Breaking our hearts

Weddings are supposed to be celebrated but today in California a number of so-called "weddings" took place that are breaking our hearts.

Today is the first day that marriage licenses can be issued to same-sex couples in California. A state Supreme Court decision last month overturning a ban on gay marriage went into effect at the close of business today. San Francisco, known for a major gay population, held a ceremony for one couple while dozens of other couples got "married" in a handful of smaller county offices throughout the state this evening.

Proponents of same-sex "marriage" have a laundry list of why it's the "right" thing to do. And we have to admit that many of their arguments are effective, especially those based on the idea of social justice. They demand an end to homophobia and insensitivity. They talk about equality and justice. Who wants to say they are against such goals.

But these arguments are based on a secular worldview, on the values that modern society thinks are most important. They completely ignore the most compelling argument against homosexuality - God condems it (see Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; and 1 Timothy 1:9-10). God designed human sexuality to be enjoyed solely within the bounds of one-man, one-woman marriage. Any sexual relationship outside of that design – heterosexual or homosexual – falls short of God’s standard.

God is not a "spoil sport" whose sole purpose is take all the fun out of life by saying "Thou shall not" do this or that. In fact, He wants only the best for us, and since He made us, He knows exactly what that is. He also wants us to know how to achieve what He wants for us, so He spelled it all out pretty clearly in the Bible.

Like so many other behaviors discussed in the Bible, God condems homosexual conduct because it is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large. It is by definition unnatural, and as such is associated with negative physical and psychological health effects. While the origins of same-sex attractions may be complex, there is no convincing evidence that a homosexual identity is ever something genetic or inborn.

But just like every other sin, God can, will, and wants to forgive those who engage in homosexual behavior. He loves them just as much as anyone else, all of whom have "sinned and fallen short." As Christians, we are called to "love the sinner and hate the sin," extending sympathy to those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions, helping them to overcome those attractions.