In spite of the overwhelming support I’ve received for addressing the Biblical definition of “marriage” in our weekend services, I’ve still had a few people question why we are encouraging our congregation to vote “Yes” on Proposition 102 thereby creating a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a “union between a man and a woman.”
Most of the recent polls conducted have revealed the fact that there is a high percentage of Christians who are still undecided when it comes to this issue. Case in point: the California churches who failed to mobilize and act when this issue was recently on the ballot. As a result, same sex marriage was legalized thereby creating significant ramifications for churches who refuse to perform them. (Since the election, hundreds of California pastors have mobilized their churches and have successfully got the issue back on the ballot for November.)
Many of the recent court rulings have suggested that a failure of churches to perform same-sex marriages, since it is now legal (in certain states and countries), is tantamount to racial discrimination and may be punishable by fines. Our own church attorney has advised us that if this measure doesn’t pass we will have to incorporate language into our church bylaws prohibiting same sex marriages from being performed on our campuses or we run the risk of being sued for discrimination.
Furthermore, if same sex couples are allowed the right to be married in California, are they allowed the right to divorce in Arizona? And if they divorce in Arizona are we then acknowledging that they are truly married in our state?
The point is… we believe this is Pandora ’s Box and we have the moral responsibility to mobilize the church to act. That’s why we have joined with hundreds of churches across the state to urge our congregation to vote “yes” on Proposition 102.
I realize that there is already a law on the books preventing same sex marriage in our state, but like California, it could be overturned at the whims of an activist judge unless it becomes a constitutional amendment.
None of this is to say that we don’t have a deep love and compassion for those struggling with homosexuality. This isn’t a stand against anyone; it is a stand for the preservation of a Biblical institution that has served as the bedrock of civilization since the beginning of time.
For more information on this issue go to www.yesformarriage.com
