Part 1 – Why Christians Lost* the Battle for “Traditional Marriage”

gay win supreme court(Part 1 in a 3-part reflection on the times)

Any day now the Supreme Court is going to announce its decision on Obergefell vs. Hodges, one of the most paradigm-shifting cases in its 226-year history. At stake is whether the definition of marriage that has stood for millennia – that is the union of one man and one women – is in need of a makeover in order to include same-sex couples. Personally, I expect their decision to be 5 – 4 against the traditional, default position. But even if it simply moves the homophile agenda forward rather than granting it the blank check it’s been lobbying for, the die is cast. The center of the target for human sexuality toward which all of us have been designed, programmed and then proscribed by our Creator to aim is eventually going to be completely erased here in America (and most of the so-called First World) as far as man-made laws and dominant public mores are concerned.

You can count on it.

The reasons for this extraordinary, rapid shift in legal and public opinion – likely unprecedented in American and perhaps even world history – are many and varied. But as an observer looking through the lens of a Christian worldview there is, in my opinion, one key straw that did the camel in. The “meat” of American culture is rotting because the “salt has lost its savor.” (Matt. 5:13)

There are many ways in which the Church collectively and Christians individually have become lukewarm (Rev. 3:15, 16) and have thus failed to retain our inherited saltiness. (I know we’re dealing with metaphors here. But this is an example where literal chemistry still applies. Run lukewarm water over a block of salt and behold: it melts and you’re left with some tepid, briny water that is only good for helping people poop or throw-up.) Among them:

1. Worldliness – compromise in matters relating to Lordship; chastity (pre-marital sex, pornography, adultery, etc.); gender roles; the sanctity of marriage (unbiblical divorce and remarriage); soaking up entertainments that have championed the post-modern-sexual (pomosexual) ethos; worldly dating patterns and ideas concerning human sexuality (e.g. that a person can’t live a full life unless they are partnered and having great sex); etc..

2. Our failure to obey our God-given mandate to “tend, protect and cultivate” the broader world (Gen. 1:28; 2:15) – which includes a focused engagement in culture-forming arenas such as academia, the arts and politics.

3. Handing the majority of our children over to Pharaoh to be educated – and hence – indoctrinated in a humanistic, relativistic, and pomosexual worldview.

4. Calling it “traditional marriage” and primarily defending it as such rather than taking out the sharp, two-edged sword of presuppositional apologetics and boldly standing with God and biblical marriage. There isn’t time here to develop this somewhat complicated distinction. But by ceding the terms of the debate to the humanists and their fallacious insistence that it take place solely on “religiously neutral” grounds, we have fallen into the Proverbs 26:4 pit: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” (For the reader who understands this distinction, I am not suggesting that natural law arguments don’t play a key role in our broader apologetic. But we should no more lead with them than we should prefer working by moonlight rather than by the full light of day.)

5. Not understanding the times and how the church is called to do respond. (1 Chron. 12:32) See all the above plus the ridiculous reactions of too many pastors and Christians towards homosexuality. Among them: treating it as almost an unpardonable sin and the same-sex attracted person as a separate category of sinner; thinking and acting as if such inclinations are a choice; that every individual homosexual fits neatly into the categories outlined in Romans 1:21-32; and that a couple of prayers, some deliverance, or just getting married to a member of the opposite sex will invariably eliminate homosexual impulses. I could go on and list dozens of other bone-headed responses and clichés I’ve heard Christians use that haven’t even reached the pathetic threshold of “healing the wounds of people slightly.” (Jer. 6:14)

6. A lack of consecration in regard to the divine engines of prayer, fasting and worship. There is a profoundly spiritual component to this struggle (Eph. 6:12). And it is folly and to neglect the spiritual weapons the Lord of Host has granted us for the battle. (2 Cor. 10:4)

7. Fumbling and even ignoring outright our call to boldly proclaim and defend (as well as model; see #1) what the Bible says about human sexuality generally and homosexuality specifically. The bottom-line? When truth falls – stumbles, is unproclaimed and undefended – in the public square, darkness and confusion settle over the people. Justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance. (Isa. 59:14) And so normalizing homosexuality begins to first look plausible…and finally necessary.

In Part 2, I will develop this last point a bit more, particularly in regard to the so-called millennial generation upon whose shoulders much of the battle but most of the blowback for losing it will fall. Just what is the “truth” concerning homosexuality we as Christians are called to proclaim and defend? The answer is  perhaps a bit more complex than the stereotypical “The Bible says it and that settles it!” mantra allows. And in Part 3, I will suggest a “modest proposal” to the statistical majority of millennials who have come to believe that God is OK with people being gay.

 
* Lost… for now. As Christians, we should ever keep in mind the implications of Jesus’ bruised heel over the serpent’s crushed head. (Gen. 3:15) We should maintain a strong confidence in the power of light to vanquish darkness; grace to triumph over sin; love to conquer death; truth to cast down lies; and leaven of the Kingdom to eventually work through the loaf. (Matt. 13:33) We should boldly believe and confess that the God of peace will eventually crush Satan under our feet even as He did for the early Christians who suffered under the anti-Christ persecutions of Nero, Domitian and the Roman emperor cult. (Rom. 16:20) Observing the flow of both Biblical and secular history, we understand that sometimes people and nations have to go backward and down before they can take the next step forward and up. We should believe that our best days are yet before us – though they may only be seen by our children or some other future generation. The profound loss of Christian civilization and the captivity we are and will experience will be temporary. Out of the ashes of a spent, dissipated America, a humble, Godly remnant will arise, repent and rebuild. There will be seed in the stump! (Isa. 6:13)

247 Comments

  1. Davididoks on February 9, 2025 at 6:32 pm

    http://slot88.company/# Banyak kasino menawarkan permainan langsung yang seru

  2. WillieGog on February 9, 2025 at 5:50 pm

    Kasino menawarkan pengalaman bermain yang seru https://garuda888.top/# Jackpot progresif menarik banyak pemain

  3. Thomasral on February 9, 2025 at 5:03 pm

    Pemain sering berbagi tips untuk menang: preman69 slot – preman69 slot

  4. Aaronpelty on February 9, 2025 at 4:25 pm

    slot demo rupiah slot demo pg gratis Kasino di Bali menarik banyak pengunjung

  5. Davididoks on February 9, 2025 at 2:21 pm

    http://bonaslot.site/# Slot menawarkan berbagai jenis permainan bonus

  6. WillieGog on February 9, 2025 at 1:38 pm

    Kasino memiliki suasana yang energik dan menyenangkan https://preman69.tech/# Slot menawarkan kesenangan yang mudah diakses

  7. Thomasral on February 9, 2025 at 12:46 pm

    Slot menjadi daya tarik utama di kasino: slotdemo – demo slot pg

  8. Jamespeasp on February 9, 2025 at 12:18 pm

    Kasino menyediakan layanan pelanggan yang baik http://slot88.company/# Slot modern memiliki grafik yang mengesankan

  9. Davididoks on February 9, 2025 at 9:51 am

    http://bonaslot.site/# Kasino di Jakarta memiliki berbagai pilihan permainan

  10. WillieGog on February 9, 2025 at 8:58 am

    Banyak pemain mencari mesin dengan RTP tinggi http://bonaslot.site/# Slot menjadi daya tarik utama di kasino

  11. Aaronpelty on February 9, 2025 at 8:34 am

    demo slot pg akun demo slot Pemain bisa menikmati slot dari kenyamanan rumah

  12. Thomasral on February 9, 2025 at 7:55 am

    Pemain harus memahami aturan masing-masing mesin: slot demo – slot demo

  13. Jamespeasp on February 9, 2025 at 7:19 am

    Mesin slot menawarkan berbagai tema menarik https://preman69.tech/# Banyak pemain mencari mesin dengan RTP tinggi

  14. Davididoks on February 9, 2025 at 5:01 am

    https://garuda888.top/# Permainan slot bisa dimainkan dengan berbagai taruhan

  15. WillieGog on February 9, 2025 at 4:53 am

    Banyak kasino memiliki promosi untuk slot http://garuda888.top/# Kasino di Indonesia menyediakan hiburan yang beragam

  16. DavidSkiva on February 9, 2025 at 2:17 am

    discount drug pharmacy: drug mart – discount drug pharmacy

  17. Charleswam on February 9, 2025 at 1:42 am

    offshore pharmacy no prescription https://megaindiapharm.shop/# Mega India Pharm

  18. Michaeltot on February 9, 2025 at 12:13 am

    prescription free canadian pharmacy https://xxlmexicanpharm.com/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies

  19. Portercal on February 8, 2025 at 10:18 pm

    mexican drugstore online mexican rx online mexico pharmacies prescription drugs

  20. DavidSkiva on February 8, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    easy canadian pharm: canadian pharmacy prices – easy canadian pharm

  21. Charleswam on February 8, 2025 at 9:04 pm

    pharmacy discount coupons https://xxlmexicanpharm.com/# pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa

  22. Michaeltot on February 8, 2025 at 8:06 pm

    canadian pharmacy world coupons https://familypharmacy.company/# family pharmacy

  23. DavidSkiva on February 8, 2025 at 4:34 pm

    easy canadian pharm: pharmacy com canada – reputable canadian pharmacy

  24. Charleswam on February 8, 2025 at 4:34 pm

    rxpharmacycoupons http://megaindiapharm.com/# Mega India Pharm

  25. Michaeltot on February 8, 2025 at 3:54 pm

    online pharmacy discount code https://discountdrugmart.pro/# discount drug mart pharmacy

  26. Charleswam on February 8, 2025 at 12:03 pm

    online pharmacy no prescription needed https://xxlmexicanpharm.com/# buying prescription drugs in mexico

  27. DavidSkiva on February 8, 2025 at 11:46 am

    reddit canadian pharmacy: onlinepharmaciescanada com – canada drugs online review

  28. Michaeltot on February 8, 2025 at 11:46 am

    online pharmacy no prescription http://discountdrugmart.pro/# discount drugs

  29. Michaeltot on February 8, 2025 at 7:36 am

    prescription drugs from canada https://familypharmacy.company/# online pharmacy delivery usa

  30. DavidSkiva on February 8, 2025 at 6:24 am

    mexican mail order pharmacies: pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa – mexican rx online

  31. Williedeert on February 8, 2025 at 3:50 am

    discount drug mart: drug mart – drugmart

  32. Portercal on February 8, 2025 at 1:31 am

    medication from mexico pharmacy xxl mexican pharm xxl mexican pharm

  33. Charleswam on February 8, 2025 at 1:22 am

    canadian pharmacy discount coupon https://easycanadianpharm.shop/# thecanadianpharmacy

  34. DavidSkiva on February 8, 2025 at 12:21 am

    MegaIndiaPharm: Mega India Pharm – MegaIndiaPharm

  35. Michaeltot on February 7, 2025 at 10:51 pm

    canadian pharmacy without prescription https://familypharmacy.company/# family pharmacy

  36. Williedeert on February 7, 2025 at 10:10 pm

    online pharmacy delivery usa: Online pharmacy USA – Online pharmacy USA

  37. Charleswam on February 7, 2025 at 7:34 pm

    canada pharmacy not requiring prescription https://discountdrugmart.pro/# no prescription pharmacy paypal

  38. Michaeltot on February 7, 2025 at 6:22 pm

    canadian pharmacy no prescription needed http://xxlmexicanpharm.com/# reputable mexican pharmacies online

  39. DavidSkiva on February 7, 2025 at 6:17 pm

    Mega India Pharm: top online pharmacy india – MegaIndiaPharm

  40. Williedeert on February 7, 2025 at 4:30 pm

    Mega India Pharm: MegaIndiaPharm – Mega India Pharm

  41. Portercal on February 7, 2025 at 2:42 pm

    cheap canadian pharmacy online my canadian pharmacy canada discount pharmacy

  42. Michaeltot on February 7, 2025 at 1:54 pm

    canadian pharmacy world coupons https://megaindiapharm.shop/# MegaIndiaPharm

  43. Charleswam on February 7, 2025 at 1:47 pm

    drugstore com online pharmacy prescription drugs http://xxlmexicanpharm.com/# xxl mexican pharm

  44. DavidSkiva on February 7, 2025 at 12:03 pm

    best canadian pharmacy no prescription: online pharmacy discount code – online pharmacy delivery usa

  45. Williedeert on February 7, 2025 at 10:40 am

    easy canadian pharm: easy canadian pharm – easy canadian pharm

  46. Michaeltot on February 7, 2025 at 9:34 am

    foreign pharmacy no prescription https://megaindiapharm.com/# india online pharmacy

  47. Charleswam on February 7, 2025 at 7:55 am

    online pharmacy prescription http://discountdrugmart.pro/# discount drug mart pharmacy

Leave a Comment