Q: #388. Why is homosexual marriage wrong? What does the Bible say about homosexual marriage?
A: Live and let live. To each his own. Who am I to judge? What other people do is not my business. These are the responses of a majority of people in the U.S. today on the subject of homosexual marriage. When I first wrote on this subject about 10 years ago (I am re-writing this in 2016), approximately two-thirds of the people in the U.S. were against homosexual marriage, and it was illegal. Today, nearly every poll says that over half the people in the U.S. (including “Christians”) support homosexual marriage, and it has been legalized. Why is this wrong, and why do we as Christians need to stand against homosexual marriage? Let’s look at this.
First, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about marriage. Marriage is called “honourable” in God’s eyes (Heb 13:4). Adam and Eve were the first married couple in the Bible. In the beginning of creation, God created Adam, but He said that “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” (Gen 2:18). God then created Eve to be a partner for Adam and said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen 2:24). Jesus repeated in (Mt 19:5-6)(Mk 10:7-9) that God’s plan for marriage is for a man and woman to become one flesh. Marriage is spoken of approximately 80 times in the Bible and is ALWAYS spoken of in terms of a husband (mentioned 145 times) and wife (mentioned 540 times) in union with each other.
One of the primary functions for marriage is procreation (Gen 4:1). Many people think that God views sex as wrong or sinful, but God created sex and it is good in His eyes (Gen 1:28)(Gen 9:1,7)(Gen 35:11), however, it is meant ONLY for a man and woman in a marriage relationship (Prov 5:15-20)(1 Cor 7:1-2)(Heb 13:4). Sex apart from this marriage relationship is fornication or adultery, and this is wrong in God’s eyes (Mt 15:19-20)(Deut 22:20-23)(1 Cor 6:13,18-19)(Eph 5:3,5-6)(1 Th 4:3-5)(Ex 20:14)(Prov 2:16-17).
God gave us sex within the bonds of marriage primarily so that children could be born to a loving and committed mother and father who would raise them together, and have “godly offspring” (Mal 2:15). This is always how God intended the family to be. Sadly, we have strayed far from this ideal through divorce, adultery, children born outside of wedlock, etc… Homosexual marriage is another dangerous (and huge) step down this path away from God’s plan for marriage and family. Study after study has shown us that children raised with a loving mother and father in a committed marriage relationship are the happiest and most well adjusted. Fathers and mothers each have unique traits as men and women that a child needs. There are some things that men can teach boys that women can’t, and women can teach girls that men can’t (i.e. how to interact with the opposite sex or deal with bodily changes unique to men or women). In addition, fathers have traits that their daughters need, and mothers that sons need. When we as a society stray from this ideal, children pay the price. I think it is quite apparent to nearly everyone that this country is becoming less and less moralistic, and more and more dangerous. Why? The breakup of the family as God intended it to be…
When I first addressed this subject about 10 years ago, I shared a list of “warnings” that would most likely occur if homosexual marriage ever became legal. Many of these things, and more are now occurring today. For example:
Homosexual couples are starting to bring lawsuits against churches who refuse to marry them. (This could bankrupt some churches).
***Note: In the near future, churches may also lose their tax-exempt status for refusing to comply.
Christian individuals are being sued for refusing to provide various services to gay couples on religious grounds (i.e. refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding). This has put a number of Christian owned businesses out of business.
Several mainstream church denominations are marrying gay people, and ordaining gay clergy. (I did not see this coming!)
Most schools and teachers are now teaching that homosexual marriage is acceptable and normal. (A Christian teacher was recently suspended for stating the opposite on his private social media account.)
A Christian city clerk was recently thrown in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses for homosexual couples.
Christian (and secular) adoption and foster care agencies are being forced to allow same sex couples to adopt. One Catholic agency has suspended its adoption services as a result. Also, most agencies are no longer giving priority to placing adoptive, or foster care children in homes where there is a loving mother and father in a traditional marriage.
A private Jewish university was recently forced to allow married same sex couples to live in the school’s married housing
Another warning that I shared, which has not yet come to pass (as of 2016), is that if homosexual marriage became legal, it would open the door to making even more alternate forms of marriage legal. If a man can be married to a man, or a woman to a woman, why not a man to several women (polygamy), or an adult to a minor, or a parent to a child, or a man to a man AND a woman? Where does redefining marriage end?
***Note: Run a search on “woman marries her dog” or “woman marries a dolphin.” This is actually happening NOW!
Friends, marriage is a sacred thing in God’s eyes. He honors and blesses marriage when it is done within His guidelines. Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship to the church (all believers). He is the bridegroom, we are His bride (Rev 21:9)(Rev 19:7-9)(Mt 9:15)(Mt 25:1-13)(Jn 3:29)(Eph 5:22-32). The Bible outlines the responsibilities of husbands and wives to each other in marriage (Eph 5:22-32)(1 Pet 3:1-7) (1 Cor 7)(Rom 7:2-3)(Titus 2:4-5)(Gen 3:16). God has also called for men who are leaders in the church to be married to one WIFE (1 Tim 3:2)(Titus 1:6).
We should enter into marriage with our most important desire being to have Christ at the center of the relationship and honor Him in all aspects of our married life. Homosexual marriage can never be Christ centered, for it is against the clear teachings of the Bible. It is seeking validation for a sinful lifestyle and behavior, and gaining rights to impose that behavior on anyone who disagrees with it. In the previous study I answered the questions: “Why is homosexuality wrong? What does the Bible say about homosexuality,?” so I will not go into detail on this here. However, the Bible makes it clear that homosexuality IS a BEHAVIOR that can be changed (1 Cor 6:11), and it IS a SIN (Lev 18:22)(Lev 20:13)(Rom 1:24,26-27)(1 Cor 6:9-11)(1 Tim 1:9-10). Always remember, God NEVER calls any act or behavior a sin that cannot be changed.
As Christians, we need to LOVINGLY stand up for the truth of God’s word, and that truth is that homosexual marriage is against God’s will for marriage and family. Be assured that in standing against this movement, you will be called intolerant, judgmental, hateful, homophobic, etc… but when we are on God’s side, we need have no fear of anyone (Heb 13:5-6)(Prov 29:25) (Ps 118:6)(Ps 27:1), and we can rejoice while being persecuted for doing what is right (Mt 5:10)(1 Pet 2:20)(1 Pet 3:14,17).