In supporting and promoting gay marriage, these companies listed above, as well as others in the Christian and non-Christian worlds, are taking a stand and being intolerant of those who stand for the truth of God’s Word and principles—such as marriage for one man and one woman—based out of the Bible. So they are not being neutral and tolerant of everybody! You simply can’t be.

Now Christians who do stand on the absolute authority of the Word of God certainly are tolerant of people who have different views, even though such Christians will boldly explain why they believe such views are wrong, based on God’s Holy Word. But I often find that those who reject the clear biblical teaching that marriage is one man for one woman often become very intolerant personally of those who do not agree with them.

As Christians, we need to base our thinking on the firm and unchanging foundation of God’s Word, not on man’s fallible, changing, sinful ideas. We need to be salt and light in a world that so desperately needs to hear the message of the truth of God’s Word and the gospel. I encourage you to be bold in standing for God’s Word and the gospel.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

 

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.