| GAY MARRIAGE-BIGOTRY- EQUAL RIGHTS OR DESTRUCTION? |
| By Pastor Steve Carr http://www.youtube.com/watch? Please turn in your Bible to Second Peter chapter 2 and we will begin with verse four in our study today. I want to talk to you about same-sex marriage and its effect upon our society today. Is gay marriage an equal rights issue? If you disagree with gay rights people are you a bigot that is discriminating against these people? Or, will the same sex advocates bring on the destruction of our nation? I believe the Scripture is very clear on this subject, and history is also very clear. When our president came on television a week and a half ago declaring his support for same-sex marriage, and then a line of clergymen went on television saying that they were also in favor of gay marriage, I said to myself, I cannot sit back and say nothing publically about this issue. Therefore, this is why I am doing this study this morning. I know that some of you in this church have family members, co-workers, and neighbors who are homosexuals and that are speaking to you about this subject of same-sex marriage. Many of you have asked me how to answer their charges of bigotry and discrimination when you have disagreed with their gay lifestyle. This is a difficult issue and not an easy subject to deal with, but you must speak the truth in love. As Christians we are called to be the salt of the earth and a light to this dark world, so we cannot be silent (Matt 5:13-16). You need to be able to address each of the issues they bring up in conversation with you from a biblical stand point, a historical stand point, and a common sense stand point. Therefore, that is what I will do with you today through this study. I want to give you the tools to argue effectively for what I believe is the truth. However, let me begin by saying that I do not hate homosexuals - I love and care about them. I believe they have a right to their opinion about same-sex marriage, as I also have a right to my opinion without being called a bigot. Over the last forty years of my ministry as a pastor I have ministered to many homosexual and lesbian individuals. I ministered to one individual for over 25 years who struggled with their sexual identity that attended this church. So, I care about people who are struggling with their homosexuality. I want to see them set free. I would also like to say I am not homophobic – the word homophobic means to be afraid of homosexuals. I am not afraid of homosexuals, I love them and I care for them. However, I am a homo-contrarian, which means I am opposed to homosexuality and opposed to same-sex marriage. I am opposed to these lifestyle choices because of what the Bible teaches, what history reveals, and for several common sense reasons I will share with you today. My greatest concern is for the destructive nature of these moral lifestyle choices for our nation, for our society as a whole, and to marriage and children in specific. Let us begin by looking at the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage from a biblical, historical, and common sense view point. Is homosexuality and same-sex marriage wrong from a Biblical stand point? Let us begin by reading what the Apostle Peter had to say in 2 Peter 2:4. He wrote, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” Notice that Peter makes it very clear that rebellion against God in whatever form will ultimately bring destruction and judgment from God. It makes no difference if angels sinned – or the people of Noah’s day – or the homosexual movement that was prevalent in Lot’s day. Note also the effect of immorality upon Lot; he was oppressed by these people’s behavior, which means to be harassed and worn down. It also says that he was tormented, which means to experience pain in his soul by what he heard and saw these people doing. This is exactly how I feel as I hear and see what is going on today in our society. However, the most important point that Peter makes is that destruction always results from rebellion against God’s moral standards. There will be personal and national destruction. I believe that if our nation does not turn from our descent into immorality we are doomed to certain judgment as well. It is clear that God is not going to ever change His standards. Societies and cultures may change, people’s viewpoints may change, but God is not going to change. God has said, “I am the Lord, I do not change” (Mal. 3:6). But, when I listen to the clergymen speak about this same-sex marriage in the last week and a half, I am grieved because these people are misrepresenting God and what the Bible declares about homosexuality and the desire of people to legalize same-sex marriage. Therefore, I want to present to you what the Bible does teach about homosexuality and same-sex marriage, because I believe Jesus addressed both of these issues. Now, I know you have heard people say that Jesus never talked about these issues, but I beg to differ. He absolutely addressed homosexuality and same-sex marriage. In Mark Gospel in chapter 7 and verse 20-23, Jesus spoke of all the moral perversions that He said would defile mankind. Jesus said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” It is important to note that Jesus is the one who said all these behaviors were “evil things.” Notice the words adulteries and fornications. Adultery is defined as having sex with someone who is already married. But, Jesus also used the word fornications. This was a Greek word specifically chosen by Jesus because it is a general word that refers to any illicit sexual relationship outside of marriage. It is the Greek word porneia from which we get our word pornography or pornographic. Porneia, according to Joseph Thayer’s Greek Lexicon includes sex between two people who are not married, sex between one person who is single another who is married, incest, bestiality which is sex with an animal, and it refers to homosexuality and lesbianism. This word was chosen by Jesus because all throughout classical Greek literature this word is used in reference to all these forms of illicit sex. Therefore, when anyone tells you that Jesus did not speak about homosexuality and lesbianism they are wrong. Now I would like to say right here that I do not see homosexuality any differently than I see adultery. Why? Both of these sins are usually listed together when God speaks about immoral behaviors. Homosexuality is illicit sex just as adultery is unlawful sex. When you view homosexuality in that manner you are seeing this behavior the way Jesus saw it. This is an essential understanding to have so you won’t put a homosexual in some special category of evil. Homosexuality is simply gender confusion resulting from the confusion of moral values in this fallen world. In addition, it is important to understand that a lawful sexual relationship according to God’s Word can only be found within the bond of marriage. God is the one who created sex, therefore it is good and holy and restricted to the commitment of marriage. This is best for the adults and children that will be brought into this world as a result of their sexual union. Most marriage and family counselors will attest to the destruction to adults and children from those who constantly change their living partners. Another biblical example of why homosexuality is wrong is revealed by Paul the Apostle when he warned the Corinthian church about their immorality. He said, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will 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 and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). There are several things to notice in these passages. First, let me define some of these words. The word homosexual refers to a catamite which is someone who has sex with a child of the same gender. The word sodomite is a general Greek word for those having sex with anyone of the same gender, male or female. Second, notice that Paul declared that anyone participating in these behaviors will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In other words, they will not go to heaven. Third, the most encouraging thing about these verses is that Paul reminded the Corinthians that “such were some of you.” That means that idolaters, fornicators, and homosexuals can be forgiven and be changed from their former lifestyle. Jesus said, “Every sin and blaspheme will be forgiven man” (Matt. 12:31). However, to receive God’s forgiveness a person must ask God for His forgiveness, and turn from their sinful behavior (1 John 1:9; Acts 26:20). Furthermore, notice how Paul addressed these sexual sins in Romans 1:24-27. There he explains what happens when people reject God’s moral standards. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Note that Paul speaks of both heterosexual sex outside of marriage and homosexual sexual practice as wrong. Both are yielding to the lusts of their own hearts, and have nothing to do will being born gay or having a gay gene. Also, Paul declared that homosexual sex was against nature and was leaving the natural use of the woman. The obvious physiology of a man and woman is according to nature, which allows natural sexual intercourse with the possibility of also producing a child. Homosexual and lesbian sex does not allow either. Therefore, the New Testament clearly declares that homosexual relationships are ungodly and are not acceptable before God. Now if homosexuality is biblically wrong, then the natural conclusion you must come to is same-sex marriage is also wrong. This is a natural deduction from the evidence I have just presented. Any other conclusion would be intellectually dishonest. The Bible cannot condemn homosexuality and then turn around and declare same-sex marriage as acceptable. This is the reason why the homosexual activists and the governmental gay lobbyists are trying so hard to change people’s opinions about the acceptability of the gay lifestyle through the media, schools, and laws. Let me say that they are doing a good job, because they are changing the view of homosexuality in most of the latest polls among most countries today. Why is this happening? I believe that is because gay activists are very intimidating. They call you names like bigot. They declare you are intolerant and that you don't believe in equal rights. Most people do not respond because they do not know how to answer these charges. But, when we do not respond then the people standing by and listening to this debate think, The gay activists must be right, because this straight guy didn’t have any answers to the charges. Well, that is why I am responding right now in this article. When Jesus spoke about marriage He only referred to it as between a man & woman. When Jesus spoke about marriage He referred to it as only between a man and a woman. Listen to His words. Jesus said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:4-6). Therefore, according to Jesus, California’s Proposition 8, was right to put into law that marriage is between one man and one woman. Notice that a man or woman can only come from a father and mother and that person is joined to his wife or her husband. That is very clear. Notice the place God gave to marriage in Genesis 2:18. When God created man He said, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” The Hebrew word for helper comparable literally means counterpart. So a woman is that physical counterpart to a man. Now I do not have to get into the physiology of a man and woman’s body. I think it is quite obvious that a woman is the counterpart of a man, and that is the only way our race continues. A homosexual couple or a same-sex marriage cannot obey the command of God to “be fruitful and multiply,” that would be a physical impossibility (Gen. 1:28). If this command is not obeyed we would cease to exist as a society. Therefore, if you look at the context in which God created man and woman, He gave marriage a priority in all that He did. Before God established human government, before He gave man laws to live by, He created the basic building block of society. God created the family, with one man and one woman as counterparts to each other. Therefore, you should also give marriage this priority and place of importance in your thinking. The family is the most basic building block of our society, because without it there is no next generation! This is why same-sex marriage wrong. Why is same-sex marriage wrong from an historical stand point? One of the simplest ways to understand this point is to consider the findings of a British sociologist in the 1930s that made a study of 80 cultures over the last 5000 years of recorded history. This man’s name was Joseph Unwin. He declared that he set out through his research to prove from a secular viewpoint that marriage was unnecessary. So, he began to study the 80 greatest cultures of history. What did he find? He came to the conclusion what made each culture strong and successful, and what made them weak. He determined that there was one thing that caused each culture to decay into chaos and ultimately implode. It was a culture’s view of monogamous marriage, and the lack of restriction upon unlawful sexual practices. Listen to Unwin’s own words as he declared how his mind was changed. “The evidence was such as to demand a complete revision of my personal philosophy; for the relationship between the factors seemed to be so close, that, if we know what sexual regulations a society has adopted, we can prophesy accurately the pattern of its cultural behavior…. Now it is an extraordinary fact that in the past, sexual opportunity has only been reduced to a minimum by the fortuitous adoption of an institution I call absolute monogamy. This type of marriage has been adopted by different societies, in different places, and at different times. Thousands of years and thousands of miles separate the events; and there is no apparent connection between them. In human records, there is no case of an absolutely monogamous society failing to display great [cultural] energy. I do not know of a case on which great energy has been displayed by a society that has not been absolutely monogamous…. If, during or just after a period of [cultural] expansion, a society modifies its sexual regulations, and a new generation is born into a less rigorous [less monogamous] tradition, its energy decreases…. If it comes into contact with a more vigorous society, it is deprived of its sovereignty, and possibly conquered in its turn. It seems to follow that we can make a society behave in any manner we like, if we are permitted to give it such sexual regulations as will produce the behavior we desire. The results should begin to emerge in the third generation.—Joseph Daniel Unwin, Ph.D., “Sexual Regulations and Cultural Behavior,” address given to the Medical Section of the British Psychological Society. (Library of Congress No., HQ12.U52) Therefore, Joseph Unwin concluded as he looked at history that when a culture relaxes its sexual regulations and permits sexual practices that are contrary to absolute monogamy that in the third-generation that culture began to die. If we then allow same-sex marriage to become law our society is doomed. This historian found that there are consequences to the decisions a people and a nation make concerning marriage. Remember, this is not some preacher from the church making these statements. Unwin was a secular scientist who originally believed the opposite of what he came to understand about marriage. But, was Joseph Unwin a lone crackpot? No. There are others who came to the same conclusion. In the 1930s the founder of Harvard’s sociology department, Pitirim Sorokin said, "The regime that permits chronically excessive, illicit & disorderly sex activities contributes to the decline of cultural creativity" (The American Sex Revolution, pp. 106–107). So, this man also found the same results for any society that allows illicit sexual activities. That culture will decline! In addition, Historian Jim Nelson Black declared the same findings in his book, When Nations Die. He said, “The entire record of human history confirms that despair and disaster are the natural consequences of irresponsible self-indulgence. A number of Americans [and others] want to ignore that dark reality” (When Nations Die, Black, p. 216). This man also found that the testimony of all human history warns us of the consequences of our own decisions to reject monogamy within marriage between one man and one woman. Americans and others want to ignore that dark reality of what is coming. But, if our nation does ignore this reality we are doomed as a culture. If people who are secular have come to this conclusion why don't we listen to what the Bible has declared? If we do not listen, disaster is coming. Why is same-sex marriage wrong from a common sense stand point? There are many common sense rationales that argue for rejecting same-sex marriage. I believe you need common sense arguments, because if you only use biblical arguments people will call you a religious bigot who has your head in the sand. That is why you should use the historical argument above and these common sense reasons that I will give you now. Anyone who promotes gay marriage is promoting the death of our country. Why would I say this? Marriage is the unification of a male and a female which allows the continuance of the family which allows the continuance of our people and our nation. If the propagation of children does not occur our culture will die out. There are several European countries that today have a higher death rate than their birth rate. Those nations and cultures are going to die. It is just a matter of arithmetic. It is simple logic that same-sex couples cannot fulfill the biblical command to “be fruitful and multiply.” Procreation is a physical impossibility. Therefore, same-sex relationships do not benefit our culture and nation as a whole. If we allow gay marriage in our country we are rejecting the obvious norm of 97% of the heterosexual population in favor of 2% of the population who are homosexual. 1% of the population will never marry. But, this is not how democracy works. 2% cannot force 97% of the people to destroy their own culture and nation. How can this happen? It is happening because this minority is winning the argument in the public square. They are winning because people are afraid to speak up because of the intimidation, harassment, and name calling that comes from the homosexual activists. If you speak up against them you are called a narrow minded intolerant bigot; someone who is against civil rights and equal rights. But, these activists have changed the definition of these terms. So, let me take you back to the dictionary definitions of these terms. Bigotry is defined as: A person who exhibits intolerance, hatred, or animosity toward any person or group of persons. A bigot purposes to discriminate against another person and will victimize, persecute, oppress, harass, or abuse another because of their differing creed, belief, or opinion. Let me say, I have no hatred or animosity or wish to harm, harass or persecute anyone who supports gay marriage. I don’t want to victimize or abuse anyone. I respect their right to have a different opinion. However, I would hope that they would respect my right to my opinion. In reality it is the gay-marriage advocates who are the ones that are bigoted against anyone who disagrees with them, and they are especially bigoted against people of faith. They exhibit intolerance, harassment, persecution, and hatred toward anyone who disagrees with them. Let me give you one of the worst examples of bigotry, intolerance, and hatred toward those who disagree with the same-sex advocates. According to Los Angeles Frontiers Magazine, after California’s Proposition 8 passed a few years ago, which called for the definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman, gay activists went to extremes to obtain the names of individuals who had contributed money to the “Yes” on Proposition 8 initiative. The gay activists went and publicly harassed and threatened people who opposed them. One of the most well reported cases was of a woman, Marjorie Chrisoffersen, who managed the Los Angeles Mexican restaurant, El Coyote. She was targeted by these gay rights activists to the point where the business was literally shutdown, because protesters were harassing and attacking anyone who attempted to enter the business. This woman was targeted because she contributed a mere $100 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, simply because of her religious beliefs. She later resigned from her position with the restaurant to stop the harassment. I just spoke with a friend of mine back in Kansas this past weekend. He told me that it was reported in the newspapers that a Prairie Middle School teacher Jack Conkling had posted on Facebook that he disagreed with President Obama’s view of same-sex marriage. The teacher then listed the biblical reasons why he believed same-sex marriage was wrong. The problem is he may possibly lose his job. There are now calls for this man’s firing because of what they call hate-speech. Here is a quote of the school teacher’s post from the Addictinginfo.org, which is a pro-gay website. See if you think this is hate speech or just the opinion of one citizen in the United States of America? “All this talk in the news about gay marriage recently has finally driven me to write. Gay marriage is wrong because homosexuality is wrong. The Bible clearly states it is sin. Now I do not claim it to be a sin any worse than other sins. It ranks in God’s eyes the same as murder, lying, stealing, or cheating. His standards are perfect and ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Sin is sin and we all deserve hell. Only those who accept Christ as Lord and daily with the help of the Spirit do their best to turn from sin will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There aren’t multiple ways to get to Heaven. There is one. To many, this may seem close minded and antagonistic, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Folks I am willing to admit that my depravity is just as great as anyone else’s, and without Christ I’d be destined for hell, if not for the undeserved grace of God. I’m not condemning gay marriage because I hate gay people. I am doing it because those who embrace it will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And I desire that for no one.” In 2008 during the Proposition 8 campaign, many churches were vandalizes and spray painted by those opposed to monogamy and the definition of marriage between a man and woman. These activists spray painted swastikas and hateful words on these buildings which only reminded me of the tactics of the Nazis themselves. Are not these actions proof of hatred, persecution, harassment, and intolerance of other viewpoints? So, who are the bigots? Who is being hateful and intolerant of any other belief other than their own? It is the gay-rights people and the same-sex marriage advocates! They are religious bigots. So, where is their tolerance? There is no tolerance because they have also changed the definition of this word. The dictionary definition of tolerance is: “Tolerance is an expression of love for those who believe differently than you.” Tolerance does not mean acceptance of other beliefs that you believe are wrong, or a condoning of behavior that is obviously immoral and perverted. Jesus exampled what tolerance was all about in His ministry. He taught love without condemnation of sinners, but not the condoning of immorality. His treatment of the woman taken in the act of adultery recorded in John eight is the best example I know. After He challenged all the people who wanted to stone the woman He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He showed He did not want to condemn this woman. He wanted to forgive her. However, He also wanted her to turn from her sexually immoral heterosexual behavior. This is how we should all relate to anyone caught in any sin. Don’t condemn, but don’t condone! Speak the truth in the love of Christ (Eph. 4:15). Is same-sex marriage an equal rights issue? No - it is not! Let me give you some common sense reasons why same-sex marriage it is not an equal rights issue. First, did you realize that heterosexual couples do not have totally equal rights over issues concerning their own marriage options? Heterosexual couples can make any decision they choose to marry but they cannot choose to marry someone that is a close relative. Why? Because we know biologically that is a dangerous thing, and that is why we have a law against it. So, heterosexual couples do not have equal rights to marry someone that is a close relative. Heterosexual couples do not have equal rights to marry someone who is already married, that is called polygamy. So, you are not free to marry more than one person at a time. We have a law against it. Third, you have no right to marry a child in our society. We have laws against that as well. Why? We consider doing so would be evil and morally wrong. Every law discriminates between what we believe is moral and immoral. Smokers cannot smoke in a public building in California. It is the law. Why? We know that it is unhealthful to subject others to the toxins in cigarette smoke. This is the right thing to do because we see the obvious health benefits for the general public. If we see the spiritual benefits, the historical benefits, and the common sense benefits of not allowing same-sex marriage then we should keep the laws against it. Same-sex couples have the same constitutional rights and they have the same civil rights as anyone else in our country, they just don't have marital rights. Same-sex marriage advocates want us to sanctify and condone what the Bible calls unnatural, and what Jesus called evil. You don't sanctify what you know is evil any more than you would sanctify and put into law incest or polygamy. Do you see the connection? However, the polygamist lobbyists are in full force going after their equal rights too. They are using the same rationalization as same-sex marriage, that it is an equal rights issue. If we give equal rights to same-sex marriage then how can society not give equal rights to polygamists? How can we ever say no to marrying a child? How can we ever say it is wrong to marry somebody that is a close relative? Do you see the slippery slope we are on? The Declaration of Independence and equal rights. Let me give you another common sense reason that same-sex marriage is not an equal rights issue. Do you believe in the Declaration of Independence? Do you believe what the Declaration of Independence states about equal rights? I hope you do! I think every politician should read and stand behind the Declaration of Independence today. Do you know what the Declaration of Independence states about equal rights and about human rights? Thomas Jefferson wrote equal rights are to be in accordance with “the Laws of Nature and Nature's God.” This is an important statement right there in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. How does this statement relate to same-sex marriage and homosexuality? Remember, Paul the Apostle said that homosexuality and therefore same-sex marriage is contrary to nature. It follows that it is also contrary to nature's God, who is the God of the Bible. That God has established what is right and wrong, and what is moral and immoral. So, if same-sex marriage and homosexuality are contrary to nature and nature's God, then this is not an equal rights issue in any way, shape, or form. Same-sex marriage is contrary to the Declaration of Independence! Think this equal rights issue through. While all people are created equal, not all ideas, desires, or behaviors are equal. Communism is not equal to democracy. Adultery is not equal to monogamy. Murder is not equal to peaceful coexistence. All ideas and behaviors are not equal, so when people use this terminology they are trying to change the definition of equal rights. There are a lot of things that we do not believe have an equal right in our society, and we do not protect them in our legal system. So, my question is; why is it a right for the same-sex marriage advocates when speaking about their views, but they turn it around when I disagree with them, and now it becomes bigotry, hate speech, and discrimination? Do I not have the right of free speech to disagree? Just because you disagree with someone does not make you a bigot. Does same-sex marriage harm marriage & children? To answer this question, all you must do is look at the statistics from Scandinavia where same-sex marriage has already been legalized. Denmark legalized same-sex marriage in 1989, Norway in 1993, Sweden in 1994. It is very clear that marriage has declined in these countries. In Denmark, 60% of the children born to couples are born to those who are not married. Marriage is clearly on the decline. Statistics show that in Scandinavia and in the US, that cohabitating couples with children, including same-sex couples, break up at 2 to 3 times the rate as married parents. Clearly, children are the losers in this circumstance. I would encourage you to read the extensive research done by The Family Research Council at http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i= The United States is not far behind Scandinavia. According to the latest census, 42% of all children born in the United States are born to out of wedlock relationships. For the first time in our history more people are living together than are married in the US. This is a disaster for children. Note what Stanley Kurtz who writes for the National Review said about Scandinavia’s marriage policy. “In setting up the institution of marriage, society offers special support and encouragement to the men and women who together make children. Because marriage is deeply implicated in the interests of children, it is a matter of public concern. Children are helpless. They depend upon adults. Over and above their parents, children depend upon society to create institutions that keep them from chaos. Children cannot articulate their needs. Children cannot vote. Yet children are society. They are us, and they are our future. That is why society has the right to give special support and encouragement to an institution that is necessary to the well-being of children.” Therefore, if you care about the children in our society, then you should do all in your power to support marriage in our country. Marriage and family is that fundamental training ground for godliness, values, morals, human responsibility, and all of the things that we believe are essential for our society. All these values come from family instruction and the balance given by a father and mother. Now, here is a statistic that most people have never heard. Wherever same-sex marriage is imposed only a small percentage of homosexual couples actually marry. When you look at the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, which are gay friendly societies, only .55% to .70% of same-sex couples actually get married. In a 2004 study entitled, “Same-sex Unions and Divorce Risk: Data from Sweden,” done by Maggie Gallagher & Joshua K. Bakerthe: they state that the number of same-sex registered partnerships contracted in Sweden from 1995 to 2002 is only one-half of one percent of the number of opposite-sex marriages in the same interval (compare .7% for Norway). If you would like to read more on this issue go to http://www.robgagnon.net/ So, why do same-sex couples fight so hard to the ability to marry, but then do not actually go through with a marriage commitment? This is a very good question. I personally believe that they don't get married because of the legal and financial commitment that comes along with marriage. When people get married they have community property rights and responsibilities for the care of the child that they adopt. When you look at the statistics of how long same-sex couples actually stay together it is extremely low. A Canadian study of homosexual men who had been in committed relationships lasting longer than one year, found that only 25 percent of those interviewed reported being monogamous." According to the study author Barry Adam, "Gay culture allows men to explore different...forms of relationships besides the monogamy coveted by heterosexuals." (Ryan Lee, "Gay Couples Likely to Try Non-monogamy, Study Shows," Washington Blade (August 22, 2003). Does same-sex marriage have a harmful effect upon adopted children? Here is a little known fact. According to a study reported in 2001 by American Sociological Review done by Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz, it was found that children raised by homosexuals or homosexual couples were anywhere from 5-15 times more likely to become homosexuals themselves, than when raised by heterosexual couples. Do children raised by heterosexual couples become homosexual? Yes. But, not at 5-15 times the rate of homosexuals or same-sex couples. All of the statistics that you find dealing with same-sex practices are not good. In most studies done, gay individuals have higher rates of disease and death. Gay men are 50 times more likely to contract HIV, and 5 times more likely to commit suicide. In a study done in the Netherlands, which is a gay friendly culture, they found much higher rates of mental disorders among gays, higher rates of alcoholism and drug abuse, and as we have already cited in previous studies, they have a higher rate of dissolution of their relationships. None of these figures are good for children being adopted into these circumstances. Let me conclude with Franklin Graham’s recent statement about our President’s view of marriage. He said, “In changing his position from that of Senator/candidate Obama, President Obama has, in my view, shaken his fist at the same God who created and defined marriage. It grieves me that our president would now affirm same-sex marriage, though I believe it grieves God even more. The institution of marriage should not be defined by presidents or polls, governors or the media. The definition was set long ago and changing legislation or policy will never change God's definition. This is a sad day for America. May God help us." I would whole heartily agree with this statement. God help each of us to stand up for marriage and a marriage between one man and one woman. Do not be silent. Be the salt and light this world needs in these times! |
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