We're told we've just witnessed a historic moment.
A sitting United States President, with evolving views, has finally endorsed the providing of gay adults to be married in same-gender unions. His daughters have friends with wonderful gay "parents." How can he not be supportive of these loving, family relationships, regardless of sexual orientation or practice?
Nancy Pelosi praises our President for advancing Civil Rights. One in six financial supporters of the Obama Reelection Campaign is gay (according to MSNBC). Vice-President Joe Biden declares his "absolute comfort" with this on Sunday, and our President believes it the right time for him to express his support, even as the state of North Carolina joins 30 others in disagreement.
Your thoughts? Are your views evolving? What does the President's support actually mean, if anything?
What is Marriage?
Let's realize that as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," marriage's definition is in the hands of the definer.
Culturally and anthropologically, "marriage" for centuries has been a recognized (by a group as concerning individuals in the group) agreement between human beings of opposite gender (if "monogamy," then between one woman and one man, or if "polygamy," between multiple partners, usually one male with a # of females). The recognized agreement is to be uniquely committed to one another for the purposes of producing offspring and sharing a special level of relationship. Historically, virtually every culture and/or society had norms (or accepted and promoted practices) which identified when people were in a "marriage" relationship.
Marriage would come to be codified by governing authorities. Thus legally, "marriage" is a contract of an exclusive condition or relationship containing promises to live together and mutually provide the benefits of which a husband and wife are capable. This contract is defined by civil law, and when executed, is recognized and certified by counties within the jurisdiction of a State (e.g., Colorado, Florida, etc.). Typically, it is binding until it is dissolved through the granting of a legally recognized divorce. A marriage contract often also provides for a couple certain benefits, rights, and protections as prescribed by, for example, employment benefit packages, insurers, or by the United States government.
Still, a strong argument could be made that the above definitions of "marriage" are secondary to the original, a definition from the heart of the Creator of humanity. If what the Bible teaches concerning origins is correct, marriage is what a Creator-God fashioned it to be. Namely, what Genesis 2 says it is. "For this reason (Adam's declaration that God made woman of his own flesh and bone), a man (male) shall (from this time forward) leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife (female), and the two shall be come one flesh."
The Bible simply teaches that marriage is a one-flesh covenant relationship between a male and a female, recognized by others, experienced by two. Marriage involves a recognized leaving (of a family of origin), and a cleaving (creating a new family of origin).
Implications
Quite frankly, cultures and societies and governments can define "marriage" any way they want. And, they usually do.
If a culture or society or government wants to define "marriage" the way that the Creator of humanity defines it, then that definition will be what the Creator's Word says it is.
Our President's evolving viewpoint has reached the stage where he has decided to lead this country away from a Biblical, Creator-of-humanity definition of marriage. Congratulations, Mr. President. It is odd to hear you affirm what the Bible teaches about Jesus being your savior, but rejecting what your savior Jesus said about marriage (i.e., Jesus endorsed the Genesis 2 definition in the midst of his shifting-morals culture).
It is indeed an historic week for our country. And, a very sad one.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Take your daily....warning!
Can you remember as a kid tiring of warnings? Sure you can.
The earliest I can remember is, "Look both ways before you cross the street." I remember my grandmother saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and then I understood that years later when I figured out the difference between "ounce" and "pound."
Later, when the government insisted, "Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that cigarettes are dangerous to your health," I determined never to light up. A few years ago, walking through the Munich airport, I discovered Europe was less subtle. "Tobacco kills" was on the lighted sign next to a pack of smokes.
What warnings ring in your head, from your childhood, or military training, or...?
Here's one I read in the Scriptures. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God (Hebrews 3:13).
Or, "The Holy Spirit has determined that deceiving and hardening sin is dangerous to your spiritual future."
Sin is incredibly attractive, and deceivingly deadly. It gets packaged brightly and marketed smartly. And when we buy it and use it, we are both self-deceived about its benefit, and all-the-more hardened (or desensitized) to God.
I find that sin has that impact in my life, and I am surprised by how many Christians ignore the warning. Yet the writer to the Hebrew Christians insists, Take a daily...warning. Warn each other day after day about the deceitfulness and hardening of sin. Even Christians, this NT book says, can become evil, unbelieving, and turn away from the living God (cf. 3:12).
Do you have fellow Christians around you who are in the daily habit of appropriately warning one another about the liabilities and pitfalls of sin?
Perhaps we should. No, not perhaps.
We should.
Let's start a daily warning movement, so we can keep our ears tuned to the daily voice of God (cf. 3:15).
The earliest I can remember is, "Look both ways before you cross the street." I remember my grandmother saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and then I understood that years later when I figured out the difference between "ounce" and "pound."
Later, when the government insisted, "Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that cigarettes are dangerous to your health," I determined never to light up. A few years ago, walking through the Munich airport, I discovered Europe was less subtle. "Tobacco kills" was on the lighted sign next to a pack of smokes.
What warnings ring in your head, from your childhood, or military training, or...?
Here's one I read in the Scriptures. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God (Hebrews 3:13).
Or, "The Holy Spirit has determined that deceiving and hardening sin is dangerous to your spiritual future."
Sin is incredibly attractive, and deceivingly deadly. It gets packaged brightly and marketed smartly. And when we buy it and use it, we are both self-deceived about its benefit, and all-the-more hardened (or desensitized) to God.
I find that sin has that impact in my life, and I am surprised by how many Christians ignore the warning. Yet the writer to the Hebrew Christians insists, Take a daily...warning. Warn each other day after day about the deceitfulness and hardening of sin. Even Christians, this NT book says, can become evil, unbelieving, and turn away from the living God (cf. 3:12).
Do you have fellow Christians around you who are in the daily habit of appropriately warning one another about the liabilities and pitfalls of sin?
Perhaps we should. No, not perhaps.
We should.
Let's start a daily warning movement, so we can keep our ears tuned to the daily voice of God (cf. 3:15).
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Who Will Show Us Better Times? Ask Psalm 4
Pamela and I attended the 3rd Iowa Caucus I can remember. The 1st was 8 years ago, in a room on the ISU campus, the 2nd 4 years ago at Bethesda Lutheran, in their commons area, and the 3rd last night. To my surprise, each of the caucuses we've attended have become increasingly sedate, quiet, about as inspirational and "caucusy" as a funeral parlor.
Still, Americans seem in a froth. Someone's got to be able to do better than our current leaders, from the President and Houses of Congress on out. And, not surprisingly, everyone's promising that they can.
"Who will show us better times?" That's one way to put it. You find it put that way in Psalm 4:6, written circa 1100 BC by a king named David. David confesses he is in trouble. People are lying about him, ruining his reputation. Was David running for office?
Not likely, but he had enemies, and many vocal people wanted "better times." Which mean times don't change. Nothing new under the sun. Something like that.
But before you step away from this, take 30 seconds to see what David offers instead of the promise of "better times."
Offer sacrifices to God in the right spirit, and trust in the Lord.
You (God have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lay down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Caucus for whom you will, no candidate nor sitting president can promise and deliver better times. It is a right relationship with the Lord God, and a trust in His hand of safety in your life, that brings quiet sleep and a peaceful heart.
Still, Americans seem in a froth. Someone's got to be able to do better than our current leaders, from the President and Houses of Congress on out. And, not surprisingly, everyone's promising that they can.
"Who will show us better times?" That's one way to put it. You find it put that way in Psalm 4:6, written circa 1100 BC by a king named David. David confesses he is in trouble. People are lying about him, ruining his reputation. Was David running for office?
Not likely, but he had enemies, and many vocal people wanted "better times." Which mean times don't change. Nothing new under the sun. Something like that.
But before you step away from this, take 30 seconds to see what David offers instead of the promise of "better times."
Offer sacrifices to God in the right spirit, and trust in the Lord.
You (God have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lay down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Caucus for whom you will, no candidate nor sitting president can promise and deliver better times. It is a right relationship with the Lord God, and a trust in His hand of safety in your life, that brings quiet sleep and a peaceful heart.
Monday, January 2, 2012
2012 Alignment
How have you begun this year?
Perhaps part of your start was "in church." You went to a worship service somewhere, listened to a "let's get after it" sermon about making the year ahead really count.
I hope so.
Here's how I was coaching the team God has given me to under-shepherd. We began with a morning of prayer, prompted by Paul's letter to the early Christians in the city of Ephesus. [A few years ago, I visited Ephesus...what a place! Today, it's in western Turkey.]
In the early verses of the letter, Paul reminds us that it is God the Father's plan "to unite all things in Christ." A pregnant idea, to be sure. Someday, all things (yep, ALL) will be united in and aligned with the person and rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps you've heard, "every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
But what about now? Today. Are ALL things united in Christ? Every part of your life integrated in Him. Is He in the middle of all of it, and every part of it?
We know the rest of the world is disintegrating, and the lack of alignment around truth and Christ Jesus is frustrating at best and coming apart at the seams at worst. Yet the individual life of a disciple can be a display of the best of what Paul means here. To have a life--top to bottom, side to side--aligned with Jesus Christ, is a taste of heaven here on earth. Elsewhere, Paul says we can be the fragrance of Christ in the world.
Here's the pastor in me emerging. Take some time and pray at the beginning of 2012. Get an alignment. Give every part of your living, and ALL of it, to Christ. Let Him unite it, direct it, empower it.
Pray for it.
Perhaps part of your start was "in church." You went to a worship service somewhere, listened to a "let's get after it" sermon about making the year ahead really count.
I hope so.
Here's how I was coaching the team God has given me to under-shepherd. We began with a morning of prayer, prompted by Paul's letter to the early Christians in the city of Ephesus. [A few years ago, I visited Ephesus...what a place! Today, it's in western Turkey.]
In the early verses of the letter, Paul reminds us that it is God the Father's plan "to unite all things in Christ." A pregnant idea, to be sure. Someday, all things (yep, ALL) will be united in and aligned with the person and rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps you've heard, "every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
But what about now? Today. Are ALL things united in Christ? Every part of your life integrated in Him. Is He in the middle of all of it, and every part of it?
We know the rest of the world is disintegrating, and the lack of alignment around truth and Christ Jesus is frustrating at best and coming apart at the seams at worst. Yet the individual life of a disciple can be a display of the best of what Paul means here. To have a life--top to bottom, side to side--aligned with Jesus Christ, is a taste of heaven here on earth. Elsewhere, Paul says we can be the fragrance of Christ in the world.
Here's the pastor in me emerging. Take some time and pray at the beginning of 2012. Get an alignment. Give every part of your living, and ALL of it, to Christ. Let Him unite it, direct it, empower it.
Pray for it.
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