Observations on Marriage

Throughout thousands of years, human cultures have interpreted marriage in a diversity of ways. In some places and times, a man has been allowed to marry more than one woman; in very rare cases, one woman has been allowed to marry more than one man. Only in the last few years, however, has any culture allowed a man to “marry” a man or a woman a woman.

These same-sex partnerships are something, but they are not marriage. We can insist, for the sake of fairness, that tin be called gold. We can shout it loud enough that some people begin to believe, perhaps passionately, that all metals deserve the right to be called gold. But it won't make it so.

Also, is anyone else tired of hearing proponents of homosexual marriage insist that those who do not approve of homosexual practices are driven either by hatred or fear? I for one neither hate nor fear homosexuals. Nor am I afraid to state that homosexual practice is wrong.

As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I try to bring the love of Christ to every person, however right or wrong their actions may be. I routinely minister to fellow human beings who abuse drugs, drink too much, sleep around, practice homosexuality, view pornography, or compulsively overeat (this last one being my own sin). We are all infinitely precious because we are made in the image of the creator of heaven and earth. At the same time, none of us should pretend that sin is not sin, for sin is a rejection of the unique gift human beings have been given by God.

“Aha!” you may say, “Another fundamentalist Christian trying to impose his values on the rest of us! You're free to believe whatever you want, but keep the church out of politics.”

Let's be clear about something. All civil and criminal law is about imposing values. The state imposes values about life (don't murder), property (don't steal), and marriage (a man can't marry another man). The question isn't whether or not values will be imposed, but whose values will be imposed. That's why it's important we not remain silent as the battle heats up on what is and is not marriage.

Western civilization is in the shape it's in because we can no longer agree on the basis for morality and law. For a definitive explanation of why we're in this mess, read Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue. In the mean time, consider this: whose values do you want to see become the law of the land?


Copyright 2003, Milton Stanley