President Obama recently made a public speech endorsing same sex marriage. He stated that he believed gay couples should be able to get married and should be “treated equally.” What do you tell your children when their president teaches them a different lesson than their Bible would teach? What do you say when your values are different from almost every television show or movie? What do you say when your belief seems less loving and less compassionate towards another human being? Here are some thoughts:
1. First, help your kids understand that your belief is in God’s word, not people’s opinions. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” We either believe the Bible is God’s word, and therefore truth, or we must choose the places where we think we or someone else can be more right than God. Help your kids trust God’s word as pure truth and place their confidence in all that it says.
2. Homosexuality is a sin, and if you believe the Bible, it is not open for debate. Jim has written excellent blog posts, essays and papers on this subject. There is no doubt that Scripture says homosexuality is a sexual perversion, not a sexual preference. But, and this is just as true, the Bible teaches that sex is a gift of God, to a man and a woman, that have committed their lives to one another. That means that any sex outside those parameters, is sin. Homosexuals are no more under the judgment of God than your sons and daughters who choose to have a “marital relationship” without marriage, or the person who sits in front of a computer viewing pornography. The greatest destruction I’ve witnessed in this area is when a husband, wife, pastor or church leader has an extra-marital affair. It is easy to point to sins that are not our own. Do you see homosexuality as something worse than any other sexual sin? God does not.
3. Homosexuality is outside natural creation. Even if a person does not choose to believe the Bible, they have to consider the fact that naturally, our bodies were not constructed for homosexual relationships. Science has escaped some of those parameters – but maybe in this new day of green energy, free-range meats and organic vegetables we should also consider what is “natural” where sex is concerned.
4. Finally, Ephesians 4:15 encourages Christians to “speak the truth in love.” I cringe at what I expect will be hot-headed, angry words spoken on this subject. Look back at my second suggestion and remember that Jesus said any of you who is without sin can cast the first stone. (John 8:7) Be careful of your words, your face and your attitude. 1 John 4:8 says, “whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.”
There is a lot more to think about, a lot more to say. But for now – I hope this blog will provide accountability for all of us who say we follow God and believe his word. President Obama endorsed gay marriage, God does not. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 I think I’ll side with God on this subject!
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