“Recalculating” Marriage

During the past 10-15 years, God’s original design for marriage has come under attack. Activists have used commercial and public media, political correctness, public education and courts to advance LBGT and same-sex marriage agendas. For evidence of their success, one only needs to look at the change in business policies, curriculum, legislation, court decisions and church doctrinal statements. God’s means for implementing His purposes for mankind include marriage and the family – the building blocks of society. Rather than maintaining God’s original design for marriage, Christians have become overwhelmed, complacent, confused and basically silent on marriage and related issues. Something needs to be done.

I believe that Christians need a book like “Recalculating” Marriage for three reasons: (1) the secular influence on sexual behavior; (2) the express, implicit and/or tacit support by Christians of immorality; and (3) the 2015 decision by the United States Supreme Court that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Therefore, I have written “Recalculating” Marriage to help Christians face the facts about marriage; review God’s revelation on marriage; and reshape society’s view of marriage.

In my opinion, churches are not immune to the moral decline in American society. Recently, I learned about an informal survey of 25 to 35-year-old members in a large Protestant church. The survey revealed that 50% held secular or non-biblical views regarding homosexual practices and same-sex marriage. Shocked, I decided to do some research.

My research uncovered a few discrepancies. I discovered that the overwhelming majority of Americans in dozens of states have voted to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Yet, in 2015 the Supreme Court decided in favor of same-sex marriage. In his descent, Justice Antonin G. Scalia wrote:

These Justices know that limiting marriage to one man and one woman is contrary to reason; they know that an institution as old as government itself, and accepted by every nation in history until 15 years ago, cannot possibly be supported by anything other than ignorance or bigotry. And they are willing to say that any citizen who does not agree with that, who adheres to what was, until 15 years ago, the unanimous judgment of all generations and all societies, stands against the Constitution.

I also found that legal, workplace and tax benefits have increased for homosexuals and same-sex married couples. I believe that these discrepancies have occurred for several reasons:

Local courts and legislatures in many states have redefined the marriage union to include same-sex marriage.

The federal government has redefined sex – male or female – to include gender identity and expression. That is, the sex people believe themselves to be at any given moment.

Citizens are losing rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, because a growing number of schools, towns, cities and states have added sexual orientation and gender identity to non-discrimination policies and laws. In turn, this has increased the fear of lawsuits and/or penalties from the local, state and federal governments.

The increase of gay-straight alliances in schools. According to The 2013 National School Climate Survey (pg. 91), “half (50.3%) of LGBT students said that their school had Gay-Straight Alliances.”

Praise given by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (“GLAAD”) to media and actors who normalizes LGBT people.

Epithets, such as “anti-gay” and “homophobic,” used to shut down dialogue and malign those who believe homosexuality is not God’s will.

Slogans like “marriage equality” employed to stifle opposition to homosexuality.

World views oppose biblical teaching on sexuality and human relationships – especially marriage.

Non-profits fear losing tax exemptions or being named in a lawsuit.

Virtual non-existence of pastoral support and church guidance on social issues.

The direct and indirect effects of overt homosexuality and same-sex marriage laws on those struggling with same-sex attractions and those trapped by shame, fear, distrust, hurt and lies associated with homosexuality.

The number of Americans identifying with the LGBT lifestyle has increased in recent decades.

In his 1948 book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, Alfred Kinsey shocked the world by announcing that 10% of the male population is gay.

A 1993 Janus Report estimated that 9% of men and 5% of women had more than "occasional" homosexual relationships.

The 2000 U.S. Census Bureau found that homosexual couples constitute less than 1% of American households.

The Family Research Report says around 2-3% of men and 2% of women are homosexual or bisexual.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force estimates 3% to 8% of both sexes are homosexuals.

“Recalculating” Marriage is an attempt to reverse the moral decline in marriage.

Moral Necessity

Let me suggest reasons why we need morals. You and I might believe that whatever we think or do is, let’s say, “our business.” As free citizens, we have the right to think and do whatever we want. That is, as long as no one else is hurt, or as long as we are not caught. We can drink to excess, cheat on taxes, commit adultery, steal cigarettes, be selfish and lie. Private thoughts and even public actions are not so terrible, we say – certainly not immoral – as long as no one is harmed. Either way, who really knows what God (or, the force) considers moral or immoral? Everything is relative.

But we do know what is moral and immoral! Or, I should say, we knew without a doubt before our so-called “liberation” in the 1960s and 1970s. Our conscience (or, heart) intuitively confirmed what was moral and immoral before our heart became calloused. Our parents also preached it before they were considered prehistoric, and the Bible revealed it before it became irrelevant. In fact, in our childhood dreams, we probably called to God; acknowledged His presence; and asked for His protection.

In ancient times, humans recognized in nature the evidence of God’s existence, some of His attributes and Eternal Godhead. Without completely understanding why, they intuitively knew and took comfort in God’s sovereignty. They intuitively knew God was love. And He loved and cared for them. They intuitively knew that God was just, fair and must punish sin. In modern times, our actions indicate that humans willingly ignore God’s authority, as Creator, and their responsibility to Him. We have lost our moral compass.

As citizens, we must regard the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage as final. As Christians, we should debate whether it is rational, logical, and moral. In my opinion, same-sex marriage is not rational, because it perverts the natural and healthy use of organs. Same-sex marriage also is not logical, because it circumvents the natural method of procreation. And most importantly, same-sex marriage is not moral, because it perverts God’s original design for marriage, sexual relations and, therefore, God’s authority over mankind.