GN Commentary: January 13, 2010 - Gay Rights and Proposition 8

A nation divided on morality isn't good news. It's another example of our losing sight of a standard by which to determine what's right and what's wrong.

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Video Transcript

Should same-sex marriage be legal? That's the question this week in California, where voters in late 2008 passed a law and an amendment to the state constitution which declared "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Predictably, the law set off a firestorm of controversy between advocates of traditional morality and those who believe same sex unions should be acceptable.

This week saw the beginning of a court hearing on the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Two same-sex couples are asking Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker to issue an injunction against the enforcement of Proposition 8, claiming their civil rights are being infringed. Though this suit is being heard in US District Court in San Francisco, both sides believe any decision rendered will be appealed, and that the issue of gay marriage will end up before the Supreme Court of the United States.

So is this a question of human freedoms and civil rights? Or is it a struggle to protect marriage, the family, and the health of our society? The nation is divided on this controversial question, as was the state of California, where only a small majority – 52 percent – voted for the ban on same-sex marriages. The state supreme court upheld the law but allowed existing gay unions to stand.

A nation divided on morality isn't good news. It's another example of our losing sight of a standard by which to determine what's right and what's wrong. For most Americans, that standard, until not long ago, has been the Holy Bible. 

When we look into the Scriptures, we in fact see a very clear picture of family life. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" says the Book of Genesis (2:24, NIV). The same words are reiterated by Jesus Christ: "But at the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife" (Mark 10:6-7, NIV).

So the scriptural teaching is clear: marriage involves one man and one woman. According to the Creator, this is the source of joy, happiness and societal stability. All other unions are prohibited in this constitution of humankind.

Our post-Christian confusion doesn't have to cloud matters of basic morality. Following the biblical instructions on marriage will preserve the very building block of society; abandoning them will bring great danger.
Which will we do?

For GN Magazine, I'm Ralph Levy.