The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Canada passes "Same-Sex Union" bill

Well, the Canadian legislature passed the "Same-Sex Union" bill yesterday and now it goes to the "Senate" where it is expected to pass without issue and become law. The crux of this bill simply gives identical recognition to civil marriages of gays as that of heterosexual marriages, whether civil or ecclesiastical.

Canada is now the third country in the world to pass such a bill. The other two are Belgium and Holland. No doubt, the ramifications of this are many as are the questions it will raise.

How should the Church respond? or should it?
As a Christian, what effect do you think such laws make in how you relate to "married" gays?
What concerns do you have in your own country in this matter?

In His Grace,

The Church should respond by issuing an open declaration that homosexual is a sin; thereby, homosexual marriage is an abomination before God. Of course, we need to remember that not all churches are bible-based in their teaching.

I don't see the law as affecting me in my behavior. Now, if you are employed by some entity,such as working in a personnel office, or retail, etc., you may be affected immediately. The long-term result will probably be somewhat like the acceptance of those living together outside of marriage by society at large, and by specifically Christians. Christians will not approve, but we have stopped making it a big issue.

The USA is only a few years behind Canada in this. It will not be done legislatively, but through the Courts. The Courts will lead the way, then legislation will follow.

We should respond by continuing to preach the whole counsel of God. The nation of Massachusetts passed this same bill many years ago, while I was a pastor in that unfortunate place. I preached from Romans 1 the following week, as I had promised I would do. I won't marry homosexuals. I also won't marry those heterosexuals blissfully shacking up. Sexual impurity is sexual impurity.

Our job is to be obedient.

Curt

That is grievous news!

Pilgrim, you may remember that chat we had a few weeks ago regarding this. Just recently, a similar same-sex bill has been attempted in South Africa. In Cape Town (southern tip of SA), the gay community is overtaking like the plauge. But fortunately, all hope is not lost! The Lord is working powerfully through one man in that region, Mark Christopher!

Several weeks ago, there was a radio debate regarding same-sex marriages. I am proud to say that the Word of God resounded mightily that night! Here is an update regarding it written by Mark Christopher himself.

He is taking Cape Town by storm, and now also has a slot on the Christian radio station there! So praise be to God! I am sure that prayers for Mark's continued success would be most welcome.

I found the Living Hope Bible Church website (which will apparently have a copy of the debate on it). I'll keep checking it to see when it is online!

Sincerely in Him,
Dave

When homosexuality is legalized it becomes a problem for that society. Just like other sins that have been legalized. It becomes a problem for those who hold positions of employment where they are forced to accept values that they find abominable. If the Church compromises it's message to suit the values of those who are willfully involved in sin it ceases to be a faithful church.

We all know that same sex relationships are condemned in the Bible but so are abortions and prostitution. Which some countries wink at as well. The Church must remain uncompromising and call sin "SIN" and not just use words like "lifestyle choices" or "personal preferrences." The Church must proclaim what the Bible teaches!

I look at gays the same way I look at any other depraved person who is bound in a sinful lifesyle. Someone who needs to know about the consequences of sin and the coming of Jesus Christ. I think there are ways for the church to get the message out without becoming just another political action committee. Thank God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!


Wes

Just read where Spain's Parliament just passed a same-sex marriage law. I suppose all the European countries will crumble pretty quickly, and the USA moderates and liberals will begin their spiel about the USA needing to join the rest of the world.

What is spiking this revolution? It cannot just be the homosexuals as they are too small in numbers. Surely, it is an outgrowth of the 60s sexual revolution, but it has to even go beyond that; anti-Christianity (or Church) sentiment is at its core.

I believe Chalcedon has some pretty good articles concerning this topic so I'll just give a link here.

“Gay Marriage”: What’s It to You?

After witnessing the downfall of a whole PCUSA church to total Liberalism. I have serious doubts about reform in the mainline evangelical churches. As an advocate for conservative, reformed, biblical theology in the PCUSA, I was perceived as oppressive, intolerant, self-righteous, rigid, close-minded and an arrogant know-it-all. To stand up and declare God's absolute truth is almost impossible in today's post-modern society where relativism rules the day. What was really discouraging was the fact that after months of presenting the reformed view, sending e-mails, personal meetings, long discussions, holding reformed classes involving Sproul tape series, after doing all this, not one person in the whole church has become reformed. This is a pretty big church mind you. So after trying very hard to bring some biblical stability in that PCUSA church, I had to leave it for the sake of my family.

Now I find that I am still being an apologist for the reformed faith in the PCA church we're now attending. It isn't as nearly as bad as the PCUSA in liberalness, but there are recognizable strands of Humanist, Relativist, Autonomous, Post-Modern thinking even in the PCA. Although, I haven't heard anyone advocate homosexuality in the PCA, like several people did in the PCUSA, It's sad to say that I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

This is one reason that I've really enjoyed Francis Schaeffer's works. He along with other good authors have really helped me in understanding what is going on in our society and the church today. It's a shame that so many are blinded to the importance of what's going on.

Dave.

In the 1980s I proposed a statement from one of the PCA Presbyteries condemning homosexuality and opposing the passage of same-sex marriage. It went nowhere and I was told that was outside the scope of the Church. I don't believe the PCA has ever made a formal statement on the subject. They find other issues more important. I left a long time ago.

Curt

In spite of an overwhelming defeat of a "same sex" marriage amendment here in the "People's Republic of Oregon", our state legislature is on the verge of passing the equivalent of it under a different name. "Civil Union" is what it is being called, but with all of the benefits of marriage. One of the leaders in getting around it is a "Christian" Republican.

Re: Curt's entry regarding PCA slippage. How does the OPC relate to similar topics? I visited my first PCA church recently--In fact it is the first Presbyterian church of any kind I have ever entered <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/read.gif" alt="" />

IMO, Curt has mis-characterized the PCA. I've been in the PCA since the late 1970s, and I have not witness any movement toward a non-biblical position on the homosexual issue or other hot topic issues.

We do have same sex marriages in The United States it’s in John Kerry’s great state of Massachusetts. My wife and I also live 20 miles from New Paltz NY which married sodomites this past summer but I don’t think it passed the state.
Me personally I don’t feel bound to a cultural mandate to try to change things. I think the best thing I can do is open my mouth for the Gospel.

oops--I meant "I visited my first OPC Pres. church etc etc

Looks like Spain has just done the same thing.

Dave.