Redefining Marriage – Really!
by Jim Josephsen
 

It’s not bad enough, each day across this great land, we are witness to yet more news of crimes, of hideous displays of brutish, inhumane behavior; of aberrant sexual perversity and depravity, all of which chips away at the very moral foundation and social values necessary to maintain this land; but now we are witness to a decision which adds to the further decay of social and familial integrity.

As though California hasn’t done enough in the past seventy years to incite angst in the hearts and minds of decent, moral, yes, God-fearing Americans, the ruling just handed down by California’s Supreme (an appellative one can take issue with –Ignominious would be more like it) Court has fostered more disgrace and shame in our land. How true is the prophetic injunction against the end-time nation of God’s people, “the look on their faces does witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not; Woe unto their souls, for they have brought despair upon themselves” (Isaiah 3:9).

Let this infamous day be well noted; May 15^th, 2008 - the California Supreme Court overturned a year 2000 voter-approved ban on gay marriages. The court has acknowledged that the right to ‘form a family relationship’ applies to all Californians regardless of sexuality. The California Supreme Court swung open the door, acknowledging that “domestic partnerships are not a good substitute for marriage.”

One of the majority judges wrote in his opinion, “limiting the designation of marriage to a union ‘between a man and a woman’ is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute.” Further he stated, “an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation.”

California and Massachusetts are (for now) the only two states to allow same-sex marriages. New Jersey, Vermont, along with two other Northeastern states have already legalized civil unions of same-sex individuals.

A San Francisco Attorney exalted the triumph of the court’s ruling by enunciating “today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody, not just in the state of California, but throughout the country, will have equal treatment under the law.” As goes California, so goes the nation. Collectively, the gay community cheered the victory. But the battle is not over as a coalition of religious and social conservatives are attempting to put a measure on the November ballot that would add an amendment to the state’s constitution banning same-sex marriages, in defiance of the court.

Regardless of the amendment’s potential, the course has been set; increasingly the United States is eroding inwardly, from both coasts, sweeping ever closer inward, eventually corrupting the core. At issue is the acceptance of same-sex marriages, to which Americans are being incessantly and systematically exposed. The pervasive exposure of this insidious life-style erodes and destroys the very strength and integrity of the family, of honorable, edifying, God-ordained sexual behavior which is to be shared within the marriage of one man and one woman. Moral certitude and God-defining behaviors, marriage, is being challenged.

Many Americans will retort, "what’s the big deal; why harp on a state’s decision to regulate the institution of marriage?" "If heterosexuals can’t get it right, why not give the gays a chance," is the question proposed by thousands across the land. After all, the greater good is being promoted by assuring equality under the law, as is given by constitutional right. Such narrow-mindedness and naïveté.

Still more Americans challenge the notion of God-ordained laws and institutions.  And regarding the concept of God; whose God?  After all, many of the gays and lesbians believe in God and Jesus. Many go to church in order to sanctify their union of bondage; that is their bonds of matrimony. Many Christian Churches across this land promote tolerance, openness and acceptance. Did not Jesus love everyone; did he not promote love for the sinner, acceptance regardless of what one is? While teaching about the loving Jesus Christ, many of these “accepting denominations” fall woefully short in teaching all that Jesus Christ spoke. How true is the fact they teach for doctrine the commandments of men (Mark 7:7).

From politicians, educators, psychologists, theologians to the Gen-Xers, Gen-Yers and the young innocent third graders, this nation lies in ignorance when it comes to the Word of God, the only True God, with regards to the consequences of a life-style which will only and always breed confusion, emptiness and ultimately, ruin. Such a nation as the United States, with its Christian background, should know better; yet as the prophecies pertaining to its final days reveal, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hos. 4:6)”

“For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are senseless children and the have no understanding; they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no understanding. (Jeremiah 4:22).

The California Supreme Court has lowered the bar; they have opened the flood-gates allowing evil to thrive, to excel, while corroding the moral values of Godliness and right living. Lest we forget, we are talking about a sexual behavior and choice that is clearly defined as deviant, immoral and as defined by Almighty God, sin. Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isa 5:20).  The message is clear; those who would confuse right behavior with evil, destructive behavior in place of wholesome, healthy, edifying behavior have nothing but misery and anguish ahead for them.

The consequences to come, not only to this nation but to any nation that promotes and legalizes the prurient and unnatural behaviors of the sexually disorientated, are clear.  Perhaps the California Supreme Court needs to familiarize itself with the Scriptures and Paul’s writings. Of course, many Christians and non-Christians alike are quick to berate and apologize on behalf of Paul’s seeming abrasiveness. Nonetheless, his observations are timeless, true and reflective of today’s society. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones (those which are against creation): in the same way men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust one for another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (Romans 1:26-27).

The California Supreme Court and the many churches dotting the land in which dwell gays and lesbians alike, do not heed the words of Jesus Christ, plain as they are – “Have you not read that he which created them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be united to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but become one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). It was God who created male and female and in so doing ordained the institution called marriage. No judge or Court in this land has the right to redefine marriage. God has defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Woe be to our nation as it continues down the path of defiance toward God and in so doing edges ever closer to moral and civil, national destruction.