Dealing with Same-Sex Marriage.

Over the next few weeks we'll take a look at some of the areas of culture and life that are more hotly debated. Please understand this isn't about condemning anyone or passing judgment on anyone. It's about a brief look at what the Bible says on the topic and how we should deal with it. So let's get started!

A person cannot go for very long in today's American culture without being confronted with the topic of homosexuality or same-sex marriage. We'll discuss the topic of homosexuality in a coming blog but this week we'll focus on same-sex marriage. We see these topics brought up in films, television, the media, government legislation, and even in religious debates. Just 15 years ago the idea was so far removed from the mainstream of society that it wasn't really discussed. Now with society's attempt to gain acceptance for this it has become common place and not given much of a second thought by many. But when it comes to same-sex marriage our question shouldn't be what does our society, culture, neighbor, friends, co-workers, family or even what you "think" or "feel" about it. The real question, as with any and every part of life, should be what does God tell us about His plan for it.

God's Word, the Bible, is noticeably silent about the topic of same-sex marriage. We can speculate as to why its not mentioned but the obvious answer here is most likely the right one. It's because same-sex marriage was not God's intention for marriage. We read in Genesis 2:24 about God's original design for marriage. It says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (NIV). God's original design for marriage was that a man and woman would come together and be united in a marriage relationship that would last for life. As with so many other areas of life man has found a way to replace God's holy plan with a man-made plan that goes against God's original design.

What we have to do is drop the title "same-sex" from consideration and look at what God's design is for marriage. If a same-sex situation fits into God's design then it would be fine to proceed with it. But if it doesn't then we need to make sure to stay within the boundaries of God's design. Marriage, regardless of what a man-made government says, is a holy institution, designed by God to foster love and devotion for a spouse and is a reflection of Christ's love for the church. Through marriage God has designed for the continuation of the human race. He has designed marriage to be the institution that brings complementary traits from both sexes to help develop children in a way that builds in them an understanding and an appreciation of both sexes. It is not about man rewriting a plan that was designed and put in place by the divine wisdom of Almighty God. It isn't about acceptance. It's isn't about normalizing something God does not support in His Word. It isn't about rights, equality, feelings, or how we as finite and simple-minded human beings think about a topic (Isaiah 55:9). It's about the divine wisdom of God knowing what He wants for mankind and Him putting in place a process to accomplish His will for marriage. If we as enlightened human beings can rewrite God's plan for marriage then what is to stop us from trying the same thing by making salvation and sin fit into our own views?

God has designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. It is not our place to rewrite God's plan and institute cohabitation, polygamy, or same-sex marriage as viable options for a design God formed with His wisdom before time existed. Please understand that this post is not about bashing those that feel that same-sex marriage is a viable option. If a same-sex couple were to approach me about marriage I would treat them with the same Christ-like love I would if I were approached by a couple where one was a Christian and one was not. I would not marry them based on what God's Word says and not because of anything else. Would I share with them what God's plan for marriage is? Yes I would. Would I try to help them see God's plan for marriage? Yes I would. Do they have to agree with me in what God's plan for marriage is? No they don't. But in the end it isn't me that they are arguing with and it isn't my rule that they are trying to rewrite. In the end we have to look at what God gives us as His plan for marriage and then decide, like every part of life, am I going to follow God's plan or go my own way. If we go our own way we need to be prepared for the consequences. If we follow God's plan we can look forward to His blessings.


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