What's the Deal with Same Sex Marriage?
Today I came across a newsflash about DC’s decision to recognize gay marriages. The issue of gay marriage as recognizing the rights of homosexuals is the popular vote. In fact, anyone challenging the idea is shunned in the most militant fashion.
Gay marriage is an issue of morals, for all legislation reflects someone’s morality. The issue is whose morality is being legislated, and on what basis do we know what is “right” and “wrong?”
I can respect the idea that the basic human rights of homosexuals must be preserved (they cannot be denied food, clothing, shelter, and jobs.) Moreover, there is not justification for gay bashing.
Still, there is something sacred about marriage, that God established it as a covenant between a man and a woman. The idea that “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) certainly signifies a heterosexual union, which by logical extension includes the commission to “be fruitful and multiply” (cf. Gen. 1:28; 8:17). There is both biological and theological support for the moral rightness of heterosexual unions.
There is, however, no basis for thinking that the creation of laws that affirm gay unions is the right thing to do in our society, and it is ultimately rooted in a relativistic way of thinking. On what basis would one think toady it is ok for heterosexual unions and gay unions be ok, but still find polygamous relationships to be abhorrent. What about age? Can an adult marry a child? What about bestiality? Can a man marry his dog? What basis does anyone find reason for these to be wrong?
There are also many other technical legal and philosophical issues to take into consideration. The following article by Francis Beckwith flushes those things out in greater detail:
http://www.equip.org/articles/the-same-sex-marriage-debate
Peace
Warren
Gay marriage is an issue of morals, for all legislation reflects someone’s morality. The issue is whose morality is being legislated, and on what basis do we know what is “right” and “wrong?”
I can respect the idea that the basic human rights of homosexuals must be preserved (they cannot be denied food, clothing, shelter, and jobs.) Moreover, there is not justification for gay bashing.
Still, there is something sacred about marriage, that God established it as a covenant between a man and a woman. The idea that “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) certainly signifies a heterosexual union, which by logical extension includes the commission to “be fruitful and multiply” (cf. Gen. 1:28; 8:17). There is both biological and theological support for the moral rightness of heterosexual unions.
There is, however, no basis for thinking that the creation of laws that affirm gay unions is the right thing to do in our society, and it is ultimately rooted in a relativistic way of thinking. On what basis would one think toady it is ok for heterosexual unions and gay unions be ok, but still find polygamous relationships to be abhorrent. What about age? Can an adult marry a child? What about bestiality? Can a man marry his dog? What basis does anyone find reason for these to be wrong?
There are also many other technical legal and philosophical issues to take into consideration. The following article by Francis Beckwith flushes those things out in greater detail:
http://www.equip.org/articles/the-same-sex-marriage-debate
Peace
Warren
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