Posted on 04/29/2015 1:02:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
In response to same-sex marriage, hundreds signed a pledge endorsed by First Things to separate civil and Christian marriage. LifeWay Research found that 1 in 4 pastors (and 1 in 3 Americans) support such a move.
Here’s how theologians and other experts answered the question. Answers are arranged on a spectrum from “yes” answers at the top to “no” answers at the bottom.
"For a long time, Christianity has sewn its teachings into the fabric of Western culture. That was a good thing. But the season of sewing is ending. Now is a time for rending, not for the sake of disengaging from culture or retreating from the public square, but so that our salt does not lose its savor."
~R. R. Reno, editor, First Things
"The pledge is a small gesture, but gestures provoke and can galvanize. It’s a bit of political theater, but theater can shatter complacency. Political theatrics must be preceded and followed by principled and strategic discussion, but effective political theater raises the stakes and intensifies debate."
~Peter Leithart, senior fellow, New St. Andrews College
"Not yet. We cannot so easily divorce Christian and civil marriage, because everyone has a compelling interest in legal, natural matrimony. It is a common grace. Every important measure of social thriving is driven by the prevalence of natural marriage in a community."
~Glenn T. Stanton, director of family formation studies, Focus on the Family
"Not yet. For now, by registering gospel-qualified unions as civil marriages and not officiating at unions that are not gospel-qualified, we call the government to its responsibility even as we call attention to its limits."
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
I agree.
In most European and Latin American countries outside the Anglosphere, there is a strict separation of civil marriage from the religious component. A couple would sign the civil marriage license then walk across the street to get the religious ceremony.
Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
I think most people will want their marriage to be legal.
As it is, we can already have marriages that don’t qualify as legal to the government, and employers, and the military, and always could, we just didn’t want to.
It’s the best solution.
Have a civil ceremony that confers whatever legal rights are actually importance- power of attorney, inheritance, benefits, and anything else under law. And make “marriage” strictly a religious ceremony.
I am for the pastors who want to refuse to sign the marriage license but refusing to marry homosexuals I believe is the issue.
Any one can get legally married with out going to a pastor so why would people who do not believe in God want a Pastors blessing? just to shove it in their face, no other reason.
I suppose those who do not believe in God could marry a homosexual couple on the pretense that they were just doing their legal duty and them puke their guts out afterward where no one would notice.
But I really do not see how a real man of God could hold it in that long, they are going to have to go farther than just refusing to sign the marriage license.
There are quite a number of churches in the MAINLINE denominations that will now marry gay partners, so there is no reason for gays to go to devout, Bible believing Churches to get married.
Thanks. I posted a similar comment on this topic here a couple of weeks ago. A separate civil ceremony and then a religious ceremony means the end of this whole argument, though
There are quite a number of churches in the MAINLINE denominations that will now marry gay partners,
To my understanding everyone of the groups that accepted ‘gay marriage’ will only marry their gay members if the state they happen to be in approves first. To the liberal faith groups, the state defines these matters and determines if their members are fit for marriage.
Freegards
But they WILL! Why? No other reason than to rub it in the faces of Bible-believing Christians. Those that refuse to perform the ceremony? SUE them into bankruptcy! They are looking for NOTHING less that the total subjugation and destruction of Christianity.
I have news for them..."God is not mocked".
Churches are organized and isually have a set of by-laws. My church is looking at changing ours.
We recognize that the word ‘marriage’ has been redefined from its biblical beginnings and natural purpose.
Therefore, my church will decline to perform ANY ‘marriage’ ceremony.
The church WILL perform Ceremonies if Holy Matrimony. This is fully and biblically defined and such ceremonies belong to the church.
No lawsuits.
The guy from the Mayflower(?), Bradford, in charge of Plymouth or wherever it was - I recall reading an excerpt of his diary on FR one Thanksgiving. He described the first marriage. They did a civil ceremony based on God’s design in the Bible. That surprised me - and I have no idea where that idea comes from. But I’m sure Bradford looked into it more than I have!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.