Texas and Gay Marriages
Amid charges of “discrimination” and “lack of compassion,” Texas lawmakers overwhelmingly (101 to 29) approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban both same-sex marriage and so-called “civil unions.” The move came one week after passing legislation that would prohibit gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving as foster parents (Fisher, 2005). If the measure passes the Texas Senate, the citizens of Texas will have the opportunity to become the 15th state to ban same-sex marriage by amending the state constitution (Nath, 2005). The Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (LGRL) issued an action alert asking dissenters to contact their senators.
Lawmakers in the Lone Star State deserve a big Texas “hurrah!” for showing courage and determination in their effort to affirm the foundational feature of human civilization—to wit, the fact that marriage consists solely of a man (male) and a woman (female) as established by the Creator at the very beginning of the world (Genesis 1:27; 2:24). The Bible consistently—from beginning to end—identifies same-sex relations as perversion and unnatural. Under the Christian era, the New Testament is decisive in its uncompromising and unquestioned condemnation of homosexual activity. Paul summarized the “unrighteous” and “ungodly” behavior of the Gentile nations, and declared:
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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality …; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:26-32, emp. added).
Same-sex relations (let alone same-sex “marriages”) are contrary to “nature,” i.e., the natural order established by the Creator at the beginning. Not only is God displeased with those who participate in such behavior, but according to Paul’s affirmation in verse 32, He also is equally displeased with those who are merely supportive of such conduct—though they themselves do not engage in the activity. Those lawmakers who think they are for “compassion” and “tolerance” would do well to ask themselves if they think they are more compassionate and tolerant than God?
REFERENCES
Fisher, Binnie (2005), “Texas House Approves Ban on Gay Marriage and Civil Unions,” The Houston Voice, April 29, [On-line], URL: http://houstonvoice.com/print.cfm?content_id=2056.
Nath, Niladri Sekhar (2005), “Texas House to Ban Gay Marriage,” All Headline News, April 26, [On-line], URL: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/1114510997.
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