Here's the maddening part. It is certainly true that there was nothing that even remotely resembled "gay" "marriage" at the time that the OT and NT were written, and so, sure enough, Moses and St. Paul could not have been referring to "gay"marriage" --- it did not exist.
But the Bible does talk a lot about marriage. So the gays will latch onto verses like these:
And they claim that WE are the false teachers because we forbid them marriage; and furthermore we are rejecting something good created by God (they point to "natural" homosexuality in he animal world), which we should allow them to sanctify by God's word and prayer, in other words, Christian marriage equality.
1 Timothy 4:3
They [false teachers] forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer."
They point out that marriage is recommended by St. Paul inm order to restrain the passions and avoid fornication and adultery; this they apply to themselves, that they ought to be allowed to marry, and thus turn away from a promiscuous lifestyle:
1 Corinthians 7:9
Marriage is honorable for all, and the marriage bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
Hebrews 13:4
They say, "Aren't we supposed to apply Scripture to ourselves in order to live by it? We are commanded by Scripture to wed, and thus avoid fornication."
You and I see the error of this. But they would argue that they are living the Christian life by seeking marriage, which is "honorable among all."
It's this level of argument which I wish Mohler and others would more clearly address.
And yes, of couse Mohler uses Scripture. But he also has to refer to the way Christians through the ages have interpreted these Scriptures. Otherwise, it's just Rev. Doctor Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary vs Rev. Dr. Mel White formerly of Fuller Theological seminary, gay Christian.
Each of them prayerfully reading and faithfully living the truths of Scripture as he is "led of the Spirit"!
How does referring to Christian thought help change their minds?
Someone who refuses to believe scripture and rationalizes his behavior can always find a way to rationalize Christian thought away.
We already have the Bishops of the Catholic church, and the Pope himself condemning gay marriage.
Here, we have a LIVING, BREATHING magistrate giving its unequivocal teaching and yet, we have people like Nancy Pelosi ( and Cristina Kirchner in Argentina ) actually believing the OPPOSITE.
He’re one rationalization for you -— They can always say that the early church HIJACKED scripture and used the power that they eventually attained to IMPOSE their own morality on others.
Heck, there are even RELIGIOUS people (and they are against homosexuality) who rationalize that the church doctrine of the Trinity as we believe it today was a concoction of Constantine in cahoots with the Bishops in Nicea. Exhibit one : The Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Now if devout people like the Witnesses can believe this, what makes you think that gay marriage supporting rationalizers won’t do the same thing?
A person who won’t believe will not believe. It will take an act of God to change the person’s mind.