Christians and Gay Marriage
The more I've thought about blogger Donald Sensing's WSJ op-ed, the more I think he has a valid and challenging point: the reality is that gay marriage is simply not a major leap from modern views towards marriage in general.
Sensing primarily applies this to society in general, but I think the same could be said of modern American, even "evangelical", Christians. One of the more prominent arguments against gay marriage lately has been the need for a marriage to be generally capable of child-bearing. I've always thought that reason not compelling because of the technological possibilities. But if Sensing is right, another reason the argument isn't be compelling is because so-called Christian conservatives don't truly buy it either.
I suspect the reality is such that, if one took a poll of Christians as to the top five benefits of/reasons for marriage, children would not be listed. And, if marriage is primarily seen as a means for personal enjoyment and satisfaction, then the Christian conservatives' and the gay marriage advocates' views are not that dissimilar.
March 16, 2004 10:11 PMTrue personal enjoyment and satisfaction for the Christian, comes from pleasing and honoring God. This is the mark that most conservatives miss when speaking out against gay marriage, which is not pleasing to the Lord (Sodom and Gomorrah, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9). The op-ed does serve as a poignant reminder to us that marriage needs to be saved from more than just homosexuality. Thank God for grace (Romans 8: 1-4)!
Pondered by Jeff Price at March 17, 2004 09:59 AM