Blog

After Massachusetts adopted ‘gay marriage’, we as a ministry sought to understand and pray for what was at stake for a nation that elevated the status of homosexual unions to those of heterosexuals. We prayed for mercy, not judgment, for this ultimate expression of idolatry—the creature shaking its fist at the Creator and declaring that (s)he would image herself anyway (s)he wanted. Yet we had a small emerging hope: we as a nation could turn back before it was too late. God m

At the dawn of the new millennium, I noticed a growing darkness in the area of gender and sexuality. Powerless to overcome perversion, western culture used its power to justify all manner of sexual expression. Around that time, I had a dream about a group of young people who were confused and seeking answers to their sexual identity questions. They were on a secular college campus. Older gay mentors began to confirm them as bona-fide gays and lesbians; as they laid hands on t

While doing a conference in Denver many years ago, a vigorous young man introduced himself to me as Christopher West; he was then the ‘marriage and family’ guy for the Archdiocese of Denver. He loved our emphases on healing through the cross and community. And he wanted me to have a copy of John Paul II’s book: The Theology of the Body, the late great pope’s sweeping take on human sexuality. Wow. What a meal. For the next couple of years I slowly ate what I now regard as perh

I hate idolatry. The worship of false gods turns humans into animals. While worship of the one true God humbles and exalts what is best in humanity, idolatry enslaves us. No-where is this more evident to me than in Thailand–the first nation I served that had no Judeo-Christian foundation. Through the veneer of Thai women dressed as dainty goddesses and orange-clad monks bending incessantly to Buddha, sexual immorality reaches new lows. The devotion to myriad gods and goddesse

The second question we must raise: does freedom from racial restrictions in marriage apply reasonably to freedom from gender distinctions in marriage? In other words, does interracial marriage set a solid precedent for ‘gay marriage’? Not at all. Throughout the history of civilization, marriage was and is fundamentally about one man pledged to one woman, for the purpose of bearing and raising children. Ethnicity has never figured into the equation at a foundational level. Dis

In the battle for marriage, I am inclined toward the sin of the Church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7). Working hard, persevering, identifying falsehood (the church’s strengths; vs.2, 3) mean little if one loses his first love. And that has been my challenge in this battle. In fighting for God’s honor in defending marriage as one man for one woman, have I lost touch with God? The other day, I felt that familiar conviction: ‘Are my works for Him overtaking my devotion to Him? Is a pol

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”  (Pr. 14:34) ‘Gay marriage’ is serious business. More than protecting gays from cruel and unusual punishment, it celebrates them. It is the ultimate expression of normalizing homosexuality in any culture. In so doing, ‘gay marriage’ breaks natural boundaries. That breakdown is costly for any culture that upholds ‘gay marriage’. I am conservative in ascribing ‘judgment’ to any land due to its poor political

United with Christ, turned toward the good and aware that the enemy is no-one but the deceiver himself, we must grasp the urgency of the hour. And be willing to act urgently. Why? If we do not take a stand against ‘gay marriage’ today, then we help loose a flood of perversion tomorrow. Chesterton writes: “Man has never been able to keep on one level of evil. The road goes down and down.” If its successful ‘homosexualization’ is any indication, then California is going down fa

The design of creation speaks for itself: God created humanity in the duality of male and female. Marriage proclaims the essence of that bonding for the express purpose of creating and raising children. Many desire other forms of sexual relating outside of marriage, including homosexual unions. No-one contests that, and all should treat those who struggle outside the lines with dignity, tolerance, and mercy based on God’s evident mercy to us in Jesus Christ. But why the relen

The state cannot redeem marriage. That is the business of the church. But the state has a responsibility to its citizens concerning marriage. It must uphold what is best for the common good. That means defining marriage clearly for all: one man for one woman, pledged to fidelity and permanence. That definition establishes something true and enduring that helps shape the morality of its citizens. We are all impressionable, being-formed moral beings. We take our cues from our f

Marriage is the only institution on earth that rewards and supports couples who raise the children they created. If they honor that commitment, the man and woman provide stability and a source of clarity and confirmation for the identities of both sons and daughters. The state is wise to honor that attempt. We are all aware that many couples falter in it. At the same time, any legal effort made to increase the chance that a man and woman are going to make good their vows serv

The state rewards a man and woman for their commitment to each other and the children they may bear. Government provides limited legal guidelines and benefits that encourage marital commitment. But in order for marriage to become what God wants it to be, we must realize the limitations of the state to create strong marriages. That task belongs to communities of faith that can help reclaim marriage from the mess we have made of it. ‘Gay marriage’ is founded, in part, upon the

Gender matters in marriage. As we saw yesterday, the distinctly masculine and feminine dimensions of marriage reveal something about God to us, His very image revealed on the earth. Let us explore this further. Marriage involves the joining together of two distinctive parts: male and female. Wholeness requires ‘otherness. The oneness of body, soul, and spirit that marriage embodies requires essential maleness and femaleness. There is no one-flesh union apart from the two gend

Marriage is the most powerful and civilizing institution in the world. At its best, marriage possesses a unique authority to teach spouses to love, to channel their sexuality constructively, and then to love the fruit of that creativity (children) well. Marriage impacts everyone. For that impact to be as beneficial as possible, we can agree with the writer of Hebrews on behalf of all people when (s)he says: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.”