Homosexual Marriage and the Christian Dr. Ritch Boerckel
Senior Pastor
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“As the present now will later be past, the order is rapidly fadin'. . . . For the times they are a changin’.” Perhaps no recent cultural trend confirms the prophetic truth of Bob Dylan’s 1963 ballad more than the reversal of society’s views regarding homosexual marriage. The most recent ABC News poll reveals that 58% of Americans think that homosexual marriage should be legal. Less than ten years ago, only 36% of Americans agreed with this idea. The demographics of this study point to a continued growing embrace of homosexuality as a positive good in the years ahead. Indeed, the times they are a changin’! Our nation’s embrace of homosexual marriage will have growing significant impact upon followers of Jesus and upon God’s church. Once the definition of marriage is changed in our nation’s laws, the gloves will come off in the abuse of the minority who disagree. The world will not be content to simply enjoy the newly established legal rights of homosexual marriage. The world even now demands that everyone celebrate the ideals that it celebrates. No tolerance will be given for dissenting views . . . not in our children’s schools, not in the workplace, not in government and not in our churches. Since faithful disciples of Jesus cannot celebrate anything that our Savior forbids, we can expect to be demonized, berated, threatened, and intimidated for agreeing with God’s Word that marriage is defined by God as a union of one man and one woman in covenant relationship with each other. The Church must be ready to be the Church in the face of persecution. We are ordained by God to proclaim His worth amongst people who despise Him. Jesus told us, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. . . . In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 15:20; John 16:33) In the past three months, I have had three church families ask me the question, “Should a Christian attend a wedding for a homosexual relative?” This is no longer a question that is hypothetical and can be ignored. This situation is likely to become more commonplace and produces grievous consequences for family relationships. For instance, some children threaten to cut off all relationship with his/her parents if they do not attend their wedding to their homosexual partner. This new dilemma creates a pressing emotional tension for God’s people. We are called to love God first with all our being and to love others even as much as we love ourselves. Out of love for the person, should we attend a homosexual wedding that we do not agree with? What counsel would you give to parents facing this problem? Continued on page 2