Recent developments in California & NY state dictate that homosexual couples from our community in Appleton, NY can fly out to the west coast for a marriage ceremony that will be recognized when they return home. Intense email forwards, message-board discussions & verbal angst make clear that many evangelicals are outraged. But, if outrage is the game, I'm outraged at the outrage.
Are the planks removed from our eyes and I missed it? Is 'Christian' marriage suddenly a far more secure institution than pagan marriage? Has our context changed so much that it is now inappropriate to let God be the one to judge those outside the church while we refrain from judging those inside? Are we really more concerned with a union performed in the eyes of the state than we are in the dis-union performed in front of a holy God?
I am persuaded that, at least, until the Christian church is a truly salt and light when it comes to the institution of marriage, we have no voice worth listening to when it comes to public policy. Instead of outrage over our belief that the world is quickly heading toward a giant waterfall, shouldn't we be concerned to right our own nearly sunken ship?
Our hope for the purification of the institution of marriage is not found in public policy, but in 20, 25, 40 & 50 year anniversaries. After I preached on this subject yesterday I had 3 couples come up to me excited to share that they, indeed, had just celebrated such milestones (40, 50 & 50). Praise the Lord!
8 comments:
RIGHT ON!!! Couldn't agree more
I'll amen that!
Classic.
Thank you, Matthew.
The fact is that the divorce rate is the same as the general populace. The premarital sex rate is the same. The spousal abuse rate is HIGHER!.
I always reply that these numbers have to be 5% minimum under the general populace for me to take any of this seriously.
*apploause* Now question, how can we go about making this change? and but that i mean the situation in the church.
good question gloria
I would say one way is to celebrate the victories (go above and beyond in congratulating successful marriages). A second way is bolder preaching on the issue. A third way is higher quality pre-marital counseling. A fourth way is a more serious (or existent) church discipline.
AGREED. Very good post.
Post a Comment