Marriage Issues

The issue of marriage is a religious and state issue. The federal government cannot dictate to the states any issue regarding it.

Supreme Court Ruling and Same Sex Marriage
Posted June 30, 2015

Four things of immediate concern about the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling are:

1. The judgment of God because of this law passing. Not just because of the opinion of the justices who supported it, or of the unbelievers who support it, but because of those who call/consider themselves Christians expressing favor of it.
2. The court making it a federal issue and not leaving it up to the states. Federal control is reaching into areas that belong to the States or the people.
3. No statement being made from Michigan leadership regarding the fact that the will of Michigan voters was not upheld, unlike Texas.
4. The censorship and intolerance that those in favor of this opinion have towards those with opposing views, particularly Christians, having more fuel for their unquenchable fire.

Note the statement in the Supreme Court opinion:

"Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-six marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered."

While it sounds good, as pointed out by Streiff in the article, "Obergefell and the roadmap.." (link below), this was a non-binding statement and not law. And, even if it were, it refers to religious organizations and persons (ministers) and not every-day people or business owners.

Streiff also points out that "Several states that forbid marriage between first cousins assert that a legal marriage between cousins obtained in another state is not valid in those states. Likewise for incestuous marriages. This gives homosexual marriage a privilege not granted to real marriages." 

Links:
RedState article: Obergefell and the roadmap to drive Christianity from the public square
RedState article: What actually comes next 
Rose's Blog: The Bible and Same-Sex Love
Rose's Blog: The Marriage Blessing: Legal or Not? 


Marriage Billboards & Other "Gay" Issues
Posted May 13, 2015

The Restrain the Judges billboards that have been coming up around the state are, as expected, coming under fire. Of course the accusations are clouding the true issue, which is not "anti-gay" but an attempt to clarify that homosexuality is not to be a protected civil right because it is a choice of behavior.

Marriage Billboards

There has been many clouds of confusion surrounding the recent "gay" issues.

• Marriage Union: The issue of marriage being clarified as a union between one man and one woman.
• Public Square: The issue of businesses and ministers having the right to refuse to participate in those things that would violate their religious beliefs. (For example gay weddings).
• State's Rights: The issue of states rights not being usurped by federal restrictions in either case of, 1) being required to issue marriage licenses according to federal guidelines that contradict state law and 2) being required to recognize other state licenses if they contradict a state's licensing requirements.

These are separate issues that have been lumped together, often by both sides. The marriage billboards are attempting to drive the point home that gay issues have been used to violate free speech and freedom of religion. These are the points we need to focus on and, as Christians, we shouldn't let our emotions get the best of us.

Marriage Union

No matter what the law says, God recognizes and blesses marriage unions that are the example of Christ and the church. The legality of marriage was a recognition of God's blessing on the union, and therefore added legal benefits to it. We need to remember that nothing will be able to take God's blessing off of the union of marriage that He recognizes, and He will not bless a union that is contrary to His Word.

Public Square

Our constitution protects the right of the people to practice their religion publicly, not just believe it or practice it in private.

What is the Public Square?

Right to Refuse

State's Rights

The 10th amendment to the Constitution says, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Family relations and intra-state commerce are State issues, not federal.

States Rights

Supreme Court Same Sex Marriage Case
Posted May 4, 2015

The U.S. Supreme Court will be releasing their decision on whether same-sex marriage is an issue to be decided by the states or the federal government sometime in June. The issues are whether the states will be able to decide for themselves and whether a state has to recognize a same sex marriage license from another state.

Marriage is a God-ordained union that was recognized by human authorities as such, which resulted in the granting of legal status and all the benefits that brings. To force the authorities to grant the blessing of legal status to a union that is not God-ordained is an attempt to change what God says the union is, not what man says it is. Chief Justice John Roberts explained it well when he said that gay couples seeking to marry are not seeking to join the institution of marriage, "You're seeking to change what the institution is."

Links:
Supreme Court Decision and Mark of the Beast
Civil Disobedience Threat
Restrain the Judges