How should we as Christians react to the current issues surrounding
homosexual marriage? A clear understanding of God's purposes for
marriage helps us understand what's at stake if our culture redefines
what He originally created.
If you feel flustered when someone asks you to explain your views on the
issue of homosexual marriage, you are not alone. Many Christians may
perceive instinctively that gay marriage threatens the "sanctity" of
marriage and the world their children will live in, but what does that
mean?
Let's start by recalling God's blueprints that we find in Scripture.
When we speak of the "sanctity of marriage," we mean to say that
marriage is a holy and sacred institution created not by man, but by
God. That means it's not ours to tamper with or redefine.
Our authority is the Scripture. Two different passages in the first two
chapters of Genesis tell of the purposes God set forth for marriage. The
first is Genesis 1:26-28: Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness ... God created man in His own image, in the
image of God He created him; male and female He created them ... and God
said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ..."
1. Mirroring God's Image
The first critical purpose for marriage described here is to mirror
God's image. The Hebrew word for "mirror" means to reflect God, to
magnify, exalt and glorify Him. We are to be God's representatives to a
world that desperately needs to see who He is.
The union of a man and woman reflects the image of God by forming a
picture of the intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and His
followers. This is a theme that appears throughout the New Testament in
passages such as Ephesians 5:22-33. A husband's love and sacrifice for
his wife, for example, are pictures of Christ's love and sacrifice for
the Church.
Homosexuals have suggested for years that their practice is an
acceptable alternative lifestyle. Yet God makes it clear in Scripture
that homosexuality is not part of His design - it's actually rebellion
against the Designer. Romans 1:21-27 tells us that, as humans failed to
honor God, "God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women
exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the
same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and
burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing
indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of
their error."
2. Multiplying a Godly Legacy
A second purpose for marriage is found in Genesis 1:28 when God commands
Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ..." The
most obvious aspect of this command is that God designed male and female
to join physically and reproduce children. Procreation is an integral
part of God's design for marriage.
In addition, God set up the family as a nurture center where children
grow up to learn character, values, and integrity. Psalm 78 instructs
parents to teach their children to "... put their confidence in God and
not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments ..."
Male-male or female-female relationships cannot produce children unless
something is done to assist them. While it is true that gay couples can
raise children, and can adopt needy children ... they will not multiply
a godly legacy when they are living in rebellion to God.
3. Mutually Completing One Another
Another of God's purposes for marriage is found in Genesis 2:18-24: Then
the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make
him a helper suitable for him." ... The Lord God fashioned into a woman
the rib which He had takenfrom the man, and brought her to the man. The
man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." For this
reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his
wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Adam was in isolation in the Garden of Eden, and so God created woman
for him. In 1 Corinthians 11:11, the Apostle Paul echoes the teachings
in Genesis 2 when he writes: "However, in the Lord, neither is woman
independent of man, nor is man independent of woman."
Male and female were created to be complementary to one another in every
way - from their emotional and spiritual needs to their anatomical
structure. The physical act of a husband and wife becoming one within
marriage is easily understood. They were designed by God for one
another.
However, two men or two women were not designed by God to become one
flesh with one another. The physical joining of two men or two women is
not a natural act.
Speak the truth in love
As you interact, balance truth with love and compassion.
No doubt you have joined most of America in watching news footage of
homosexuals coming out of the courthouse doors- new marriage license in
hand - and celebrating their "marriage" with a big kiss for the cameras.
How did that make you feel?
Now read instructions from Colossians 3:5-8: ... consider the members of
your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things
that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in
them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you
also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive
speech from your mouth.
This passage makes it clear that God's wrath is coming one day on those
who are the sons of disobedience, those who practice immorality, and
those who indulge in lustful passion. But without skipping a beat, it
also instructs us to not respond to those practices with anger, wrath,
malice, slander, or abusive speech.
The Bible doesn't stop there. Colossians 3:12-14 tells us: So, as those
who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with
one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all
these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
To be honest, the Christian response to the homosexual movement in our
country has often not been Christ-like. Not only is God displeased, but
also our views are easily dismissed when our opponents see anger and
disgust rather than kindness and compassion. Try these two steps before
you speak out on this issue:
Step One: Look in the Mirror
Before engaging homosexuals, ask for forgiveness for the things
Christians have said, done, or thought about homosexuals.
Jesus is very clear in His instructions to us. Before we stand to
address the sin we see in the life of another person, we need to spend
some time in front of the mirror (Matthew 7:4-5 and Galatians 6:1-2).
The reality is, there is enough sexual sin present in the church today
that we may find ourselves disqualified from being able to address
sexual sin in others. A fresh look at our own sexual sinfulness should
drive us to the foot of the cross, where we can again find hope and
forgiveness. Now, as those who have received the grace of God, we are
ready to offer it to others.
Step Two: Cultivate Compassion
Remember Jesus' encounter with a woman who was guilty of sexual sin?
John 8:1-11 tells the story of the religious leaders who brought a woman
to Christ who had been caught in the act of adultery. How did He
respond?
First, He rebuked the self-righteous religious leaders; He knew that
they were not motivated by compassion or kindness. He then turned to the
woman and with humility and gentleness, granted her forgiveness, and
exhorted her to holiness.
In the place of hearts that are full of anger and contempt for those who
practice homosexuality, God wants to cultivate in us a heart for those
who are living broken lives - whether they realize it or not. We are not
ready to speak to this issue until our hearts are broken for the person
who is caught in the snare of homosexual sin.
Remember the parable of the unmerciful slave? In Matthew 18:23-25, Jesus
tells of a man whose master had forgiven a huge debt. This man then
refused to forgive someone who owed him a little. Christ has forgiven us
of our great sin. How can we do anything but to humbly hold out the same
grace to others who are caught in sin?
In the months and years to come, some people who have either sampled or
participated actively in homosexual activities will be looking for a way
to deal with their shame and their guilt. They are going to be looking
for a way out of the lifestyle. Would these people even think to look to
the church for help?
Would they think of us as "kind people who really care about me" or as
angry, hate-filled men and women who will only make them feel more
ashamed of where they have been? Let's make sure that as we stand for
truth, we do it in a way that honors Christ.
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