Thought for the Day: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2: 24)
"Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11: 19-20)
A man and woman marry. They are united, joined together in Holy Matrimony, under God.
Joined ... to become One.
Not joined to become separated, to do their own thing, to want things their way and theirs alone.
But joined to become one, complete unit, with Christ at the center.
How do you help someone keep their marriage together? How far, how much do you intercede?
One-half of the couple knows it takes two to fail. Unfortunately, both halves need to know this. A marriage that is struggling is not about one person being right and the other person being wrong. There is a give-and-take.
Each person has their individual views... his and hers. But what about God's view. Do we consider Him in all we do or don't do. Do we reach out to Him, do we seek help together from Him, through Him, do we strive to be obedient to His commands, to live our lives together as He suggests, prefers, desires?
Where are our hearts leading us ... toward each other or bent elsewhere? Both want, desire, but is it each other?
God is all, everything we will ever need. Where do you think you are when you have forgotten the very One who saved you? Where do you go for refuge? Do you leave what you have and go elsewhere - perhaps to mom or dad or to another who will comfort you, bring you the solace and answers you believe you deserve.
Who will read these words? Who will take them to heart and cling to or return to God's truths, God's promises?
I struggle in my abilities to render aid to another. I find myself at a loss. A relationship can not be saved by a person outside the relationship. Only when the two who are married to each other are willing to work together is there hope for reconciliation. Both have to want a life together and for it to be better. God must be at the center, looking to Him, reading His word, Bible study, praying, fellowshipping among His people.
But to risk your future together for immediate satisfaction from any other source will result in a doomed marriage.
All of us struggle and sad to say, not all listen to God's still small voice, but instead, to their own inner thoughts. They strive to find another who will agree with their thoughts and beliefs and never hear God's words of wisdom, never listening, never waiting.
I Corinthians 13 tells us Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious. Love does not behave rudely. Love is not provoked. Love thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoings. Love bears all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things.
How patient are we with one another? How kind do we act? How much do we endure?
Are we truly united? Are we truly of one mind, one heart?
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hip Hip Hooray for Miss California
Those of us who advocate for one man-one woman marriage, who believe in God and what His word says, have rights too. ... a right to be heard, a right to stand up for our Christian beliefs.
Posted today on Baptist Press is the following article written by Michael Foust, BP assistant editor.
Despite pressure, Miss California stays true to Christian beliefs
LAS VEGAS-- It had all the elements of good TV drama, especially in 2009 America: a gay celebrity blogger asking a California beauty queen contestant a question about "gay marriage" during the Miss USA pageant, hosted in anything-goes Las Vegas.
Miss California, though, stood by her Christian beliefs, and some are wondering if it cost her the crown.
Carrie Prejean, 21, told a nationwide TV audience Sunday she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. She eventually finished runner-up to Miss North Carolina, but she says she has no regrets about her answer.
The fact that Prejean is from California -- where the high court legalized "gay marriage" last year only to have voters reverse that ruling by passing Proposition 8 -- adds to the controversy surrounding her comments.
"By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith," she told Fox News. "I'm glad I stayed true to myself."
She told NBC's "Today" show, "It's not about being politically correct. For me, it was being biblically correct." She added, regarding her missed opportunity to win the crown, "It wasn't what God wanted for my life that night."
Prejean is a student at San Diego Christian College in El Cajon just outside San Diego and a volunteer at Shadow Mountain Community Church's International Ministry Center, where she helps refugees learn English, the Christian Examiner reported. Shadow Mountain is a Southern Baptist church where popular TV and radio minister David Jeremiah is pastor. The Examiner reported Prejean is studying to become an elementary school special education teacher.
She has received a host of criticism and praise. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who is homosexual and as one of 12 judges was randomly picked to ask the question, posted a video on his website in which he called her a "dumb [expletive]" with "half a brain." He also said she "alienated so many people."
Chris Clark, pastor of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church in San Diego, applauded Prejean. He helped lead the effort in his area to get Christians behind Prop 8.
"She was extremely courageous, especially considering the venue. You're looking Perez Hilton in the eye and telling him, no offense, but this is what I believe. That is bold," Clark told Baptist Press. "That is exactly what we need more of, and she did it in a kind way and a very respectful way. She was great."
Mitch Fisk, vice president for enrollment and marketing at San Diego Christian College, said he was impressed by Prejean's character after overhearing a conversation she had with her adviser, whose office is just a few doors down from his. The conservation came last year after she had won the Miss California title.
"Keep in mind that this conversation took place with no one else around. The consistent themes were, 'I want to do what I can to have an impact' and 'I want to do what I can to take advantage of the situation that God has placed me in to have an impact,'" he told BP.
During the broadcast Hilton asked: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"
Prejean responded, "I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite[-sex] marriage. And you know what? I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anybody out there -- but that's how I was raised and ... I think that it should be between a man and a woman."
The crowd seemed to like her answer, and its applause was louder than the boos.
Keith Lewis, co-executive director of Miss California USA/Teen USA, submitted a statement to Hilton's web site in which he said he was "personally saddened and hurt" that Prejean "believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman." Lewis added, "Religious beliefs have no place in politics in the Miss CA family."
Hilton himself was quoted as saying Prejean "lost because of that question." Known for his bombastic statements, he said that if Prejean had won, "I would have gone up on stage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door." As one of the 12 TV judges, Hilton's score figured into deciding who won. The scores on the questions and answers, though, are not released publicly.
Ron Prentice, chairman of ProtectMarriage.com -- the official campaign behind Prop 8 -- released a statement thanking Prejean for "speaking her mind in support of traditional marriage."
"She represented the silent majority in America and expressed a point of view that over 7 million California voters also expressed just last November," Prentice said. "... Thank you, Miss California, for knowing the truth about marriage and standing up for it, even when you knew that your honest answer may hinder your chances for the crown of Miss USA."
Prentice further said that the "outcry from some activists in the gay community over Ms. Prejean's comments are indicative of how far they will go to force their same-sex marriage agenda on society."
Prejean told radio host Billy Bush that her sister "is a gay rights activist" who has "been to many, many rallies." But Prejean said her sister was proud of her because she stood up for her beliefs. Matt Lauer of NBC's Today show asked her if she wished she had given a more politically correct middle-of-the-road answer, which Hilton said she should have done.
"That goes against what I stand for," she said of such an answer. "And when I'm asked a specific question, I'm going to give a specific answer. I'm not going to stand in the middle."
Also posted today on SaveCalifornia.com ,
a leading West Coast nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing children and families, is the article:
Homosexual Activist Judge Displays Intolerance, Hatred
and Retaliation Against Miss California Carrie Prejean
Sacramento, CALIF.-- A leading West Coast pro-family organization is defending Miss California Carrie Prejean, who was unfairly discriminated against and denied the Miss USA crown because of homosexual activist judge Perez Hilton (real name Mario Lavandeira), who targeted Carrie as a contestant and publicly called her “a dumb b****” with “half a brain.”
“Why does an unjust judge get a free pass for retaliating against and openly slurring a beauty pageant contestant?” asked Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com and SaveAmerica.com. “The bad guy here is homosexual activist Perez Hilton, who never should have been allowed to be a judge. Carrie Prejean was unfairly discriminated against and viciously punished just because she knows and believes that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman.”
After Carrie was named first runner-up to Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, Hilton recorded a video diatribe in which he said Carrie gave “the worst answer in pageant history," that “she lost because she’s a dumb b****!” and that she has “half a brain.” “Perez Hilton is showing the ugly face of the intolerant homosexual agenda, squashing everyone else who won’t bow down to immorality,” Thomasson said.
On this morning’s Today Show on NBC, Miss USA Judge Claudia Jordan admitted that “a few of the judges were very against her, they were bothered by her answer” because Carrie said “marriage should be for a man and a woman” in answer to Hilton’s question Sunday night.
Donald Trump, who, along with NBC Universal, owns the Miss Universe Organization, which produces the Miss USA pageant, said on The Today Show that Carrie’s answer “probably did cost her the crown.” Also on Today, Hilton said Carrie should have “left her politics and religion out” and said Miss USA is supposed to “make everyone feel welcome,” including homosexuals and atheists. But where is that in the Miss USA rules?
“This was a blatant miscarriage of justice,” said Thomasson. “The Miss USA rules explicitly state that judges should learn about the successes, goals and ambitions of the contestants. It doe not say judges should vote or rally others to vote based on their personal agreement or disagreement with young ladies’ answers to loaded questions.”
“Along with physical beauty, Carrie Prejean displayed character, poise, confidence and personality, which is exactly what the pageant says it’s looking for,” said Thomasson. “It is now suspect whether a homosexual can be a fair judge who puts aside his personal bias. It’s also doubtful that the Miss USA contest is a fair contest. To correct this serious problem, Donald Trump and NBC Universal should announce that Perez Hilton will never again be a Miss USA judge and that pageant judges must abide by the contest rules and not retaliate against contestants based on religion or politics.”
Posted today on Baptist Press is the following article written by Michael Foust, BP assistant editor.
Despite pressure, Miss California stays true to Christian beliefs
LAS VEGAS-- It had all the elements of good TV drama, especially in 2009 America: a gay celebrity blogger asking a California beauty queen contestant a question about "gay marriage" during the Miss USA pageant, hosted in anything-goes Las Vegas.
Miss California, though, stood by her Christian beliefs, and some are wondering if it cost her the crown.
Carrie Prejean, 21, told a nationwide TV audience Sunday she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. She eventually finished runner-up to Miss North Carolina, but she says she has no regrets about her answer.
The fact that Prejean is from California -- where the high court legalized "gay marriage" last year only to have voters reverse that ruling by passing Proposition 8 -- adds to the controversy surrounding her comments.
"By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith," she told Fox News. "I'm glad I stayed true to myself."
She told NBC's "Today" show, "It's not about being politically correct. For me, it was being biblically correct." She added, regarding her missed opportunity to win the crown, "It wasn't what God wanted for my life that night."
Prejean is a student at San Diego Christian College in El Cajon just outside San Diego and a volunteer at Shadow Mountain Community Church's International Ministry Center, where she helps refugees learn English, the Christian Examiner reported. Shadow Mountain is a Southern Baptist church where popular TV and radio minister David Jeremiah is pastor. The Examiner reported Prejean is studying to become an elementary school special education teacher.
She has received a host of criticism and praise. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who is homosexual and as one of 12 judges was randomly picked to ask the question, posted a video on his website in which he called her a "dumb [expletive]" with "half a brain." He also said she "alienated so many people."
Chris Clark, pastor of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church in San Diego, applauded Prejean. He helped lead the effort in his area to get Christians behind Prop 8.
"She was extremely courageous, especially considering the venue. You're looking Perez Hilton in the eye and telling him, no offense, but this is what I believe. That is bold," Clark told Baptist Press. "That is exactly what we need more of, and she did it in a kind way and a very respectful way. She was great."
Mitch Fisk, vice president for enrollment and marketing at San Diego Christian College, said he was impressed by Prejean's character after overhearing a conversation she had with her adviser, whose office is just a few doors down from his. The conservation came last year after she had won the Miss California title.
"Keep in mind that this conversation took place with no one else around. The consistent themes were, 'I want to do what I can to have an impact' and 'I want to do what I can to take advantage of the situation that God has placed me in to have an impact,'" he told BP.
During the broadcast Hilton asked: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"
Prejean responded, "I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite[-sex] marriage. And you know what? I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anybody out there -- but that's how I was raised and ... I think that it should be between a man and a woman."
The crowd seemed to like her answer, and its applause was louder than the boos.
Keith Lewis, co-executive director of Miss California USA/Teen USA, submitted a statement to Hilton's web site in which he said he was "personally saddened and hurt" that Prejean "believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman." Lewis added, "Religious beliefs have no place in politics in the Miss CA family."
Hilton himself was quoted as saying Prejean "lost because of that question." Known for his bombastic statements, he said that if Prejean had won, "I would have gone up on stage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door." As one of the 12 TV judges, Hilton's score figured into deciding who won. The scores on the questions and answers, though, are not released publicly.
Ron Prentice, chairman of ProtectMarriage.com -- the official campaign behind Prop 8 -- released a statement thanking Prejean for "speaking her mind in support of traditional marriage."
"She represented the silent majority in America and expressed a point of view that over 7 million California voters also expressed just last November," Prentice said. "... Thank you, Miss California, for knowing the truth about marriage and standing up for it, even when you knew that your honest answer may hinder your chances for the crown of Miss USA."
Prentice further said that the "outcry from some activists in the gay community over Ms. Prejean's comments are indicative of how far they will go to force their same-sex marriage agenda on society."
Prejean told radio host Billy Bush that her sister "is a gay rights activist" who has "been to many, many rallies." But Prejean said her sister was proud of her because she stood up for her beliefs. Matt Lauer of NBC's Today show asked her if she wished she had given a more politically correct middle-of-the-road answer, which Hilton said she should have done.
"That goes against what I stand for," she said of such an answer. "And when I'm asked a specific question, I'm going to give a specific answer. I'm not going to stand in the middle."
Also posted today on SaveCalifornia.com ,
a leading West Coast nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing children and families, is the article:
Homosexual Activist Judge Displays Intolerance, Hatred
and Retaliation Against Miss California Carrie Prejean
Sacramento, CALIF.-- A leading West Coast pro-family organization is defending Miss California Carrie Prejean, who was unfairly discriminated against and denied the Miss USA crown because of homosexual activist judge Perez Hilton (real name Mario Lavandeira), who targeted Carrie as a contestant and publicly called her “a dumb b****” with “half a brain.”
“Why does an unjust judge get a free pass for retaliating against and openly slurring a beauty pageant contestant?” asked Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com and SaveAmerica.com. “The bad guy here is homosexual activist Perez Hilton, who never should have been allowed to be a judge. Carrie Prejean was unfairly discriminated against and viciously punished just because she knows and believes that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman.”
After Carrie was named first runner-up to Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, Hilton recorded a video diatribe in which he said Carrie gave “the worst answer in pageant history," that “she lost because she’s a dumb b****!” and that she has “half a brain.” “Perez Hilton is showing the ugly face of the intolerant homosexual agenda, squashing everyone else who won’t bow down to immorality,” Thomasson said.
On this morning’s Today Show on NBC, Miss USA Judge Claudia Jordan admitted that “a few of the judges were very against her, they were bothered by her answer” because Carrie said “marriage should be for a man and a woman” in answer to Hilton’s question Sunday night.
Donald Trump, who, along with NBC Universal, owns the Miss Universe Organization, which produces the Miss USA pageant, said on The Today Show that Carrie’s answer “probably did cost her the crown.” Also on Today, Hilton said Carrie should have “left her politics and religion out” and said Miss USA is supposed to “make everyone feel welcome,” including homosexuals and atheists. But where is that in the Miss USA rules?
“This was a blatant miscarriage of justice,” said Thomasson. “The Miss USA rules explicitly state that judges should learn about the successes, goals and ambitions of the contestants. It doe not say judges should vote or rally others to vote based on their personal agreement or disagreement with young ladies’ answers to loaded questions.”
“Along with physical beauty, Carrie Prejean displayed character, poise, confidence and personality, which is exactly what the pageant says it’s looking for,” said Thomasson. “It is now suspect whether a homosexual can be a fair judge who puts aside his personal bias. It’s also doubtful that the Miss USA contest is a fair contest. To correct this serious problem, Donald Trump and NBC Universal should announce that Perez Hilton will never again be a Miss USA judge and that pageant judges must abide by the contest rules and not retaliate against contestants based on religion or politics.”
Saturday, April 11, 2009
"Happily Ever After" is a bumpy road
Hebrews 12a: "Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Do you know what love is?
Love grows. The love verses in 1 Corinthians 13 speak way more than the mere words on the page.
Love is not to be rushed into.
Love can blossom
or it can grow stagnant.
Effort on each one's part must be put forth. When you decide to marry, it does not then become a "happily ever after." There is nothing that easy. There are many bumps, uneven paths, turns and curves along the way. No matter what your age, young or old, maturity comes through obedience to Christ, not what we want, what we feel, what we desire.
Divorce exists. Couples separate.
Marriage, according to God, is between one man and one woman one time forevermore.
But there are couples everywhere, Christian and non, who marry and divorce, marry again and divorce. A continuing cycle to nowhere.
When do you know when to stop running and looking for that prize that is forever it seems just beyond your grasp?
Is it not when you finally admit God is in control, not you?
When you realize God knows better than you what you need, when you need it and will provide for you?
When you finally reach out to Him and seek His will, His guidance?
When you become willing to wait for Him to lead you?
When you realize all self thoughts that enter your mind is Satan trying to gain control and convince you there is something better elsewhere?
Satan's plan is to prevent you from living for Christ. He is all about self pleasure, living only for yourself, not for another.
We must be willing to put aside the self-doubt thoughts that take over our being and patiently build up each other, not tearing one another down, not relying on yourselves, not giving up, but relying on God, striving for oneness with each other and Him.
1 Corinthians 13 from The Message:
"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
Do you know what love is?
Love grows. The love verses in 1 Corinthians 13 speak way more than the mere words on the page.
Love is not to be rushed into.
Love can blossom
or it can grow stagnant.
Effort on each one's part must be put forth. When you decide to marry, it does not then become a "happily ever after." There is nothing that easy. There are many bumps, uneven paths, turns and curves along the way. No matter what your age, young or old, maturity comes through obedience to Christ, not what we want, what we feel, what we desire.
Divorce exists. Couples separate.
Marriage, according to God, is between one man and one woman one time forevermore.
But there are couples everywhere, Christian and non, who marry and divorce, marry again and divorce. A continuing cycle to nowhere.
When do you know when to stop running and looking for that prize that is forever it seems just beyond your grasp?
Is it not when you finally admit God is in control, not you?
When you realize God knows better than you what you need, when you need it and will provide for you?
When you finally reach out to Him and seek His will, His guidance?
When you become willing to wait for Him to lead you?
When you realize all self thoughts that enter your mind is Satan trying to gain control and convince you there is something better elsewhere?
Satan's plan is to prevent you from living for Christ. He is all about self pleasure, living only for yourself, not for another.
We must be willing to put aside the self-doubt thoughts that take over our being and patiently build up each other, not tearing one another down, not relying on yourselves, not giving up, but relying on God, striving for oneness with each other and Him.
1 Corinthians 13 from The Message:
"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
Monday, April 6, 2009
United Church of Christ Renewal Leader Apologizes to Citizens, Christians of Iowa
ChristianNewswire.com -- The Rev. David Runnion-Bareford, executive executive director of Biblical Witness Fellowship, the Confessing Movement in the United Church of Christ, and president of the Association for Church Renewal, strategic alliance of renewal ministries in the mainline denominations of North America, submits the following and is available for comment:
To the citizens, pastors, churches and Christians of Iowa. Today on behalf of many thousands of Christians who belong to congregations of the United Church of Christ and millions of faithful Christians in the 'mainline' churches that helped found our nation, I apologize with a broken heart for our denominational officials and other proponents of faux Christian religion who have publicly advocated and applauded the attempt of your court to redefine marriage. This is an ancient idolatry in new skin. We know that the ordinance of marriage between one man and one woman is imbedded in natural law and the natural moral order by the sovereign word of the creator God.
That has not changed. Marriage for all of us, regardless of belief, is the primary covenant in which all other human covenants, laws, and governments are grounded. When courts, governments, or religious bodies make decrees to change the character and definition of marriage, nothing is changed other than the state of their own legitimacy. To decree some other form of relationship a marriage, does not make it so in the only court before which each of us will ultimately stand. To tell dear folks who yearn to have it so, that it is, is a cruel deception. Natural law, the ordinances of God, and the faith of the church are not subject to change by political action, legal decrees, denominational meetings or cultural consensus especially in our era of sexual and relational confusion, perversion and failure.
For us who are Christians that word is confirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ who said, "at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:4, 5)
To the citizens, pastors, churches and Christians of Iowa. Today on behalf of many thousands of Christians who belong to congregations of the United Church of Christ and millions of faithful Christians in the 'mainline' churches that helped found our nation, I apologize with a broken heart for our denominational officials and other proponents of faux Christian religion who have publicly advocated and applauded the attempt of your court to redefine marriage. This is an ancient idolatry in new skin. We know that the ordinance of marriage between one man and one woman is imbedded in natural law and the natural moral order by the sovereign word of the creator God.
That has not changed. Marriage for all of us, regardless of belief, is the primary covenant in which all other human covenants, laws, and governments are grounded. When courts, governments, or religious bodies make decrees to change the character and definition of marriage, nothing is changed other than the state of their own legitimacy. To decree some other form of relationship a marriage, does not make it so in the only court before which each of us will ultimately stand. To tell dear folks who yearn to have it so, that it is, is a cruel deception. Natural law, the ordinances of God, and the faith of the church are not subject to change by political action, legal decrees, denominational meetings or cultural consensus especially in our era of sexual and relational confusion, perversion and failure.
For us who are Christians that word is confirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ who said, "at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:4, 5)
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