Gay marriage is the hot topic of this season.  Renegade politicians are trying to make statements by allowing homosexual couples to get married, even though it is against the law.  Every news show is doing stories about it; Christian groups are issuing press releases condemning it, and even celebrities are getting in on the act.  Now Stand True is getting asked about our stance on the issue, which I would hope should be obvious.

Stand True is most definitely against homosexual marriage.  In fact, I would go as far as saying there is no such thing as homosexual marriage.  Marriage is an institution created and ordained by God for a man and woman. “Genesis 2: 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. ”   Outside of the marriage covenant, there is shame in sexual activity. The sexual act inside of marriage is a bond that brings man and wife together as one flesh, and this bond cannot happen between two men or two women. They cannot become one flesh and therefore it cannot be called marriage. 

The state may recognize their illicit union as a “state marriage,” but it cannot be recognized as a true marriage ordained by God.  As Christians we know the truth and must abide by it whether or not the state does.  Although society may want to allow something like this, we cannot support it or even validate it by calling it marriage. 

The next question would be the matter of civil unions.  This is such a dangerous concept; imagine the possible consequences if anyone apply for a civil union for tax purposes.  If you have a roommate, even if are not romantically involved, you could apply for a civil union just for tax breaks and other benefits.  I think this could be very dangerous for us if now people that are dating have another option instead of the commitment of marriage -- just get a civil union that can be broken very easily.  Men would love this because they would not have to really make that commitment to a woman and could get out of it easily without a divorce.  It would just lead to another huge moral breakdown in society.

It is almost funny the way women's groups look at issues like this and abortion as "women's rights," because I think these things really enslave women more.  Abortion gives a man a “way out” so he can be less responsible and treat women more like just objects for his pleasure.  Now he can sleep around and have nothing to worry about.  Civil unions would do a similar thing and give men a way to “test drive” women and dump them without having to pay or support them.

I would bring this all back to one thing, God's truth. It is very clear in God's Word that homosexuality is unnatural and an abomination to God . " Romans 1:24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”  Our society and government want to legitimize sin, and they demonize anyone who stands for the truth as intolerant or hateful. 

As Christians we have a duty and responsibility to stand for the truth no matter how unpopular it is in society.  We must love our neighbor as ourselves, but we must not love or even accept our neighbor's sin.  In fact, I would say it is not love if we just close our eyes and tolerate our neighbor's sin.  How can we truly say we love them, if we allow them to continue on a path to eternal damnation without offering them the truth? 

The gospel of Christ is offensive to those who do not believe. “1 Corinthians1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The Gospel can cut deep but also offers the only hope for forgiveness to sinners like us.  The Gospel is full of grace and acceptance with God we don't deserve.  And if we reject this Grace where will we go?  The Gospel is 100% truth with no room for margin or tolerance or variation.  We must live by this truth and not society's version of truth.  We must Stand True to God's law and Jesus Christ without exception. 

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper