Perhaps you are familiar with Dr Seuss’ “Thing 1 and Thing 2” of Cat In The Hat fame. Well, France’s new socialist government is proposing something similar. In order to accommodate new legislation legalizing same-sex marriage and gay adoption, France plans to replace the terms “mother” and “father” with the terms “parent 1” and “parent 2” on all legal documents, including birth certificates. Obviously, when two females marry, there are no “fathers,” and when two males marry, there are no “mothers.” The French government hopes to avoid any legal issues by using gender neutral terms in their legal documents.
Sadly, the United States is not far behind France in its pro-gay agenda. Efforts to normalize homosexuality are intensifying. In 2009 the State of California established May 22nd as “Harvey Milk Day.” People, including public school students (K-12) are to use this day to celebrate the acceptance of homosexuality. This year in California, a State Senator has crafted a bill that would prohibit what is known as “gay therapy.” Gay therapy is any religious or other instruction or effort that is intended to discourage the practice of homosexuality. It even prohibits parents from teaching their own children against the gay lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Bible teaching has not changed with respect to homosexuality and gay marriage. Paul told the saints at Rome, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are against nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:26-27). For those who claim that only “the gospels” of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John constitute moral and spiritual law, let me point out that Paul claimed to preach “the gospel” to the saints at Rome (Romans 1:15). The Roman letter was a part of “the gospel” of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, Paul claimed to speak on behalf of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:37). God condemns homosexuality today just as He did under previous spiritual administrations. Homosexuality was condemned under Patriarchal Law (Genesis 19:5 + Jude 7), Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:13), and it is condemned today under Gospel Law today (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10). Like bestiality, adultery and unmarried heterosexual sex, homosexuality violates God’s plan for man and His purpose for human sexuality.
Obviously, “gay marriage” cannot be authorized if gay sex is not authorized, but we have more than just this inference to learn from. Jesus authorized marriage only between a “male” and a “female” (Matthew 19:4-5). There is no Bible authority for “gay” or “same-sex marriage.” The courts of men may allow it as a part of “non-discrimination” laws, and the people of a state or country might uphold it in some referendum, but God does not approve of gay marriage. People have a tendency to gradually accept what those around them accept. However, we must not accept what God condemns.
It should be observed that God does not even approve of all heterosexual marriages. Though human courts may grant marriages to about anyone, a person has no right to marry another while God holds him bound to his original mate. Romans 7:2-3 teaches that marriage is a life-long contract. People must not “sunder” what God has joined together (Matthew 19:6). One commits adultery by “marrying another” while his mate lives. The only exception to this rule is given by Jesus in Matthew 19:9: One may divorce his mate “for fornication” and marry another. “Fornication” includes all types of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and bestiality.
France may change “mothers and fathers” to “parents 1 and 2” and the United States may continue to embrace and celebrate gay marriage. However, God’s word remains unchanged – His Law is “forever settled in Heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Let us respect the free-agency of others, but let us not accept their sinful behavior. Let us not become desensitized to unnatural and evil practices. Let us “abhor that which is evil” (Romans 12:9).
–Tim Haile