Gay marriage Archives - Colin Dye

Joel Osteen: I'm 'for Everybody' but Same-Sex Marriage Is Not in the Bible

Colin Dye — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:26:38 +0000

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen cited the Bible in his belief of marriage being a union between a man and a woman in a television appearance Friday, which also saw the televangelist comment on “The Bible Series” and speak about reconciling the belief in a loving God with the existence of human suffering.

Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen appeared on CNN’s ‘The Lead with Jake Tapper’ Friday, March 29, 2013 and said that Same-Sex Marriage Is Not in the Bible

Osteen, who leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, appeared on “The Lead With Jake Tapper”?on Good Friday and the host referenced the Supreme Court taking on two cases?this week involving the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, both of which have far-reaching consequences for the traditional definition of marriage.
Tapper asked Osteen if same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples, and the pastor cited the Bible to explain his beliefs about marriage.
“You know, Jake, it’s a fine line. We’re for everybody. But of course as a Christian pastor, my base is off what I believe the Scripture says,” Osteen said. “Marriage is between a male and female. Again we’re for everybody, but that’s where I draw the line.”
“I think we have to be compassionate about it all,” Osteen added when asked about gay couples having hospital visitation rights. “We’re not against everybody. There are certainly people that love each other and I believe they should have those rights.”
He added, repeating his earlier remarks, “When I’ve come back to the Scripture, as much as I am for everybody, I don’t see same-sex [marriage] in the Scripture.”

What is my view on this?

Or rather, what does the Bible say? Let?s take a look at recent history first. The sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies has paved the way for the lifting of censorship restrictions at a number of levels. Sex education in schools is but one example. But what has all this sexual ?liberation? and so-called ?freedom? meant in practice? In the twenty-first century we are now reaping the fruits of that of our past carelessness. The institution of marriage itself is under threat; the ?normal? family unit is under threat; it is common for people to indulge in ?alternative? lifestyles.
The Roman Catholic church taught that marriage was a sacrament, a view also adopted by the Anglican church at a certain point. This sounds good initially, because of the inference that marriage is sacred ? and of course it is a sacred institution. But I have a feeling that the motivation behind such teaching was not so much to protect the sanctity of marriage, but to try to shield Christian marriage from the common sensual, pleasurable approach to human relationships that was prevalent in society at the time. Such teaching tried to suggest that marriage was such a holy thing that the physical aspect of it was irrelevant, other than for producing children.
The covenant of marriage is first mentioned in Genesis 2:24: ?Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.? This original covenant of companionship was given by God in the context of the great creation mandate to fill the earth and to subdue it; to multiply and have dominion. It was a covenant of complete companionship at every level, including the physical, sexual level. But it cannot be compared with the covenant of companionship that one can enjoy with a person of the same sex ? that companionship operates on an entirely different level.
The marriage covenant necessarily entails two people of the opposite sex being ?joined together? and becoming ?one flesh? in the context of sexual intimacy ? which God has only ever sanctioned and blessed within the confines of marriage. No other relationship can be a substitute for that.

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Same Sex Marriage Bill Threatening Religious Freedom: What You Can Do about it

Colin Dye — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:18:33 +0000

Same Sex Marriage Bill Threatens Religious Freedom

The Government’s Same Sex Marriage Bill poses serious dangers to religious freedom, as it could lead to Christian employees being dismissed and force ministers to marry same-sex couples or be sued.

The Government’s Same Sex Marriage Bill was approved during its second reading in a 400-175 vote in February. The Bill poses serious dangers to religious freedom, as it could lead to Christian employees being dismissed and force ministers to marry same-sex couples or be sued.

This Bill would introduce civil marriage for same-sex couples, and enable religious organisations to opt in to conduct same sex marriages if they wish to do so.

The Bill includes provisions intended to protect religious organisations and individuals from being forced to conduct same-sex marriages but those provisions aren’t watertight.

The Bill would also enable civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage and enable married transsexual people to gain legal recognition in their acquired gender. Currently, the Bill is at committee stage in the House of Commons. This is where a committee of MPs hears evidence and consider the details of the Bill. This is expected to be complete by 12th March, ready for the report stage. It will be followed by a third reading in the Commons.

By May the Bill is expected to go to the House of Lords where it will be further debated and amended. After this, it will be sent back to the Commons for it to consider the Lords’ amendments. It may ping pong back between the Commons and the Lords until both Houses agree to its terms.

Serious legal threat to Christians

William Fittall, secretary-general of the General Synod has warned that teachers and “people of faith” could face legal challenges if the government’s same-sex ‘marriage’ Bill is pushed through. “It is important not to underestimate the risk of litigation more generally in this area,” he said. In a recent letter to the Prime Minister, leading human rights lawyer, Aidan O’Neill QC, warned that churches could be sued for refusing to perform same-sex ‘marriages’, whilst laws making it illegal for the Church of England to participate were “eminently challenge-able” in the European Court of Human Rights. He said that teachers and NHS chaplains who express a conscientious objection to same-sex ‘marriages’ were also at risk of being dismissed from their jobs.

A number of MPs have also expressed concern that the government’s samesex ‘marriage’ Bill does not make adequate protection for those who oppose the changes on conscience or religious grounds.

What can you do?

1. Pray that the Bill would be stopped or that it would be amended in such ways that it won’t endanger our religious freedom.

2. Contact your MP?Mail or email your MP and tell them that you oppose the Bill. If you find out that your MP opposed the Bill email him or her, or send a letter of support.

To find out how your MP voted visit Christian.org.uk/mpvotes.php There are at least 40 Conservative MPs who are still undecided, and getting emails or letters from members of their constituency opposing the Bill can still make a difference.

Please go to writetothem.com to find out how to get in touch with your MP.

3. Stay informed?You can stay informed via www. christianconcern.com, the website of Christian Concern.

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Black Faith Leaders Unhappy With Obama Mobilize Black Voters

Colin Dye — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:32:50 +0000

A group of black faith leaders are saying “absolutely no” to the redefinition of marriage. And their conviction has compelled them to launch a campaign aimed at mobilizing 25 percent of African-American voters who backed Obama to vote their biblical values.

Unhappy Black faith leaders called not to vote for Obama

For this election, the choice is clear as President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have endorsed same-sex marriage, Dr. Day Gardner, co-founder of the “God Said” campaign indicated to The Christian Post.

“This is not really a matter of whether you’re Republican or Democrat. If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ then you have to say all that matters no matter what you think or feel about anything, the most important thing is what God says and God said that marriage is between one man and one woman.”

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France to Replace 'Mother' and 'Father' With 'Parents' on Official Documents

Colin Dye — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:01:21 +0000

Yet another attack from the secular state on the Godly institution that is marriage…

French pr?sident Fran?ois Hollande

The governing body of France has stated that should the government pass legislation redefining the historical interpretation of marriage, current words used to describe parental figures could be removed and replaced with gender-neutral wording.
Francois Hollande, the French President, pledged to introduce legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage while he was running for president. Opponents have voiced their concern over the proposal to remove the words “mother” and “father” from official documents should the country adopt same-sex marriage.

The change would only permit the use of the word “parents,” which would be used in marriage ceremonies for both heterosexual and homosexual ceremonies.

source

The question is, what does God have to say about all of this?

The sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies has paved the way for the lifting of censorship restrictions at a number of levels. Sex education in schools is but one example. But what has all this sexual ?liberation? and so-called ?freedom? meant in practice? In the twenty-first century we are now reaping the fruits of that of our past carelessness. The institution of marriage itself is under threat; the ?normal? family unit is under threat; it is common for people to indulge in ?alternative? lifestyles.

The Roman Catholic church taught that marriage was a sacrament, a view also adopted by the Anglican church at a certain point. This sounds good initially, because of the inference that marriage is sacred ? and of course it is a sacred institution. But I have a feeling that the motivation behind such teaching was not so much to protect the sanctity of marriage, but to try to shield Christian marriage from the common sensual, pleasurable approach to human relationships that was prevalent in society at the time. Such teaching tried to suggest that marriage was such a holy thing that the physical aspect of it was irrelevant, other than for producing children.

The covenant of marriage is first mentioned in Genesis 2:24: ?Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.? This original covenant of companionship was given by God in the context of the great creation mandate to fill the earth and to subdue it; to multiply and have dominion. It was a covenant of complete companionship at every level, including the physical, sexual level. But it cannot be compared with the covenant of companionship that one can enjoy with a person of the same sex ? that companionship operates on an entirely different level.

The marriage covenant necessarily entails two people of the opposite sex being ?joined together? and becoming ?one flesh? in the context of sexual intimacy ? which God has only ever sanctioned and blessed within the confines of marriage. No other relationship can be a substitute for that.

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