We are now well over 100 posts on our blog. During that time, I have been more than happy to let Melissa do all the posting on "our" blog, but today I have something I need to say. If any of you have seen the December 15 issue of Newsweek Magazine, you'll easily guess what I am about to write. The cover of the magazine reads "The Religious Case for Gay Marriage."
Let me start by saying a few things. First, my initial reaction was to not even read the article. However, I really was curious at to how the Bible supports gay marriage and I didn't want to comment on the article without examining all the evidence...so I read it. Second, I am not at all surprised that Newsweek would use this as a cover story. For anyone who has read Newsweek more than once or twice, you know that Newsweek and its stories/ideas are about as liberal/left as they come. Lastly, I know some who read our blog may not agree with my views on gay marriage. Out of respect, I ask you to read on.
Perhaps my biggest problem with the article stems from how poorly it is written. Honestly, I believed the author (Lisa Miller) would have at least one compelling argument in support of her article. However, after reading the article twice I am still dumbfounded at the poor quality of her writing and her arguments. Oh yeah, and the fact that the entire article skews the truth so badly that you think she's writing this as a joke...except she's not.
She starts by arguing that no "contemporary heterosexual couple" would in their right mind use the teachings of the Bible in their marriage because the Bible is full of men who were polygamists and slept with their servants. She furthers that argument by saying that, "no sensible modern person wants marriage—theirs or anyone else's —to look in its particulars anything like what the Bible describes." Clearly Miller has little or no understanding of the people she talks of, particularly Abraham and Jacob. While her article makes these men seem like a bunch of dirty adulterers, a careful study of the Bible reveals quite the opposite. It is downright offensive that she suggests that King David and Jonathan were gay lovers, whose private affairs can only be left to "our imaginations." Where does she get the gumption to demonize a man like Abraham? He was a man of character, wisdom and righteousness far beyond her comprehension. Further more, her appeal to modern/contemporary thinking are very revealing into how modern society has taken great liberty in changing God's truth.
I think it's ridiculous that people think God should change his commandments to fit social norms. As to the argument that only man and women can "be fruitful and multiply" Miller responds that this argument no longer applies because "the Bible authors could never have imagined the brave new world of international adoption and assisted reproductive technology." So let me get this straight...gay marriage was only wrong because people in ancient times didn't know about adoption and artificial insemination? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Additionally, she ignores the fact that prophets of old saw our day on more than one occasion, but more importantly implies that God (who gave man the intellectual horsepower to develop these new technologies) didn't know these things would be an issue. Apparently, now that God sees how smart we are he should change his commandments relating to marriage. She furthers her modern day argument by saying that "abominations" then are not so abominable now. For example, because the Bible forbids eating certain kinds of meat and now we do eat them, the same goes for homosexuality. I think it goes without saying, that's a pretty big stretch of the imagination.
Miller also uses Christ's teachings and life as support for gay marriage, yes you read that right. She says he doesn't even support traditional marriage but rather a "radical kind of family" because he told his disciples to leave their families and "follow me." And she says he never outright denounces homosexuality. Ok, the follow me comment is taken completely out of context, as becoming a disciple of Christ hardly means we shouldn't have families. Further more, it clearly doesn't support gay marriage so how is that good evidence? I've heard a lot of arguments in favor of gay marriage...to say Christ supported it, has to be the dumbest.
Finally she concludes that if opposition to gay marriage isn't a Biblical teaching (because as she says the Bible never says the words "gay marriage"), then Christians opposition to gay marriage is rooted solely in our discomfort with gay marriage/sex. She then chronicles how Christianity throughout the ages has continuously changed their teachings from those of the Bible to keep up with new developments. She says that the Christian "practice of inclusion, even in defiance of social convention, the reaching out to outcasts, the emphasis on togetherness and community over and against chaos, depravity, indifference—all...argue for gay marriage." To this I say, I have nothing against gay people. I also believe God loves them, but loving them and condoning gay marriage are far from the same thing. And I belong to a Church that has NOT changed its teachings so it can be popular, so don't make generalizations!
I found it particularly interesting that there were no attempts to bash the Mormon Church in this article, especially in light of all the public attention it has gotten in the wake of Prop 8. The reason I believe she leaves us out? None of her arguments fly in context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For starters, we have the Book of Mormon, which clarifies the teachings of the Bible as it has in many respects been changed by the hand of man over time. Additionally, arguments that ancient revelation is not in touch with modern society don't apply when you have a Latter-day Prophet. The Prophet of God IN OUR DAY has emphatically affirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman ONLY.
I think it's sad that the media has become so bold that they feel they can stomp on the very beliefs upon which this nation was founded. Satan no longer feels the need to hide his attacks on God's commandments. On a positive note, the outrage at this article caused so many comments that the Newsweek site had to temporarily close and open a separate spot for comments on the issue. Numerous religious leaders around the country have voiced their disgust at its inaccuracy, yet Newsweek's editor maintains that the article puts forth a valid and factual position. Please DO NOT let them get away with this!
My point is writing this blog is to beg all of you to not be lulled into complacency on this issue!! If we refuse to stand up for what we believe, Satan wins. Please...speak out against the falsehoods and misconceptions put forth in this article. I can promise you, the battle over marriage is far from over.
