As goes Iowa...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/03/iowa-supreme-court-sex-marriage-ban-unconstitutional/

That link will take you to a breaking FoxNews story which fortells an ominious future. Apparently, the Iowa Supreme Court has issued an unanimous ruling today, in which the court has upheld a 2007 Polk County District Court judge's ruling that a same-sex marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples.

POLITICALLY

This is scary. Another example of a how a few judges looking to overturn the will of the people and the law of the land by their elitest ruling are making a mess of our country. Listen to Thomas Jefferson in his letter to Charles Hammond, August 18, 1821: "The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped."

Or Jefferson again, in his letter to Edward Livingston, March 25, 1825: "One single object. [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation." This is so incredibly relevant. By judicial decree a very small number of people can declare the decision of the people illegitimate. Look out California.

I know that they claim the basis for their ruling is that " ...a statute inconsistent with the Iowa constitution must be declared void even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion," - but isn't that stretch? Did the Iowa constitution really address same-sex marriage? No. The judges have interpreted the writing in Article 1, Section 1 in a way that it should not be taken. It says:

"All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights--among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."

But what about actions? Because what we are really talking about here is actions. People may be equal and free alike - but actions aren't. There is no denying this, certain actions are deemed immoral, illegal, or unprofitable AND those actions are not covered by the broad language of this section.

So I guess the real question is why have we, as a society, begun to accept that same-sex marriage (and homosexuality in general) is a positive thing and what should be the Christian response to this situation? And thats not really a political question.

POSITION PAPER

I wrote a position paper on this subject a few months ago that may be useful - I will reprint it here:
____________________________
A Position Paper on Homosexuality
November 1, 2008

Preface:
It is my intention in writing this paper to express my current opinion on the issue of homosexuality. This paper is a response to the onslaught of pro-homosexual media in America today and the bewildering confusion regarding this issue in the church. My views on this subject have been defined after much thought, prayer, and consultation of Scripture.[1] As always, please read this with the prayer that God will open your eyes to the truth of his will. Most importantly, keep your heart guarded aganist letting this (or any other immoral social issue) become the emphasis of your Christian walk or understanding of the faith writ large. Remember that it is the gospel of the grace of Jesus that is the "good news" which saves us from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 5:21
"For our sake (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God."
____________________________
1. Homosexuality is an abomination before the Lord. It is an egregious sin in the eyes of a perfectly holy being.[2]

2. The immorality of homosexuality is not my personal opinion or a societal more. It is the recorded decision of the unchanging Lord of all creation.[3]

3. In no way should this truth be used as an excuse for abusing homosexuals either verbally or physically.[4]

4. Although homosexuality was a capital offense according to the Mosaic Law in the Old Covenant[5], it is understood that we are now removed from that theocratic system and are under a different relationship with God. We are in the New Covenant, instituted by Jesus Christ[6], wherein the moral principles (but not the punitive prescriptions) apply.

5. Homosexuality is too often the prevailing focus of Christians as we discuss and rightly discourage sexual sins. This sin is grouped with several other sexual immoralities in Scripture[7] and they are all equally grievous to the Lord as they all separate us from him if we are without Christ.[8] We must never push aside the battle against lust, fornication, adultery, masturbation, incest, etc as we address homosexuality.[9]

6. Our response to this issue in contemporary society should be to refrain from judgment on non-Christian homosexuals whom we know and to love and pray for them as well as to share the gospel with them.[10] Once they are regenerate, we should pray for the Spirit to speedily convict them of their sin and assist them to turn from that lifestyle. At the same time, we must be watchful of brethren who call themselves Christ-followers while continuing to habitually engage in immorality. In that case, church discipline may be necessary.[11]

7. Politically we may stand up against the tide of pro-homosexual propaganda coming from the Hollywood gay media lobby and the proponents of same-sex marriage; however we must always do so peacefully and graciously[12]. Dissemination of the truth is our best weapon. In this battle against declining moral values we must be bold with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of our God.[13]
_____________________________
FAQ:

Q: Can a homosexual be a Christian?

A: Absolutely. Even after we have been justified by Christ’s blood and adopted into God’s children do we not all still sin? There is no sin that can separate us from Christ once we have been elected.[14] However, as the believer progresses in his sanctification we should see the casting off of the old flesh and a heart/ lifestyle which more closely resembles that of our Lord Jesus.[15]

Q: Can a homosexual be a leader in the church?

A: Absolutely not. The guidelines for elders, deacons, and overseers in the local church are detailed in Scripture and give a clear picture of a man who is the husband of only one wife amongst multiple other virtues.[16] Would we allow a man engaged in ongoing fornication or adultery function as a leader in the church? I imagine not. Neither should anyone who has not completely renounced their homosexual lifestyle.

Q: What about gay marriage?

A: Same-sex marriage (gays can already legally marry someone of the opposite sex) is obviously against God’s intention of a man and a woman as expressed in Genesis 2:18 and 2:24. Additionally, it serves no purpose for the state as a social contract. Benefits are bestowed upon married couples (i.e. tax breaks) because of the general expectation for the production of progeny to continue the citizenry. By nature and design, same-sex marriages cannot function in that way and therefore should not be legally recognized. Additionally, civil unions should not be granted. Once the homosexuals have all of the benefits of marriage but not the name, they will be correct in their cry of “discrimination.”
____________________________________
A final word against homosexuality for those who do not believe in God and/or the Bible:

If nature is the ultimate reality then it is clear that homosexuality was never its intent. Males and females are born with very different anatomical structures that when used according to their proper telos produce the specific result of continued life.

While some species of animal have been seen engaging in homosexual behaviors, it must be understood that those actions (results of confused stimuli) are never an exclusive “orientation”; as such a manufactured lifestyle would be evidently detrimental to the utmost concern of nature herself, the preservation and continuation of life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTES:

[1] All my reading of God’s Word, and all quotes in this paper, are from the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible.

[2] Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”

[3] 2 Timothy 3:16 –“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” If the existence of God and/ or the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible is questioned at this point, the gospel message and a secular argument, which is made at the end of this paper, may be appropriate.

[4] Romans 12:17 –“Repay no one evil for evil,”

[5] Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.”

[6] Luke 22:20 – “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

[7] 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;”

[8] Ephesians 2:13-16 – “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

[9] Editorial – The tendency to be vocal in our discussion of homosexuality and not the other sins (like adultery and fornication) may be due to the prevailing number of individuals, even church members and leaders, who are participating in the unspoken sins. With premarital sex, cheating, and porn addiction on the rise our sin nature may be pushing us to ignore our own shortcomings by revealing others. We must be prayerful and repentant to prevent this occurrence.

[10] 1 Corinthians 5:12 – “For what have I to do with judging outsiders?”

[11] 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’”

[12] 1 Peter 3:15-16 – “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”

[13] Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

[14] Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[15] Ephesians 4:22-24 – “…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

[16] 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.