This morning on a Lynchburg radio broadcast a local pastor e-mailed to say that, in the wake of the California Supreme Court decision authorizing same-sex marriage there, he hoped that all homosexuals would just move to California.
I think this is faulty reasoning. I'll explain momentarily.
First, let me say that I was disappointed by the court's decision. In its 4-3 ruling, the court overturned Proposition 22, an initiative (not a constitutional amendment) passed in 2000 by more than 61 percent of state voters to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. With its Thursday ruling, the court determined that the will of the people apparently does not matter.
Attorneys representing several pro-traditional family organizations will seek a stay to prevent the court's ruling from taking effect in 30 days. Liberty Counsel, an affiliate ministry of Liberty University which represents the Campaign for California Families in defense of the state's marriage laws, intends to file a motion on behalf of the group, asking the court to stay its opinion, pending the outcome of a November vote on a state constitutional amendment that would preserve traditional marriage.
'In November, the people will have an opportunity to overrule the Court's decision by passing a constitutional amendment – and California's voters must respond in strength and number,' said Ron Prentice, executive director of California Family Council. (Presently, 26 states have passed constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage.)
Liberty Counsel founder Mathew D. Staver, who serves as dean of the Liberty University School of Law, says that more than 1.1 million Californians have been signed on to protect marriage though the California Marriage Protection Act, which, if passed, would permanently protect the definition of marriage in the state. If more than 700,000 of the signatures are deemed valid, the act will appear on the November state ballot.
The amendment simply states: 'Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.' Mat Staver predicts that the state high court's ruling will do nothing but unite the people of the state to protect traditional marriage. 'The people will have the last word,' he stated.
Now, back to the pastor's comment on today's radio broadcast. In John 14:6, Jesus stated, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me' (NKJV).
As Christians, we are to be about the Father's business by persistently telling others about Jesus and how His death, burial and resurrection paved the way to heaven for all. Notice that I said all. That certainly includes homosexuals.
When Jesus looks upon us, he doesn't see gay or straight, black or white (or anything in between), rich or poor. He sees only people in need of the Savior. We must also see people in this way and compassionately reach out with the Gospel of Christ to everyone.
Being gay doesn't send anyone to hell. Rejecting Jesus Christ does. It behooves all of us who have called on the name of Christ to pledge anew our commitment to be apologists of the faith and intrepid representatives of Christ in the culture. We can't simply hope that people go away if they disagree with us.
As Romans 1:6 reminds us, we must never retreat from being envoys of the Gospel: 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes '.'
While I am committed to supporting the effort to protect traditional marriage in our nation, I am also devoted to reaching out in the Spirit of Christ to everyone.
NOTE: Remember that tomorrow (May 17) is Armed Forces Day (http://www.defenselink.mil/afd