Is it any of our business? Does it really matter?

The "Marriage Amendment" is up for vote in this fall's election.. consider this 'rerun' of a previous post from over a year ago. Very relevant. 

There has been a bit more political talk around our house, especially since we have another 19 year old eligible to vote. Some interesting conversations have taken place around certain 'issues'. particularly since one of my daughter's friends has 'come out' this past Spring to announce he is homosexual.

This has been significant because he is an engaging, delightful individual whom she's enjoyed as one of her 'group'. Further, his family are believers who attend a well-known and respected church which would clearly denounce this as an acceptable Biblically-supported lifestyle. The topic has come up heatedly at Emily's lunch table, mostly in angst and 'intolerance' at those who have 'close-minded' leanings in this area, specifically the young man's parents as well as their church that engages in 'gay bashing' (according to the students' opinions).
They see this young man's struggle, his 'right' to make his own choice, and see little else that would be relevant to the conversation, certainly not a higher authority.
"Is it really anyone else's business?" they might suggest.
And, as a Christian who listens unobserved from the sideline, "Does it really matter what one does in his own life and home?
If you listen to culture's reasoning and rhetoric, your feelings, or the subjective sentiment of your sympathy for this man, pragmatism may win out & you may bypass something very important.
God has a view on this.
Ought we not care to look at His?

1. God created marriage. It was His design and it was very specific: One man + one woman = lifelong union.(Genesis 2:21-24; Eph 5:31-32)
1. Marriage is the framework to fulfill his mandate for mankind
2. Marriage is a metaphor to display His love for His bride, the Church


2. God prohibits any distortion of His design
1. Premarital sexual relations – Mark 7:20-23; 1 Cor 6:18-2
2. Marital unfaithfulness – Exodus 20:14; Matt. 5:27-28
3. Divorce – Matt 19:3-9
4. Homosexuality – Romans 1:26-32


3. God’s prohibitions are based on his goodness and wisdom; any distortion of His design brings great harm. (Ps 119:68; Romans 6:23a; Genesis 3:14-23; Romans 1:26-32)
1. Individuals involved reap its results
2. Family members are impacted by the devastation of family structure’s ruin
3. Structure of society is weakened as the Biblical model is distorted, diluted and becomes unclear to those observing
4. Glory and reputation of God’s name is darkened – Satan’s intent all along


4. Culture’s opinion and our own reasoning will change and are unreliable; they are finite and often corrupted by our sinful nature. God’s design for marriage & the family is eternal, faithful and is rooted in the very person of God.
1. God as the creator of all things good
2. God as our father
3. Christ as the husband of His bride, the Church
4. Christians as children of God
5. Christians as being adopted, as sons & daughters
6. Disobedient Israel as the unfaithful prostitute of God, her husband

Application:

1. God’s sacrificial, infinite love encompasses every sinner, and so should our love. ‘Hatred’ of any sinning person is never God’s intent nor should be the practice of any follower of God. Loving the sinner, however, does not preclude hating the sin.
2. The distortion or denial of God's design for marriage has destructive repercussions on a number of levels, with a vast degree of impact. We disregard it to our own (personal, spiritual and societal) peril. "Tolerance" then is not 'grace', it is closer to merciless, uncaring disregard.
3. The glory of God’s name calls us to humbly, graciously, yet firmly stand up to culture when it differs with the Biblical view. It might not be popular; it might not be pleasant. But it is absolutely essential.
4. We need to be familiar with and saturated in God's truth to know His thoughts on the subject. And we have to be intimately connected to and in love with our God so we can rest in His goodness and wisdom in faith when the practical application of His design gets challenging or unpopular.

One man married to one woman for life is significant for all of us.
If you doubt the truth/wisdom/importance of what God decreed in this area, consider how listening to an alternate opinion turned out for Eve back in the garden.

Search out the Scriptures yourself.

Then trust, follow, and speak out (as appropriate) for God.