Christian, I am confused.
What is the purpose of the proposed United States federal marriage amendment? Is the purpose to restrain the sinful tendencies of mankind? If so the Scriptures both teach and demonstrate that the law never ever was able to accomplish that purpose. David knew the law against adultery and murder, yet sinned anyway. Romans 5:20 (WEB) also explains that the law actually promoted more sin! "The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly."
Suppose it was your own son or daughter fallen into sin, would you wave your hands and petition the government for a law to stop them? Jesus never did that! Paul never did that! They busied themselves with preaching the law of Christ and the gospel! Should not our hearts rather be broken wide open to God in prayer for the salvation of our fellow man? But broken hearts do not come easily when we actually think that we obey the law ourselves. You who have a marriage without sin what will you do to those who disobey the federal marriage amendment? Force counsel on them? Fine them? Imprison them? Execute them?
Friends, your eyes are plastered over, you cannot see your own sin, you are leaving the glory of the new covenant, and you are returning to the Jews under the shadow of the old covenant. But maybe I misunderstand your good intentions. Maybe your purpose is to make a law to simply expose the sin of mankind? But if so your standard is not high enough. The purpose of Christian law is to leave no one justified and all under conviction.
20) Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21) But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22) even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23) for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24) being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.Romans 3:20-24 (WEB)
Thus if we were to follow the pattern of Christ we might preach,
You have heard it said that marriage is defined as the union between one man and one woman and that anyone who disobeys is a sinner, but I tell you that a husband who does not literally love his wife with the same love God demonstrated through Jesus Christ, is nothing more than a selfish beast and he will certainly be damned unless a perfect sacrifice can be found for his sin.
Christian, I understand that God has appointed governments to govern, make laws, and punish evil doers. However, God has appointed Christians to preach the law of Christ which leaves absolutely no one self-justified and fosters a fellowship of those who know they are sinners still with hearts broken and eyes fixed upon Jesus as our only hope for deliverance from sin. Can a federal amendment do that? Beware of those who would try to advance the precious altar of Jesus Christ by means of the halls of congress. Apparently they know nothing of brokenness or salvation.
Join me in protecting the sanctity of Christ's marriage to His people by means of the gospel. Brother and sister in the Lord, do you really want to entrust an issue so vital to any government? The Scriptures never once give government jurisdiction over the institution of marriage. Marriage is God's wonderful gift to His chosen people and perversions must be corrected with the preaching and praying of Christ's people. The church is not bound to governmental marriage policy perversions. Furthermore, the whole thing going bipolar, dividing the country into sinners on one side and hypocrites on the other. Which side should I choose because I am both a sinner and a hypocrite? Is there even one heart begging God to save us from our sin and hypocrisy?
Not one, yet God will save.
