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).