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Is Gay Marriage
a Biblical Oxymoron?
What the Bible Says About
Marriage and Homosexuality
I
Written by Dr. John Fernandez
Grace Church of Napa Valley April 2013
www.gracenapa.org
Printed and redesigned
with permission
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Table of Contents
Introduction to the issue...........................................................................2
If the Bible clearly prohibits homosexual behavior, why are there
differing views concerning this? How do we know the right biblical
interpretation?......................................................................................... 4
A biblical understanding of marriage is necessary to understand gay
marriage is a oxymoron.............................................................................6
A biblical understanding of homosexual behavior is necessary to
understand that gay marriage is an oxymoron..........................................8
A biblical response to common arguments in favor of Gay marriage.....12
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Is Gay Marriage
a Biblical Oxymoron?
Introduction to the issue
Oxymoron means a union of two contradictory things such as “dry rain”
or “cold fire.” Is gay marriage a biblical oxymoron? Are the two terms
contradictory? Many in our society claim they are not. In fact those who
maintain it is a contradiction often are viewed as out of step with modern
American culture. Dr. Al Mohler summed up the situation well,
The larger culture is now bombarded with messages and
images designed to portray homosexuality as a normal lifestyle.
Homoerotic themes are so common in the mainstream media
that many citizens have virtually lost the capacity to be
shocked… These days, anyone who would oppose homosexuality
as a fully valid lifestyle is depicted as a narrow-minded bigot
and described as “homophobic”. Anyone who suggests that
heterosexual marriage is the only acceptable and legitimate
arena of sexual activity is lambasted as outdated, oppressive,
and outrageously out of step with modern culture. Opponents
of same-sex marriage are disparaged as intolerant, judgmental,
and fundamentalist.
What is the Christian’s Motive for addressing this issue?
True Christians are not motivated by ‘homophobia’, animosity or racism; quite the opposite. They are motivated by 2 things: 1) Obedience
to God’s Word, the Bible, which clearly teaches marriage was instituted
by God as a life-long covenant only between a man and a woman and
2) Love for those practicing homosexual behavior, fueled by a desire
for them to know Jesus Christ as their lord and savior by turning from
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
disobedience to the Scripture to repentance and faith in Him. Christ
prayed for, and wept over those who disobeyed His Word (Luke 19:4144). Christians who reflect Christ will do no less (Philippians 3:19).
Those practicing homosexual behavior are no different than all people,
sinners in need of a savior. God is holy and will judge all sin (Rom. 1:18)
whether it is heterosexual sins of adultery and fornication (Hebrews
13:4); homosexual sin (Romans 1:25-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9); or relational
sins such as hatred, envy, jealousy, gossip, anger, etc. (Galatians 5:19-21).
Therefore, love compels Christians to tell everyone that Jesus died to pay
the penalty for their sins and calls them to repent and believe in Him for
forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:46-47; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
True Christians are motivated by love and obedience to Christ to display
His love for those practicing homosexual behavior by treating them with
gentle kindness while urging them to repent and obey God’s Word (2
Timothy 2:23-24; Matthew 5:44-48).
Often Christians are not Christ-like in their attitude toward practicing
homosexuals and for this they need to repent. One Christian man’s email
to me regarding this subject is very appropriate:
Thanks for addressing this timely topic. I confess that for
many years I was one who hated and persecuted gay people,
and loosely used Christianity as an excuse for that ungodly
hate. God has forgiven me for that sin, and given me a heart
of compassion for those whose “lostness” expresses itself in
homosexual behavior, and who need a loving Lord and Savior
just as desperately as me.
I have been saddened by the apparent lack of compassion in
Christendom toward these men and women. It prompted me
to read my Bible again, and I was reminded that perhaps the
harshest criticism is leveled at those who profess to know God
and yet practice hypocrisy (Matthew 7:5; Mark 7 etc.). The fact
doesn’t make sin not to be sin, but hypocrisy (not homosexual
acts) was the sin I was guilty of, and of which I could repent.
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Who has the authority to decide this issue?
God. He created man and woman and instituted marriage (Genesis
2:18-25). If you were trying to decide on whether to drive a truck over
a small bridge spanning a raging river, and weren’t sure it could bear the
weight of your vehicle, whose counsel would you seek? The matter’s too
important to leave to guesswork or the opinion of others standing by.
The ideal person to consult would be the architect. He designed and
engineered it, and has perfect knowledge of its intended capacity.
So it is with God. He created and designed the human body and its
sexual function (Genesis 1:27; 2:21). Man’s opinions come and go, but
God alone has the authority and knowledge to tell us the proper way
to use our bodies. He not only designed the human body but also gave
explicit instructions on its proper use for our good.
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
If the Bible clearly prohibits
homosexual behavior why are
there differing views on this?
How do we know the right
biblical interpretation?
The Bible’s teaching concerning homosexual behavior is unequivocal. Professor Elizabeth Achtemeier of Richmond’s Union Theological
Seminary says? “The clearest teaching of Scripture is that God intended sexual
intercourse to be limited to the marriage relationship of one man and one
woman.”2
If the Bible is so clear on this subject, why do some claim the Bible and
Jesus in particular sanction homosexuality? The answer is hermeneutics.
Hermeneutics refers to the rules by which you interpret the Bible (or any
literature). What the Bible says about homosexual behavior was intended
to be understood in its normal plain literal sense (unless the genre or
context clearly indicates a broader meaning). Understood this way, it
clearly and strongly repudiates homosexual behavior.
Jesus indicated two principles for correctly understanding the Bible, which is violated by those who claim the
Bible does not repudiate homosexuality.
1. The Bible is to be understood in its literal plain sense.
Jesus did this and urged others to do so. He referred to the creation of Adam and Eve, Noah’s flood, the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah and Jonah in the belly of the fish as historic literal events
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
(Matthew 12:40; 19:4-5;Luke 17:24-30). He urged people to read
and understand the Bible in its plain sense, rebuking them for being
slow of heart to believe the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27). He affirmed
the literal truthfulness of all the Scriptures even down to the smallest
detail (Matthew 5:17-18).
Approximately 300 Old Testament prophesies regarding His first
coming as the Messiah were fulfilled literally including the place
of His birth, the precise manner of His death, His resurrection, the
exact number of pieces of silver He would be betrayed with and even
the fact that His clothes would be taken from Him and divided by lot
(Micah 5:2; Psalm 22:10, 16,18; Isaiah 53:5, 9; Zechariah 11:12-13).
Christ’s own predictions of the manner of His death, His resurrection on the third day; and the later destruction of the temple and city
of Jerusalem were fulfilled literally (Luke 18: 31-34; Matthew 16:21;
20:17-29; 24:1-2; Luke 19:41-44). Jesus clearly taught and modeled
interpreting Scripture in their plain, normal sense.
Those who maintain the Bible approves homosexuality often do so by
interpreting the Scripture inconsistently.
They are inconsistent in their rules for interpreting. While affirming a
normal plain interpretation of Bible passages forbidding adultery, incest,
bestiality and rape; they deny that these same passages forbid homosexual
behavior.
For example Leviticus 18:20-23 forbids adultery (v. 20), offering children
as a human sacrifice (v.21) and bestiality (v 23). All these prohibitions
are universally interpreted and obeyed in their normal plain sense even by
most proponents of Gay marriage. They rightly interpret these prohibitions literally and applicable universally, not limited to only Moses’ time.
Yet, in the midst of this passage is the prohibition against homosexuality
(v.22), which is then interpreted by most Gay proponents as either not
literal or not applicable today.
Why do they change their interpretation in the middle of a passage?
Because what the Bible plainly teaches forbidding homosexual behavior
is contrary to their views, so they employ a new rule of interpretation:
Their own presuppositions. They start with the presupposition that homosexuality is morally permissible and then interpret the Bible through
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
that hermeneutical filter. They pick and choose which Bible passages are
applicable for today based on their own moral filter, not the plain teaching of the Bible.
This moral filter not only compels them to deny the Bible’s plain teaching forbidding homosexual behavior, it motivates some to seek to remove
all verses from the Bible that forbid homosexual behavior. One religious leader said, “not to recognize, critique, and condemn Paul’s equation of
godlessness with homosexuality is dangerous. To remain within our respective
Christian traditions and not challenge those passages that degrade and destroy
us is to contribute to our own oppression… These passages will be brought up
and used against us again and again until Christians demand their removal
from the biblical canon, or, at the very least, formally discredit their authority
to prescribe behavior.” 3
Any interpretation that denies the Bible forbids homosexual behavior
contradicts the basic rules of interpreting any literature, the universal
interpretation of the all churches for nearly 2000 years, and most importantly, Jesus’ teaching on how to understand the Bible.
2. The Bible is to be consulted as the final authority. Jesus said the Scriptures trump human reasoning, opinions or declarations. When challenged by His enemies regarding His teaching of
the resurrection from the dead, He replied by quoting Exodus 3:6 as
proof of the resurrection. (Luke 20:37-38) When teaching on marriage He didn’t appeal to current or prevalent cultural views (whether
Greek, Roman or Jewish). He quoted Genesis 1:27 and 2:25 as
the final authority on what they should believe (Matthew 19:4-8).
The shifting sands of cultural acceptance are not to be the basis of
determining right or wrong. Jesus taught that Scripture is the final
authority.
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
A Biblical Understanding
of Marriage Is Necessary to
Understand Gay Marriage Is a
Biblical Oxymoron
It’s a divine institution. Genesis 2:18, 23-25
God instituted marriage. It’s not a human invention. Genesis 2:2425 as well as Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:4-9 confirms this. In these
scriptures, it is revealed that God created the woman to perfectly correspond emotionally and sexually to the man (Genesis 2:18, 21-22). God
then brought her to the man (2:22) and specified the nature of their
relationship to one another (2:25), which is the essence of marriage. He
said this relationship would involve four elements.
1. Marriage was to be a uniquely preeminent commitment above all
other human relationships (“leave Father and Mother”).
2. Marriage was to be lifelong permanent commitment in which
the partners permanently “cleave” to one another. The words
“cleave” means to cling or stick together. It was used of not allowing something to depart (2 Kings 3:3). Jesus affirmed the
divinely prescribed permanence of this union saying, “what God
has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:6).
3. Marriage was to be a commitment to exclusivity in marriage.
Sexual relationship was designed by God to be enjoyed by the
man and woman after their commitment to one another in marriage not before. They became ‘one flesh’ after ‘leaving and cleaving to one another’ (Genesis 2:25).
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
4. Marriage was to be a life-long sexually monogamous commitment. Their commitment was to sexual fidelity. The man was
to cleave and “be joined to his wife”. This is also evident by the
repeated prohibitions against sexual relations with anyone but
one’s spouse whether before (fornication) or during marriage
(adultery), (Exodus 20:14; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:4-9).
It’s a universal, timeless institution.
Marriage according to the Bible is supra-cultural, that is, it transcends
culture and carries through every culture. Marriage was instituted by
God prior to any human culture (Genesis 2:21-25) and affirmed by Biblical writers through every culture. It will continue as an institution until
the end of the age when Christ returns to earth (Matthew 24:32-38).
It’s a heterosexual institution.
God created a woman not another man to be Adam’s emotional and
sexual partner (Genesis 2:21-25). He designed and created the woman
to perfectly correspond to the man both emotionally and physically
(Genesis 2:18, 21-22), and then brought her to him. This is indicated
in Genesis 2:24 where it says “for this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and shall cleave to his wife.”4 ’For this reason’ refers back to the
unique heterosexual creation of the woman (Genesis 2:18,21-22), whom
God uniquely and solely designed to become “one flesh” with the man.
The marriage union was designed to be only between a man and woman
because the sexual union of a man was designed to only be with a woman. It is her alone that the man becomes “one flesh” with .
God emphasized this sexual design in marriage by forbidding sexual
activity outside of marriage (whether adultery, homosexuality, bestiality,
fornication or incest) and warning of his judgment upon those who do so
(Leviticus 18:20-24; 20:12-14; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:5-8; Ephesians 5:5-6).
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
If someone decided to alter water by removing the oxygen and just adding more hydrogen you may call it water, but by definition the necessary
components of H20 are not there. It is no longer water, regardless of
whether you call it so. Homosexual relationships may be commitments
between two people, however the Bible teaches they are not marriage. It
could be called a union or partnership but not a marriage because it lacks
the essential male-female union by which marriage is defined (Genesis
2:24-25).
It’s a protected institution.
Two of the Ten Commandments were designed by God to guard the
sanctity of marriage by not only forbidding the act of adultery (“ You shall
not commit adultery”) but even the desiring of it (“ You shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife”-Exodus 20:14,17)! Jesus strongly affirmed these commandments (Matthew 5:27-28; 19:4-9). Marriage is an exclusive lifetime union and is defended by the Bible’s warnings of divine disapproval
on those who violate the marriage union by adultery, incest, homosexuality or unwarranted divorce (Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:4-8); Malachi
2:14-16).
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
A Biblical Understanding of
Homosexuality Is Necessary to
Understand Gay Marriage Is a
Biblical Oxymoron
Homosexual behavior is forbidden by God.
God explicitly forbids homosexual behavior. “ You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an
abomination.”
- Leviticus 18:22 (Leviticus 20:13).
Homosexual behavior defiles a person (making them unclean) before
God. “Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the Lord your God.”
– Leviticus 18:30 (Lev. 18:18,24-30)
Homosexual behavior is linked with incest as a sin worthy of equal divine
punishment.
“If there is a man who lies with his father’s wife, . . . their bloodguiltiness is
upon them. If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, . . . they have committed incest, their bloodguiltiness is upon them. If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act . . . their bloodguiltiness is upon them.”
- Leviticus 20:11-13
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Homosexual behavior is an ‘abomination” and “detestable” to God.
“ You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
– Leviticus 18:22
“If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act”. – Leviticus 20:13
The Hebrew word translated “abomination” was one of the strongest
words for something highly offensive to God. The same word is used
to describe His feelings towards, adultery, child sacrifice, and bestiality
(Leviticus 18:20-30). Homosexuality is so contrary to God’s design of
the male and female that a man even wearing women’s clothes was an
abomination to Him.
“ A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on woman’s
clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord you
God.”
– Deuteronomy 22:5
Homosexual behavior is forbidden even though it may be the cultural
norm.
“ If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; . . . Moreover, you shall not
follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.”
– Leviticus 20:13,23
I
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
God’s prohibition of homosexual behavior is evident by
His judgment against it.
God’s displayed historical judgment against those who practiced
homosexuality including the Israelites (Lev. 20:13), and Sodom and
Gomorrah. (Genesis 19; Luke 17:29-32). Twelve hundred years after it
was destroyed, the prophet Isaiah attested to the brazenness of Sodom’s
sin (Isaiah 3:9).
God displayed tutorial judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of their homosexual behavior. He judged them directly and
severely as an example to future generations (Genesis 19; 2 Peter 2:6;
Jude 7). He doesn’t usually immediately judge those who practice this
sin (or any sins) now because of His gracious patience providing time for
repentance (Romans 2:4-5).
God displays present judgment upon those who practice homosexual
behavior through the physical maladies He said would afflict those who
practice this (Romans 1:27).
God will display future judgment on all who practice any sin among
which is listed homosexual behavior. The future universal judgment God
describes concerning those who practice homosexual behavior, indicate
its dvine. Anyone, regardless of culture who continues to practice it will
not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
God’s prohibition of homosexual behavior is universally
applicable.
Some assert the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality is culturally bound
and applicable only to the ancient cultures to which they were originally
written. For example, just as offering animal sacrifices in the Old Testament was limited only to that time, so (it is claimed), are the instructions
concerning homosexuality and marriage. However, though it’s true some
things are applicable to only Old Testament time, God makes it clear
when His commands transcend any one culture by repeating them through
every culture.
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
For example, He repeats through every culture over a period of 1,500
years, His commands to not steal, lie, murder or commit adultery (Deuteronomy 5:16-21; Ephesians 4:25-28; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9). All
admit these are universal prohibitions applicable to all cultures. The
Bible similarly affirms heterosexual marriage and prohibits Homosexual
behavior through every culture over 1,500 years (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:5-6; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). The
bible’s prohibitions regarding homosexuality are as applicable today as its
teaching on adultery, incest, lying, stealing or murder.
Homosexual behavior is contrary to God’s created sexual
function for a man and woman
“For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for
their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the women and burned in their desire toward one
another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in
their own persons the due penalty of their error”
Romans 1:26-27
Homosexual behavior contradicts the obvious sexual function God created for male and female and abandons it for ‘unnatural’ sexual behavior, something which the animal kingdom never does. Animals know
instinctively their created heterosexual function. There is no record of
any homosexual behavior among animals, which is surprising if as some
maintain, homosexuality is a created, natural function.
I
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Homosexuality (and all sin) is rooted in idolatry not
worship of the true God.
“ For even though they know God, they did not honor Him as God
or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their
foolish heart was darkened . . . . For this reason God gave them over to
degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for
that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned
the natural function of the women and burned in their desire toward
one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in
their own persons the due penalty of their error.” - Romans 1:21-26-27
Those engaged in homosexual behavior (and all sins—Romans 1:26-32)
do so, according to the Bible, because they have previously decided not
to worship the true God but replace Him with a god of their own choosing and making (Romans 1:20-25). Instead of the true who is holy and
just who will judge sin, they choose to worship a god who will not judge
sin. False worship according to God leads to false behavior.
Dr. John McArthur notes the seriousness of this:
Man’s rejection of God and embracing of idols can be compared to a son
who murdered his father and then made a dummy figure that he introduces to the world as his father. Yet what sinful mankind has always
done and continues to do with God is infinitely more wicked and senseless
than that.
The first creature man substitutes for God is himself, an image in the
form of corruptible man (Romans 1:23). Instead of glorifying and worshiping God, he attempts to deify himself. Although he doubtlessly made
this alleged statement in derisive sarcasm, Voltaire was correct in observing: “God made man in His own image and man returned the favor.”5
— 21 —
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
A Biblical Response to
Arguments for Gay Marriage
Argument #1.
Homosexual behavior must be right for it comes naturally to gay
persons. Gay people are simply being true to who they are.
Some maintain Homosexual behavior is not wrong because those who
practice it are only acting according to what comes “natural” to them.
How can we blame them for what is natural to them?
Jesus tells us many things are natural and heartfelt, yet wrong. “For out
of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, slanders” (Matthew 15:19). When people murder, commit adultery, steal, lie and slander they do it ‘naturally’ He says they are being true
to their heart and their natural inclinations. What does Jesus say about
these behaviors that are the ‘natural’ inclinations of people? “These are
things which defile the man (Matthew 15:20) and are “evil” (Mark 7:23).
The word “defile” meant to be unclean before God (Rev. 21:27).
God warns that much of what comes natural to man is wrong: “the intents
of the thoughts of their heart (their ‘natural inclination’) was toward evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Because of this, the bible warns against trusting in
our natural inclination, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool . . . there is a
way that seems right to man, but the end is death”. God calls people instead
to “lean not on their own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge
Him” (Prov. 3:6).
The basis of determining right and wrong behavior in society must be
objective moral law not subjective feelings. We don’t acquit a convicted
murderer because he felt what he was doing was right, but make the
decision on the objective law. There are moral laws, which define wrong
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
behavior and restrain people’s natural inclination towards stealing, pedophilia, lying, violence, etc.
It has not been conclusively demonstrated that homosexuality is genetic,6
however, even if, as some assert, homosexuality is somehow related to genetic makeup, does that legitimatize it? If stealing, lying, violence, adultery,
etc. could be linked to genetic make up would it make the behavior right?
No. Jesus said man’s natural inclination is a fountain of evil. Joe Dallas, former homosexual and gay activist correctly said of homosexuality: “Whether
inborn or acquired, it is still, like all sexual contact apart from marriage, immoral. And immoral behavior cannot be legitimized by a quick baptism in the
gene pool.”7
Argument #2.
Gay marriage is a personal choice. We should not restrict people’s
personal choice and freedom.
Personal choice is felt by many to be the ultimate criteria for what is
permissible. “As long as I don’t hurt someone, what I feel is right is my
business” is often the argument. Yet because something is a ‘personal
choice’ does not mean it is right or permissible. Society restricts personal
freedom all the time and we’re glad for it. Laws restrict a persons ‘personal choice’ to drive 80 mph in a school zone, to trespass onto someone’s property, to have sex with one’s children (incest), to have multiple
spouses (polygamy), to give false testimony in court. These are but a few
of hundreds of areas were personal freedom is limited by law. No one
complains. Why? Moral rightness trumps personal freedom.
Argument #3
Homosexual marriage is becoming accepted around the world. Cultural
acceptance demands we recognize Gay marriage.
God commands us not to condone homosexuality based upon culture’s
acceptance of it (Leviticus 18:1-6, 18-32). Our postmodern culture
increasingly believes tolerance of all lifestyles is the highest virtue. This
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
would be correct if there were no absolute moral laws of right and wrong.
The cultural acceptance of homosexuality cannot infuse it with moral
rightness. If divine absolute moral laws exist then lying, stealing, incest,
slander, homosexuality and adultery are wrong regardless of what a society claims. According to Jesus, to approve such behavior is a mark, not
of an enlightened society, but one that has degenerated and spiraled away
from God’s laws, propelled by the centrifugal force of their own sinful
hearts (Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:20-32).
There are absolute moral laws because there is an absolute lawgiver—
God. The essence of the homosexual marriage debate is therefore not
ultimately social but theological. Should the Creator, the God who has
authority over creation and who set moral and physical laws to govern
it, be allowed to continue to exist? Or should those He created, replace
Him by a god of their own desire? Homosexual proponents would
choose the latter (Romans 1:20-27).
Argument #4
Refusing Gay marriage to couple is hateful.
The Bible full of ‘hate-speech’ towards homosexuals.
It’s not hateful to tell someone you love that what they are doing is
wrong. A loving Father warns his children for their good to obey him.
God so loved the world He sent His eternal Son, Jesus, to not only die
for our sins but warn us to repent of them. “The son of Man came to lay
down His life as a payment for the sins of many . . .I tell you. . . unless you
repent you will all likewise perish. . . . Unless you believe that I AM you will
die in your sins” (Mark 10;45; Luke 13:5; John 8:24).
If homosexuality is not sin there is no need to call gay men and women
to repentance nor is there any reason to oppose Gay marriage. If it is sin,
as the Bible attests, then Christians must obey Christ in loving homosexual people by calling tenderly calling them to repentance, for Jesus says
“Thus it is written that the Christ must suffer and rise again from the dead on
the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed
in His name to all the nations ” (Luke 24:47.
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GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Argument #5
Opposing Gay Marriage or Homosexuality is “homophobic”.
Jesus was not a homophobic. Out of infinite love He gave himself up to
death on a cross as a substitutionary payment for the sins of all people including homosexuals, in order that through faith in Him they could have
forgiveness and eternal fellowship with a holy God. The early church had
many who were homosexuals but found forgiveness and transformation
through Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
It is unfair and misleading to label as ‘homophobic’ those who won’t accept homosexuality as morally right. First, it judges people’s heart. They
may not be homophobic at all. They may genuinely love homosexual
people yet disapprove (as cultures have for thousands of years) of their
behavior.
Second, labeling people ‘homophobic’ doesn’t respect the genuine moral
and religious convictions of many who oppose gay marriage. ‘Homophobic’ implies those who would disagree are morally and psychologically
deficient and by implication in need of help. This slanders the teachings
of the faith of those who disapprove of homosexuality such as Judaism,
Islam, and Christianity.
Third, labeling as ‘homophobic’ any who oppose gay marriage is inconsistent. People opposing incest are not labeled ‘incestphobics’ ; or those
disapproving of polygamy ‘polygamyphobics’; or those disapproving of
adultery as ‘adulteryphobics’. Why? We recognize for most people their
opposition to these behaviors is because of moral objections not rooted in
fear or hate of the individual but a conviction these behaviors are simply
not right.
Fourth, it is intolerant. The very thing our society prides itself in, it
violates when it disparages those who believe homosexuality is a morally
wrong behavior. It is tolerant of everyone who agrees with its view of
homosexuality.
I
— 26 —
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Argument #6
Opposing Gay marriage is the same as opposing
the civil rights of blacks.
Some argue that the legal fight for Gay bi-sexual marriage is the same
as the civil rights fight which included the right for bi-racial marriage
in the 1960’s. Their argument often goes like this: “Back then, bi-racial
marriage was forbidden. The equal rights movement won the day. No longer
were bi-racial couples denied their rights to be treated equally as married under
the law. Today, U.S. law unfairly forbids bi-sexual marriages and we are in
another fight for justice. Just as equal rights demanded freedom for bi-racial
marriages, so equal rights today demands the freedom for bi-sexual marriages.”
This argument sounds plausible on the surface but is misleading and fallacious. It equates bi-racial marriage with bi-sexual marriage. This is not
apples and apples, but apples and oranges. To compare them is misleading. God never forbid interracial sexual relations in marriage. He forbids
homosexual relations.
Bi-racial marriage validates God’s created equal standing of all before
Him (He sent His son to die for all- John 3:16). Bi-sexual marriage
violates God’s created sexual function for man and women (Genesis
2:24-25). To fight racism is good, and obedient to God’s word. To embrace gay-marriage is sin and disobedient to God’s Word. Racial equality
and Gay-marriage are not the same issue. As one leading black pastor
said, “One is skin, the other is sin.”
Argument # 7
If Homosexuality is wrong why didn’t Jesus forbid it?
The reason Jesus didn’t specifically condemn homosexuality is the reason He also did not condemn pedophilia, incest, bestiality or rape. They
were universally recognized as sin He had no need for teaching regarding them. The absence of his teaching on incest would never be used as
evidence he condoned it. Absence of specifically condemning something
is not evidence of condoning it.
Jesus condemned homosexuality, incest, pedophilia, and bestiality by af— 27 —
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
firming the validity of all the Old Testament Scriptures, which included
prohibitions against these sins (Matthew 5:17-19). Jesus also repudiated
homosexuality by affirming the sanctity of the male-female sexual union
in marriage (Matthew 19:4-8).
In addition, Jesus forbids homosexuality by His teachings through the
Apostles in the rest of the New Testament. He promised he would give
this additional revelation to the Apostles after He rose from the dead
( John 14:25-26; 16:12-15). That truth is recorded in the New Testament epistles, which explicitly call homosexuality contrary to God’s law
(Romans 1:26-27; Jude 7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
God’s gracious promise to Homosexuals (and all people)
The Bible teaches that on our own, because of our sinful hearts, we all
are enslaved to various sins (Romans 3:9-18) that come naturally to us
(Matthew 15:19). God offers to forgive and free us from any sin, which
may dominate us. Though changing from homosexual to heterosexual is
claimed by some to be impossible and even harmful, the reality is, thousands have been changed by God. Stanton Jones, Chair of Psychology at
Wheaton College says regarding this:
Anyone who says there is no hope (for change) is either ignorant or a liar. Every secular study of change has shown some success rate, and persons who testify
to substantial healings by God are legion.8
God changes peoples through Jesus Christ, who indwells and transforms the hearts of those who believe in Him (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13), not only giving them His joy, peace and love ( John 14:27;
15:10-11) but breaking the sinful habits which seem so natural to us.
Two thousand years ago, in the cosmopolitan, intellectual Greek city of
Corinth, the apostle Paul described the transforming work of Christ in
the lives of those who had received Him as their Lord and savior:
— 28 —
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, not the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And
such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of
our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
— 29 —
GAY MARRIAGE: A BIBLICAL OXYMORON?
Endnotes
Dr. Albert Mohler, Homosexuality and the Bible, www.AlbertMohler.
com, See Articles, p. 3-4.
1
Elizabeth Achtemeier, quoted in “Gays and the Bible,” by Mark
O’Keefe, The Virginian Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia (February 14, 1993), p.
C-1.
2
Gary David Comstock, Protestant Chaplain at Wesleyan University,
quoted in “Homosexuality and the Bible”, by Al Mohler, www.AlbertMohler.com, Articles, p. 7-8.
3
All Scripture quotation are from the New American Standard Version
unless otherwise noted.
4
John McArthur, Electronic Commentary on Romans. See comments un
Romans 1:22.
5
Joe Dallas, Responding to Pro-Gay Theology, pt. 1 at www.exodusglobalalliance.org
6
Joe Dallas, Responding to Pro-Gay Theology pt.1 at www.exodusglobalalliance.org
7
Jones, Stanton, The Loving Opposition, Christianity Today, July 19, 1993,
Vol. 37, No. 8. 8
— 31 —
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