Jimmy Carter: Jesus Would Approve of Gay Marriage

President Carter’s answer to the question of whether gay “marriage” conflicts with his faith was, “That’s no problem with me. I think that everybody should have a right to get married, regardless of their sex.” He went on to claim that Jesus would agree with it, too, though he admitted it’s just his personal belief without any Scripture to back it up. He finished with, “I think Jesus would encourage any love affair if it was honest and sincere and was not damaging to anyone else, and I don’t see that gay marriage damages anyone else.” Well, it doesn’t matter whether a person is a US president or the queen of England. We need to judge the words of fallible humans against the absolute authority of the Word of God.

Can we know Jesus’ view on this issue, or are we just left with our own personal beliefs on what Jesus might think? Well, Scripture tells us that it is “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and that Jesus is God (e.g., John 1:1); therefore the Word of God is the Word of Christ. And what does Scripture say?

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

When Jesus as the God-man was asked about marriage (Matthew 19 and Mark 10), he referred to his Word as recorded in Genesis 1:27 and 2:24

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4–6)

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of God, wrote,

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. 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. (Romans 1:26–27)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality . . . will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)

Marriage has very clearly been defined in Scripture as between one man and one woman for life.

Marriage has very clearly been defined in Scripture as between one man and one woman for life, and sexual actions outside of that, thus homosexual behavior, are categorized as sinful. If there was any doubt on Jesus’ views, he defined marriage for us according to Genesis during his earthly ministry, as stated above!

So, yes, we can point to Scriptures to find what Jesus’ view on gay “marriage” would be! Jesus referred to Scripture authoritatively, quoted himself therein, and chastised those who were testing him for not getting their answer from Scripture! President Carter cannot point to any Scriptures to support his view because there aren’t any—but there are verses that say the exact opposite. Instead of allowing their opinion to rule over God’s Word, President Carter and others who claim to follow Christ need to allow God’s Word to be the authority.

Really, the debate raging in many churches about gay “marriage” is no different from the creation/evolution issue. It’s an issue of authority. Who will be your authority? Will you allow God and his perfect Word to be your authority, or will you lift your own opinions (or the opinions of our culture) over God’s Word, making yourself the authority? Ultimately the battle isn’t about marriage, abortion, evolution, racism, or the age of the earth—it’s about authority. Those in the church who are embracing gay “marriage” (as well as evolution and millions of years) only do so because Scripture sadly is not their final authority.

We cannot be blown here and there by the ever-changing ideas of man (Ephesians 4:14). We need to have our feet planted firmly in God’s Word while we graciously and compassionately reach out to a lost world with the gospel message that brings everlasting hope.

Get More Answers on Answers News

I discussed this item today on Answers News with regular cohosts Dr. Georgia Purdom and Bodie Hodge. Answers News is our twice-weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also discussed the following fascinating topics:

• Have scientists captured photographs of a planet being born?
• It’s a mean world—is kindness the way out?
• Why do soccer (football) players fake injuries? Evolution, of course.
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Monday and Thursday at 2 p.m. (EDT) on my Facebook page or the Answers in Genesis Facebook page for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

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