The Same-Sex Marriage Debate and the Christian

On May 9, 2012, President Barak Obama made a statement fully supporting Same-Sex Marriage (SSM) after Vice President Joe Biden and many of Obama’s top advisors came out in support of SSM. In an interview with ABC, President Obama said, “I've been going through an evolution on this issue. I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally…At a certain point I've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070304577394332545729926.html) President Obama is the first sitting U.S. President to publicly support SSM. Mr. Obama’s stance on the issue is a 180 degree shift from what he said to Rick Warren in an interview on August 17, 2008. When asked what he believes about marriage, Candidate Obama said, “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. I'm not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage.” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/2012/05/10/obamas-same-sex-marriage-reversal-rooted-principle-or-politics#ixzz1uxn4Z0jo

In an appearance on The View, taped on May 14, 2012, airing May 15, 2012, President Obama spoke openly with Barbara Walters about his intentions to repeal the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) signed into law by President Clinton on September 21, 1996. The issue of SSM has become a hotbed of political wrangling and has been spurred forward by the mainstream media since Obama’s May 9 statement. Some have wondered if Mr. Obama has not intentionally made such statements in an election year to detract attention from the failing economy and poor track record of his first term; shifting the focus to an obviously polarizing topic. It is interesting that Mr. Obama has had more press coverage in the last week than he has in several months; particularly when his campaign machine is gearing up strongly. But I digress.

Congress has been embroiled in controversy over SSM since Obama’s statement as well. We’ve seen Congressmen use Bible verses in the support and attack of SSM. The horrible lack of proper exegesis and interpretation by both sides of the issue has been appalling. Congress, the President, and many other commentators have tried to use the Bible to support SSM.

The question for the Christian is simple: What does the Bible say about same-sex marriage? Are there explicit statements and/or biblical principles that apply to the recently politicized debate?

 God’s Design for Human Sexuality

 The creation account in Genesis informs the Bible’s readers of God’s intention and design for human sexuality. Genesis 1:27 says that God created mankind having male and female - two sexes with a biological compatibility intended for the procreation of the species. Furthermore, God brought this first couple together (Gen. 2:18-25) and sanctioned humanity’s first societal institution – marriage. Some might object to this being the original institution of marriage when God said that the man was to leave his parents and be joined to his wife so that they might become one flesh. This marriage relationship was now subject to corruption as a result of the curse imposed when Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden (Gen. 3:16-17). Though it was corrupted and now tainted by sin, the man-woman relationship is still God’s original design.  The rest of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, uphold God’s initial design for marriage.

Old Testament Thought on Marriage

 The Old Testament directly states, or at least assumes, that legitimate, God-ordained marriage was between a male and female.  

The Law on Marriage

 The ante-Mosaic age witnessed marriage as being between men and women; consistent with the Genesis statement. The Mosaic Law established safeguards to help sinful people in broken relationships by guiding the institution of marriage in a fallen world.

Because sin causes people to value the wrong erotic objects, the Law protected marriage in Israel by forbidding several things:

•  Incest – because it results in broken family trust and genetic instability
•  Bestiality – because it is a declaration that the fitting helper (Eve/woman) declared by God to be most suitable for man (Gen. 2:18-25) is insufficient and is to be replaced by those creatures deemed unsuitable (Gen. 2:19-20)
• Adultery – because God intended for human sexual union to occur only in marriage
•  Homosexuality – because is clear that sexual union is only intended to be between a man and a woman within the context of marriage (Gen. 2:24-25)

Furthermore, the Law protects marriage  by outlawing adultery, rape, and polygamy; protecting virginity by forbidding premarital sex; protects family lines by instituting the practice of Levirate marriage (kinsman redeemer); and protects Israel’s ethnic identity by forbidding marriage outside of the nation. While certain aspects of the Law, such as Levirate marriage and the proscription against ethnic intermarriage no longer apply in this dispensation, the intention of God in giving these aspects of the Law is clear – the protection of marriage as established in the Genesis account.

The Rest of the Old Testament on Marriage

 The wisdom literature forbids adultery and gives multiple warnings against taking quarrelsome woman as a wife. The Song of Solomon models the sexual side of marriage; clearly legitimizing erotic love between a man and woman within the context of marriage.

Throughout the historical literature God’s original intent for marriage being between man and woman only is upheld. This is often seen in reverse; through Israel’s corruption of marriage. Israel’s marriage practices often mirrored those of the pagan cultures around them. This is evidenced in their engaging in sexual sin, including homosexuality, and polygamy – practices God never condoned.

During the prophetic period, the prophets routinely used marriage as a metaphor to illustrate the relationship of Israel to God. Most often this metaphor is seen in the spiritual adultery in which Israel engaged; violating their spiritual relationship with God. This is most clearly seen in the book of Hosea. The analogy of marriage seen in the book is startling. Despite the unfaithfulness of Hosea’s bride (representing Israel), Hosea (representing God) remained faithful. This prophet, among many others, illustrates for us that God’s intent for marriage was the faithfulness of one man and one woman in a union of mind, soul, and body.

New Testament Thought on Marriage

President Obama said that he follows Jesus’ teachings as a whole when he established his views on marriage. That’s a nice sentiment, but it ignores the truth. Jesus did not speak about marriage often, but when He did, He upheld God’s creative intent for marriage – man and woman. When questioned about divorce, Jesus replied by saying that God’s design for marriage was that one man and one woman become one flesh for their entire lifetimes (Matt. 19:3-6); citing almost verbatim the Genesis account. He went on to forbid divorce without appropriate cause (Matt. 19:7-8), and sexual desire and practice outside of marriage (Matt. 19:8-9). Though Jesus does not teach about marriage often, every time He does, he upholds God’s original intent for marriage – monogamous heterosexual fidelity.

Throughout the rest of the New Testament, many of the various authors address marriage: most notably Paul and Peter. When Paul addresses marriage (Eph. 5:21-33; 1 Cor. 7:8-17; et. al.), he nowhere advocates a homosexual union. Though he never addresses SMS per se, when he does speak about marriage, he always speaks about it in the light of monogamous heterosexual fidelity. Peter, too, addresses marriage in the same manner (1 Pet. 3:1-7).

Every time the Bible addresses marriage, it advocates God’s original creative design – monogamous heterosexual fidelity.

What Do We Do With SSM?

 Every literate person who has researched the topic of homosexuality in the Bible, whether they agree with it or not, knows that God has condemned the practice of homosexuality in every quarter of divine revelation (cf. Gen. 19:5-8; Lev. 18:22-23; 20:13; Rom. 1:24, 26-28; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:9-10).

The issue of homosexuality is somewhat separate from the issue of SSM. Why? Because even those who disagree with the Bible’s revelation about homosexuality recognize that it is condemned in Scripture. The fight is not about legitimizing homosexuality – that is something that has largely been accepted in American society in general. The issue, for proponents of SSM, is one of civil rights and the legitimizing of same-sex unions. They want to redefine marriage away from biblical revelation. Why? Because we are an increasingly pagan and secular society, and accepting God’s design for marriage presupposes there is a God and that we are subject to Him. If we redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, then we are diluting and disregarding biblical revelation; essentially nullifying the authority of the Almighty over us as His creatures.

How should Christians respond to SSM? Should we sling the vehemence of hate and maliciousness toward those practicing homosexuality? No. The New Testament makes it clear that those engaging in this sinful practice are not among the redeemed (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Nowhere in the New Testament are Christians ever encouraged or admonished to attack homosexuals. The sin of homosexuality is placed in the same category as any other sin mentioned in the lists given by the New Testament writers. This places those engaging in homosexual sex in the same category as any other unregenerate person – they are unsaved. What does that mean to the Christian? We have a responsibility to lovingly share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who approvingly practice homosexual sex, just as we would with any other unsaved person. Our preaching of the gospel should never condone sin, but neither should we alienate sinners through our biases or refuse to them the truth spoken in fidelity to the Word of God out of love for Christ and love for people. If anything is going to be a stumbling block, let the gospel be its own stumbling block (1 Cor. 1:23).

On a political note, for the Christian the issue of SSM is not a civil rights issue; it’s a theological issue. Civil rights can be defined as “the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.”  Advocates of SSM loudly proclaim that marriage is a social issue not a religious one. Yet, that is just not the case. Marriage was instituted by God at the very creation of human society, guarded by God’s legal and prophetic revelation, and legitimized by God incarnate as a union of spirit, soul, and body in a heterosexual union. By its very inception, marriage is a religious institution.

Furthermore, the “homosexual community” is not a minority group. They are not an ethnic community which has been discriminated against, but are trans-ethnic. In fact, should SSM become federally legalized, Christians who believe in the sanctity of marriage as prescribed by God in the Bible will become the discriminated against minority in short order. I wonder if organizations like the ACLU would rise to our defense then? I think not.

Christians have a responsibility to stand for and defend the truth. Should we fail to do so on the issue of same-sex marriage, we are sacrificing not only the God-ordained structure of society, but are compromising biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and authority – becoming an increasingly paganized Church.