Scriptural Response to Same-Sex "Marriage"
Note: This lesson outline for 6/28 is in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges requiring all 50 states to license and recognize "marriages" between persons of the same sex.
#lovewins
Parable of the Good Samaritan (Read: Luke 10:25-37)
Cultural expectations required Samaritans and Jews to hate each other. Many people (wrongfully) expect the same between Christians and LGBT supporters. However, Jesus expects us to love and care for everyone (straight or gay) without hesitation. In school, for example, you should never participate or stand by in the bullying of a classmate for any reason at all.
Romans 13:8-10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
A Christian cannot claim to obey the laws of God if he does not love his neighbor.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The larger context of 1 Corinthians 13 is on how Christians should act in times of conflicts. While a Christian should not be “arrogant or rude”, love also requires that we should “not rejoice at wrongdoing”.
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
God ties love for him and obedience to him. You cannot have one without the other.
God’s design for sexuality and marriage
Jesus on Sexuality and Marriage (Mark 10:5-8)
Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”
God’s perfect design in the beginning is for man and woman to be complimentary to each other. “For this reason” marriage is instituted, so that the two become one, and so a family can arise where there is both a father and a mother.
The Exchange of God is the Root of All Sin (Romans 1:18-32)
(excerpt below; read the whole passage)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (…)
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (…).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
All these passages should not be used hatefully against supporters of same-sex marriage, but rather to realize that all sin (whether sexual or not) comes as a result of not surrendering ourselves to God. Only God can change all of our hearts “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). So Christians should call all people, without distinction, to follow Jesus.
Christian Reaction
Peace (John 16:33)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
“Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:9-20)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (…)
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.