The only surprise in President Obama's announcement yesterday of his support for same-sex "marriage" may have been its timing. His declaration that he believes marriage can be defined as a union of two people of the same sex only affirmed what his administration has been practicing. For instance, his Department of Justice had refused to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court and now is actually opposing it. DOMA is a 1996 law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman and protects states from being forced to recognize same-sex "marriages" performed in states where they are legal.
Nonetheless, the president's announcement -- as unsurprising as it is -- is a sad development, coming as it does from the leader of the free world in support of a radical reworking of the basic unit of society, one that was established by God thousands of years ago.
This development follows by only a day the 61 percent to 39 percent affirmation of the true definition of marriage by the voters of North Carolina. Thirty states now have approved such constitutional amendments. Yet, the drumbeat by some in society to normalize homosexual "marriage" continues.
Same-sex "marriage" is a challenge to marriage and the family as they have been understood. For instance, its legalization means more boys and girls will be growing up in homes without a father. Others will be reared in a home without a mother.
It also is a challenge to the church. Religious liberty and homosexual rights will clash on this issue and others -- and freedom of conscience will likely lose in many cases. Pastors and churches will need to stand strong under such a regime.
As I said in an earlier post, marriage is a gospel issue. You may review that post here.
I recommend two other posts published since the president's announcement. Kevin DeYoung gives five reasons here for why Christians should not quit on the same-sex "marriage" issue. Collin Hansen writes here about the advance of homosexual rights in our culture.
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