Category: Marriage
Idaho: City Demands Pastor Perform Same-Sex Ceremony or Go to Jail!
Posted on October 21, 2014 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
The most recent example of course is the subpoena of pastor’s sermons in the city of Houston. Now called “The Houston 5,” a group of pastors that openly opposed the city’s transgender bathroom bill have been asked by the city to turn over all sermons, speeches, and communications relating to the bill and Mayor Annise Parker.
That statement should be terrifying to anyone that believes in the First Amendment and both free speech and religious freedom. To think that any government agency would consider – let alone follow through – asking pastors to turn over sermons is egregious at best. Sen. Ted Cruz reminded the city of Houston that “Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit” in his comments at a press conference with pastors and religious freedom advocates:
“Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit. And when you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.”
Apparently a city in Idaho is taking this sentiment literally by demanding that a pastor perform same-sex weddings or face fines and jail time. An article at The Daily Caller explains:
Can The Church Simply Change Teaching on Sexuality and Marriage?
Posted on October 20, 2014 in Marriage, Sexuality, Theology by Nathan Cherry
Some say Christians, and the church, are out of touch and “behind the times” regarding sexuality and marriage. They want us to “get with the program” and accept homosexual behavior and marriage redefinition.
While some have acquiesced to the demands of those seeking to redefine marriage by voicing their acceptance for homosexual behavior and marriage redefinition, that is no longer good enough. The demand now is that Christians and churches support, affirm, and cheerfully endorse such behavior. The idea of tolerance, once a pillar of the LGBT movement, has been demolished, replaced by verbal affirmation and celebration.
These demands are being made by people who believe it’s no big deal for the church to simply change centuries of doctrinal convictions. Furthermore, they would have us reject the plain text teaching of the Bible in favor of their culturally imposed position. Is such change even possible?
Christian Swingers Say God Would Be Okay With Their Lifestyle
Posted on October 14, 2014 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
ISpreading the word: Cristy and Dean Parave, pictured with daughter Britney (right), are fans of swinging don’t even know where to begin with this one. Sometimes you come across something so profoundly…stupid, that it’s hard to even get a grasp on it. Such is the case with the story of Dean and Christy, self-titled “Christian swingers.”
Dean and Christy met online and hit it off. After being married for a little while they began swinging as a way to spread God’s Word. Now, if that sounds like an odd statement it’s because you have some moral footings and Biblical knowledge that help you realize sinning in order to spread God’s Word is a contradiction.
But according to Dean, being a sinner is the best way to tell other sinners about God. In the video, posted below, he says:
Roundup: Supreme Court Takes One Step Closer to Legalizing Same-Sex “Marriage”
Posted on October 10, 2014 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
The Supreme Court has rejected appeals form five states, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin, regarding the issue of marriage. This, effectively, legalizes same-sex “marriage” in those states. Some believe the issue of marriage is destined for a ruling from the Supreme Court and this appeals rejection could signal how the court will rule. Up to this point the court has stopped short of legalizing same-sex “marriage” for all 50 states, but this appeals rejection opens up speculation on what the court will do in the future.
The following articles are a roundup of notable voices commenting on the appeals rejection by the Supreme Court.
The Blaze: Supreme Court Rejects Appeals From Five States Looking to Ban Gay Marriage
“The court’s order immediately ends delays on marriage in those states. Couples in six other states – Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming – should be able to get married in short order. Those states would be bound by the same appellate rulings that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s review. That would make same-sex marriage legal in 30 states and the District of Columbia.”
What Happens When Sex is the Crown Jewel of a Society?
Posted on October 8, 2014 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
Let’s be clear (and honest) about one thing. The primary motivating factor for most of what happens in our society is sex.
You don’t have to agree with me; but good luck refuting that statement. Just consider how advertising would be different if sex wasn’t a factor. How would product marketing be different if sex wasn’t an issue? How would the music industry be different? How would fashion and movies be different?
If sex wasn’t an issue at all it’s very safe to say our society would be vastly different. But because sex is the primary motivating factor in much of what takes place sex is also the goal, or end result for much of what happens. This makes sex a very dangerous weapon in the hands of anyone seeking to recreate the social or political landscape in America.
A recent article at The Week discussed this issue and the implications of sex as the primary difference between traditionalist religious people from others. The question was asked, if sex is removed from the picture, “what are we talking about?” The answer was given:
Jesus Didn’t Say Anything Against Same-Sex “Marriage” So He Must Support It.
Posted on October 7, 2014 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
A favorite argument for advocates of marriage redefinition is that Jesus is on their side. Being experts in biblical studies and theology they have determined that since Jesus didn’t explicitly prohibit homosexuality and same-sex “marriage” that He, obviously, is for it.
These armchair theologians have somehow deduced a meaning from Scripture that nearly every pastor, every theologian, every academic, and every expert denies as impossible. But, apparently gaining some insight from the Holy Spirit that others have not been blessed with, they are adamant in their belief that Jesus supports the homosexual lifestyle.
As someone that has studied the Bible for a couple decades and regularly reads through it, I find it hard to believe that anyone reading the pages of Scripture can find support for homosexuality. A cursory reading of the text, whether Old or New Testament, reveals a universal consensus that homosexual behavior is sin. Only through a strange twisting of any particular text could anyone hope to find anything less than a condemnation of homosexual actions.
Former Homosexual Warns America of “Unmitigated Disaster” of Marriage Redefinition
Posted on October 3, 2014 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
Activists pushing for the legalization of same-sex “marriage” don’t want you to hear from former homosexuals. In their world there is no such thing. Anyone claiming to be a “former homosexual” is, in their opinion, either a liar suppressing their true identity, or they never were really a homosexual. I’m not sure how someone can claim to be a homosexual without ever really being one – it doesn’t seem like something you do as a recreational past time.
What they think of this rapidly growing class of people, they are afraid of them. No group has more power and ability to stop the homosexual agenda in its tracks than former homosexuals. So when someone like David Kyle Foster, himself a former homosexual, writes about the “unmitigated disaster for gay marriage,” it might be a good idea to listen.
For anyone not sure if Foster really was a homosexual his answer is succinct: “Does sleeping with over 1,000 men count?” His time as a homosexual spanned 10 years and he has now been a “former homosexual” for the past 34 years. Because of his experience living the homosexual lifestyle, Foster is uniquely qualified to discuss the dangers and disasters awaiting the society that chooses to life homosexuality atop a pedestal.
Dr. James Dobson: America Will Not Survive If We Allow the Family to Disintegrate
Posted on September 25, 2014 in Family, Marriage by Nathan Cherry
Dr. James Dobson is a world-respected psychologist, author, and speaker. For more than 40 years he has spent his life teaching and training parents on how to raise children in the healthiest way possible. As a Christian, Dr. Dobson infuses his biblical beliefs into every aspect of his ministry and helps parents to learn biblical truth regarding child rearing.
After leaving Focus on the Family, the organization he began, Dr. Dobson founded ‘Family Talk,” to continue his efforts in helping parents to leave a legacy of biblical values in their kids. His new book, “Your Legacy” is centered on this idea of leaving a legacy, and the difference between inheritance and legacy.
In the video below Dr. Dobson talks about a variety of issues that he is concerned about in society. One of the first issues is that of the epidemic pornography problem. An oft-overlooked aspect to sexual crimes – whether against adults or children – is the link between the perpetrator and pornography. But Dr. Dobson makes it clear that many, most sexual crimes are at least in part due to the presence of pornography in a person’s life.
Is There Any Good Reasons to Defend Traditional Marriage?
Posted on September 24, 2014 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Though I am a Christian and would eagerly defend traditional marriage on theological grounds, I understand that others would not. I recognize that some would say marriage laws should not be based on religious convictions. Fine, but let me warn that all laws are based on morality. The question then becomes whose morality they are based upon. Is it better to base our laws on the morality of the atheist, the agnostic, the progressive liberal, or the conservative Christian that hold the same views our Founder’s did?
But, putting religion aside there is still plenty of reason to support traditional marriage.
In a very informative article at the Daily Caller several of the arguments in favor of same-sex “marriage” were presented and refuted. Arguments such as procreation and sterile couples, interracial marriage, and adoption were shown to be weak arguments in favor of same-sex “marriage.” Furthermore, those same arguments were shown to support traditional marriage.
New Group Wants to Start a Conversation About Marriage Redefinition With Christians. But…
Posted on September 23, 2014 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
There’s a new group seeking to change evangelicals’ minds about the definition of marriage. It’s not a LGBT activist group or even a “liberal” same-sex “marriage” group. It’s a…evangelical group?
The group calling itself “Evangelicals for Marriage Equality” wants to start a “new evangelical conversation about civil marriage equality,” according to a recent ad by the group.
I’m not sure what is wrong with the old conversation, but, based on what I’ve seen so far from the group, the new conversation isn’t worth having.
The group’s spokesman said that the intent of EME is to show that Christians can be faithful to Scripture while supporting civil marriage equality.