Past Time to End State's Same-Sex Marriage Ban?
Well, let’s see, it’s been all of three weeks since this writer had something to say on this subject (see June 29, 2014). That’s about how long the newspaper (Orlando Sentinel) can leave the topic alone (actually, it’s much less than that). This promotion of homosexuality came in the form of an editorial on July 6, 2014. The above title was at the top of the editorial page; for this article, a question mark was simply added. It is appropriate to point out a few facts concerning the statements made in it, which are “unexpectedly” one-sided. Who would have seen this coming?
It begins by referencing a vote taken six years ago, in which Florida residents amended the state constitution to forbid same-sex marriages. A quote from a protestor at that time is cited: “Time is on our side, and our rights will not be denied.” The editors think that was prophetic (all quotes are from page A17). Since they brought up the concept of “prophecy,” we reserve the right to say more about this subject. As for the pre-diction, one does not need to be Nostradamus (whose future speculations proved to be often vague) to see which side the news media is on. They have constantly treated the subject as a civil rights issue, which has never been proved but only assumed.
According to Associated Press, no less than Vice President Joe Biden called gay rights “the civil rights issue of our day.” Homosexuality is a choice—not a right. Everyone has a right to choose what is wrong. One can choose to become an alcoholic, an adulterer, a homosexual, or a swindler, but none of those behaviors is a civil right and should not be granted special privileges.
The editorial asserts that homosexual marriage bans have had their day and will soon be done away in every state. Following is their slant: “…judge after judge has reached the inescapable conclusion that this form of prohibition amounts to unconstitutional government-sanctioned discrimination.” The Sentinel is to be commended for their honesty about the way in which homosexual marriages have become legal—through judges. Votes were taken in a number of states, and the citizens voted against the idea. It has become legal usually through a judge. How many of these judges are liberal? The Sentinel did not try to make the case that they were conservative.
After noting that Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and four council members filed a friend-of-the-court brief with respect to a case before a Miami judge, the editorial went on to say that last year’s Supreme Court Decision which struck down the Defense of Marriage Act had been a tremendous influence on our courts. They cite Justice Kennedy as saying that DOMA imposed “a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages….” Speaking out against sin also places a stigma on someone. Ask Jeremiah. So what’s the point?
It’s a choice that people make. No one is forced to marry a homosexual. No one is forced to oppose it. We do so at our own risk. It would be much easier to say nothing at all. Kennedy makes no sense in this matter. The question—“Should a country allow two people of the same sex to marry?”—not does such create a stigma.
According to the newspaper, currently a vast majority of people support homosexual marriage in Florida. How could the public mood swing from 60% opposed to it in 2008 to 56% in favor of it in 2014. Oh, that’s right. We nearly forgot the constant bombardment on the part of the Sentinel and other media, who almost develop hernias from applauding so vigorously if a prominent sports figure comes out of the closet. That’s almost Nirvana for them.
The editorial spends a whole sentence noticing any arguments to the contrary and with a wave of the hand declares them nonsense. Somewhere in the background, the Bee Gees should be heard singing, “How Deep Is Your View.” Of course, the Sentinel has no qualms about judges overturning the voters in state after state because banning homosexual marriage is discrimination as far as they are concerned. So there!
What They Ignored
Why not begin with the Declaration of Independence? These words should sound familiar:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Creator did not endow anyone with the right to marry a person of the same sex. He created one woman for one man for life (Genesis 2:18-24). There is no right in the Constitution that authorizes marriage between two or more of the same sex (throuples, e.g.). No authority exists for polygamy, either. Should they be stigmatized for entering into those relationships? Don’t ask Justice Kennedy. By whose authority do any but a man and a woman enter into marriage, period?
Most everyone is still familiar with the city of Sodom, which yet serves as “an example” of God’s wrath for their sin, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). The rights we have are given to us by God, as our founding fathers declared. God grants us the freedom to sin (and bear the consequences), but it is never a “right.” The Sentinel has “exchanged the truth of God for the lie” (Romans 1:25). Rome and other nations that embraced homosexuality were destroyed. It works that way. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Unless repented of, sin will destroy us, too. Could that be prophetic?