IS HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE A SERIOUS ISSUE
by Kevin
Rutherford.
There are many that would suggest
that homosexual marriage is not a serious issue. “After all, this is America
and shouldn’t homosexuals have the same rights as heterosexuals?” Others have indicated their moral opposition
to gay marriage but see no reason to be concerned. They do not believe “gay marriage” will
change our country in any significant way.
May I humbly suggest to you that gay marriage is a very serious issue. It is an issue
that undermines the very strength and foundation of our culture, society, and
republic. It is an issue that goes to
the very heart of moral integrity and ethical responsibility in our nation. It is an issue that addresses an institution
that has roots going back to the very beginning of time. Marriage was established before the creation
of any other institution (Genesis 2:23, 24).
In order to see what effect
homosexual marriage would have upon our culture we can examine cultures that
have already accepted such relationships. The Scandinavian countries have been
pioneers in the liberal, immoral, and satanic movement to destroy
marriage. At least since the late 80’s
they have seen a large increase in the acceptance of homosexual unions and a
legal recognition of such. Through the
90’s this acceptance grew and the results of homosexual unions became clear.
One result is the attack and verbal
abuse upon conservative Lutheran clergy.
We understand that the Lutheran
Church is not the church you can
read of the New Testament (Matthew 15:9). However, it is important to note what has
happened to that church since it has historically been the dominant church in
Scandinavian countries. In some regions
Lutheran church buildings fly rainbow colored flags indicating their acceptance
of homosexual marriage. In those regions
the conservative clergy who would oppose homosexual and lesbian unions have
found themselves forced out. They have
found themselves the victims of gay marriage.
Interestingly enough it is those
same conservative clergy members who oppose parenthood without marriage. That brings us to another effect of
homosexual marriage on society. While
the movement to separate the idea of parenthood from marriage was already being
pushed in Scandinavia, the legalization of homosexual
unions has accelerated that cause. Now
the majority of children in Norway,
Sweden, and Denmark
are born out of wedlock. Well-known
celebrities and social scientists in these countries have used homosexual
unions as illustrations of their belief that children do not fair better when
raised in strong marriages between one man and one woman. However, the facts are against them. A study made in Sweden
in 2003 found that children of single parents had more than double the rates of
mortality, severe morbidity, and child injury, than children in two parent
homes.
A four-stage model has been
developed by tracking the destruction of the home in Europe. Stage one: Couples living together without
marriage are the exception, and most people produce children within
marriage. Stage two: Living together
before marriage becomes viewed as a trial period before committing to marriage,
but usually the couples refrain from having children unless married.
Stage three: Living together becomes more acceptable and is
no longer associated with marriage. Stage
four: Marriage and living together are viewed no differently and most children
are born out of wedlock. Kathleen
Kiernan (the developer of the model) suggests the United
States is in the second stage. In fact, other research shows that less than
half of Americans in their twenties believe it is wrong to have children
outside of marriage.
The bottom line is this: Homosexual
and lesbian marriages, or civil unions, are harmful to marriage, family, children,
and society. The evidence is abundantly
clear. God’s way is the best way. God’s way is the only way for healthy, happy
homes, and societies. God’s way opposes
homosexual and lesbian relationships of any kind (I Corinthians 6:9-11). God’s
way promotes marriage as a life long union between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:1- 9). God’s way provides for a stable and strong institution that
produces stable and strong children.
Homes where mothers love their husbands, love their children, and are
discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, and obedient to their husbands (Titus 2:4, 5). Homes where fathers lead their homes, treat
their wives as those who are precious, and bring their children up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians
5:23-33; 6:4).