How Should Same-Sex Marriage Change the Church's Witness?

Christian Post ^ | 06/27/2013 | Dr. Russell D. Moore

[Pajamajan]

Good points in this post.

[CatherineofAragon]

"I it okay to get divorced if you find out your husband is homosexual?"

Matthew 19:9 says divorce is permitted in the case of sexual immorality, so yes.

[mc5cents]

But we also have to remember that, while Jesus never hesitated to call a sin a sin, he also never rejected the sinners.

No He did not. However remember his admonishment to all that he forgave was to "go and sin no more". To be truly forgiven you must honestly want to change you ways.

[Sam Clements]

I agree with your comment that Christians need to rename and redefine what a Christian marriage actually is. Civil unions are formed for various legal reasons, they confer employment benefits and tax status, and they provide a form of self esteem to gay persons. A Christian marriage such as you described would provide spiritual value to Christians who submit to this form of marriage. Married Christians would provide salt and light to all who witness their marriages. The onus would be on all Christian married people to set as perfect examples as possible.

[dfwgator]

Maybe if more “Christians” lived up to their vows in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

[Natufian]

Adultery is also a sin punishable by death. Divorcees who remarry except in very limited circumstances commit adultery.

It’s a huge weakness in discussing homosexuality, especially with young people when Christians are perceived to be relaxed about some sins and not about others.

[Natufian]

Yes. That’s why most divorcees who remarry are wilfully coitting adultery

[Sans-Culotte]

That may true, but the issue of "gay marriage" is not merely whether it is a "destroyer of marriage"; but rather that it is now legitimized as a valid lifestyle.

I get what you mean about Christian complacency. A year ago, my wife and I attended a party at the house of a church member. It was a choir party and I was along as a spouse (my wife was in the choir). The wife of the host was showing us around the house. She showed us the room of one of her sons, since moved out, who had been active in "youth fellowship" stuff at the church. She casually mentioned that his room was now vacant as he had "moved in with his girlfriend". Now, I get that young people do that, and he's an adult and can do as he likes. But I was taken aback that his mother mentioned so casually to a group of church members that her son was now shacking up with his girlfriend.

[Yosemitest]

Most?
And where do you back that statement up from?

[Natufian]

most divorces are not due to sexual immorality.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Adultery is also a sin punishable by death. Divorcees who remarry except in very limited circumstances commit adultery."

You're correct there. However, everything else I said holds true. In Scripture, homosxuality is singled out more than once as being particularly abominable and detestable to God. And again, God allows divorce in certain circumstances, but He never allows homosexuality under any conditions.

""It’s a huge weakness in discussing homosexuality, especially with young people when Christians are perceived to be relaxed about some sins and not about others."

I believe we should be vigilant against all sins. Young people should be told that divorce IS a sin, and yet God made certain limited allowances for our sinful nature in that area. I also think they should be told the ugly, nasty truth about homosexuality---I won't go into the specific anatomy here on the Religion forum, but you know what I mean. Kids should know how disease-ridden the lifestyle is and all the dangers it holds----spiritual, physical, and mental----and that mass acceptance leads to the death of societies.

[Yosemitest]

What? No links to sources?
You expect us to just take any statement you decide to make as factual?
You sound like some reprobate, trying to justify behavior that got you where you are today.
I know very few people who have cheated on their wives or husbands.
I know a few divorcées, but most of them suffered from financial problems, and one spouse just got tired and give up.

[DuncanWaring]

If homosexuality is not a sin, fornication is not a sin. If these aren't sins, nothing is a sin.

If rending unborn babies limb-from-limb because they're inconvenient is not a sin, then nothing is a sin.

[MrB]

Homosexuality is a sin explicitly condemned in the Bible.

Which is EXACTLY why the left is so adamant about pushing it. They figured out the issue that was even more offensive than child sacrifice, and leaped upon it as a thumb in the eye of God and His people.

[Natufian]

I think you need to re-read my posts with your comprehension hat on.

I said that most divorces are NOT due to one of the pair being unfaithful. Most divorces are either no-fault or, as you say, they just give up.

A divorcee whose marriage didn't split up due infidelity and who re-marries is, according to God, committing adultery with their new spouse.

As for me, I've been married for almost 25 years, am happier now than the day we tied the knot and have never strayed.

[Brad’s Gramma]

And lying. And having extra-marital affairs. And using His name in vain...you get the point. Yes?

[Yosemitest]

You still haven’t given any sources.

[Sans-Culotte]

If rending unborn babies limb-from-limb because they're inconvenient is not a sin, then nothing is a sin.

The answer from today's hip "Christians" would be "show me where in the Bible that it specifically says 'Thou shalt not rend unborn babies limb-from-limb because they're inconvenient'".

[Jewbacca]

Good idea.

[petitfour]

Or they say, “Who are we to judge?”