- The Issue
California voters passed Proposition 22 in 2000 by more than 61%, saying that a marriage in California is between a man and a woman. Earlier this year, four activist judges based in San Francisco wrongly overturned the people's vote, legalizing same-sex marriage. - The Consequences
The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision. This decision has far-reaching consequences. For example, because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergarteners. By saying that a marriage is between “any two persons” rather than between a man and a woman, the Court decision has opened the door to any kind of “marriage.” This undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it. - The Solution
Vote YES on Proposition 8 to overturn the outrageous Supreme Court decision and restore the definition of marriage that was approved by over 61% of voters. Proposition 8 is NOT an attack on gay couples and does not take away the rights that same-sex couples already have under California’s domestic partner law. California law already grants domestic partners all the rights that a state can grant to a married couple. Gays have a right to their private lives, but not to change the definition of marriage for everyone else. Passing Proposition 8 protects our children and places into the Constitution the simple definition that a marriage is between a man and a woman. - On the ballot, Prop 8 will simply read "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."
I've stated before that, as a pastor, I will never endorse specific candidates, but this is NOT a political issue, and it shouldn't even be a government issue. This is a direct attack on our religious freedoms! If Prop 8 does not pass, churches will have to make the choice to either marry homosexual couples or limit the ceremony to only couples who are church members (by changing their by-laws). Weddings have always been a beautiful ministry of the church to our communities. This CA supreme court decision is severely limiting that ministry.
What will be next? How will the government limit our ministries in the future? WE CAN NOT ALLOW THIS!
The media and our culture will try to convince you that this is a civil rights issue and that if you don't vote NO then you're a bigot or a homophobe. This is not true - don't buy into it. Voting YES on Prop 8 does not make you a "gay-hater". It simply protects the institution of marriage by not allowing the government to redefine it.
I can't emphasize strongly enough how important the passage of this proposition is to churches in California. I'm sure a day will come in the future when churches and Christians are persecuted in this country for standing up for Biblical truths. But let's not usher in that era too early. Vote YES on Prop 8!
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6 comments:
Thanks for the post!
Jeff, Does your church now marry homosexuals? Will it, if this passes?
See, it's about the civil rights of homosexuals not about what your church will or won't do.
Dead Mule,
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Our church does not now and will not ever marry homosexuals. But what this ruling does is put our church in a place where we can be sued or lose our non-profit status for taking that position. Marriage (as defined in the Bible) is a core Christian value and the government's interference in this issue puts us in a position to either compromise our religious beliefs or be renegade churches.
And despite the popular terminology, this is NOT a civil rights issue. In the state of CA, homosexual couples are afforded all the civil rights that married couple have. This is about homosexuals wanting to make a legal point and redefining marriage.
I will say this, it's also a sin that for decades heterosexual couples have been "redefining" marriage in this country as well. Our whole society, not just gay couples, needs to get back to the foundational truths of what the marriage union is all about. If straight couples had not weakened and trampled over the sanctity of marriage for so long, we might not be in this predicament.
"I will say this, it's also a sin that for decades heterosexual couples have been "redefining" marriage in this country as well. Our whole society, not just gay couples, needs to get back to the foundational truths of what the marriage union is all about. If straight couples had not weakened and trampled over the sanctity of marriage for so long, we might not be in this predicament."
THIS HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! Amen, brother! Marriage has long been viewed as "just a piece of paper" by much of society. In truth, it is a sacred covenant between a man, a woman, and God. Government has no business telling churches what they can or must teach or do. God's word is plain, precious, and true.
Thank you for your stance!
"But what this ruling does is put our church in a place where we can be sued or lose our non-profit status for taking that position."
That's absolutely ridiculous and a bold-faced lie. Your church can still refuse to marry any couple for ANY reason. You don't need to modify your by-laws, you don't need to do anything. This ruling has absolutely ZERO impact on the exercise of religious liberties.
David,
With all due respect, you need to research your claim a bit more. The current ruling absolutely leaves the church in such a vulnerable position. I didn't think it could be true either. I was surprised to find out that in this country civil rights trump religious rights. Since this has been turned into a civil rights issue, that's where we are.
David, you don't know me, but everyone who does would tell you I am not an alarmist on issues like this. I rarely get political. I'm not your typical right-wing religious nut. But this is ABSOLUTELY an infringement on our religious views and rights. The problem is that since most people (of all sexual preferences) have such a low and casual view of marriage, they don't truly understand what is at stake.
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