Marriage Redefined?

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Today, June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court rendered a decision that makes marriage between two members of the same sex legal in every state. I know some of my friends are rejoicing. I know many of you have looked and longed for this decision. Some of you may have even fought for the opportunity to seek government sanction on what you hope to be a fulfilling life-long relationship with someone you have deep attraction to and want to make a commitment with. You may have looked at couples like Keira and I with envy or even vindictiveness that we could have what you could not, and you see today’s decision as justice.

Yet, at its core, this issue goes beyond what either you or I think. It even goes beyond what our Supreme Court decides. The core question is, what is our basis of determining what is right and what is wrong? Is there an unchangeable standard of moral truth? To some, a majority opinion makes that decision. Note that the Supreme Court decided on a five/four split. They each rendered their opinions. Opinions can change.

For others, emotion has made this an issue. Homosexual couples feel deep attraction to each other. Should they be allowed to act on that feeling? Many things in America today are justified on emotion.

As a Christian, I believe that right and wrong is external to either our emotions or our opinions. Right and wrong for many issues has been established by the Creator God who has revealed them, along with himself, to us. The Bible becomes our basis for authority.

The first Christians lived in a culture and under a government that had many laws that disagreed with the standards God had given. They obeyed the law whenever it did not contradict God’s law, and they showed love and grace to everyone around them, whether or not they held to God’s belief and behavior standard. However, they did not compromise their own behavior, even when it cost them their lives.

Our country has just made another step back toward the first century. Let’s be sure our behavior and belief meets God’s standards, not the world’s. Homosexual behavior is only one item on the list of things to avoid found in I Corinthians 6, many of which are far more prevalent in our world today and every one of which needs and can receive the grace and forgiveness that Jesus died on the cross for. Let’s share his grace in love with all while living in holiness and truth.