God Gave Them Over to a Reprobate Mind
And God said; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: Genesis 1:26-28
And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 1:18-24
It is from these two passages of infallible Holy Writ that I intend to define marriage. According to the word of GOD (which is Truth) marriage is a union between one man and one woman. In verse 18 of Genesis, chapter 2 we find that God intended woman to be a suitable helper for man. It was also stated that a man is to leave his father and mother and cleave or to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly to his wife. Moreover it was said that the two shall be one flesh. This identifies an intimate social union. Two lives knit together, in every way, for life. One flesh seems to denote the two individuals actually becoming as if they were one person. Surely this is a single unit formed by a man and a woman.
The term used initially to describe woman was “a help meet” for man. This also describes the social union of a man and a woman as they work together to follow the call of God in this earth. This call of God is to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it. I would like to focus on the command to multiply, particularly. Multiplication of the human race requires one man and one woman. Since a principal purpose of man to multiply can only be done by a sexual interaction between a man and a woman and since the two are to become one flesh, it is evident that marriage is a union of these two for the purpose of helping each other to multiply and begin the family unit. Webster’s definition of marriage is a Legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. Therefore by biblical, traditional as well as by the most commonly accepted dictionary, Marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
However, in our present day and culture, these clearly drawn lines are becoming blurred. This blurring is not due to ignorance but a willful disregard for the purpose and function of marriage. Those who advocate same sex marriage, largely have disdain for their Creator and His design for the role that marriage is to play in the destiny and call of mankind. Sinful lusts have made their choices for them. Lust toward the member of the same sex has drawn them away from what is right, Holy and pure. Deviant sexual behavior has become a normal standard among such groups of like tendencies. Secular Sociology has gone so far as to say that gender and sex are defined with absolute different meanings. For example, according to Sociology, “sex refers to biological identity, being male or female”. Gender is “the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with members of each sex.” This distinction emphasizes that behavior associated with gender is culturally learned.
The argument made here is that if gender is culturally learned, then it can be redefined by any culture and subculture. If it can be redefined then the social structure of marriage, designed by GOD, can be removed completely by the atheist, agnostic and secularist of today’s society. The battle of the ages has been one of man rebelling against what is good and perfect for him in order to do that which is right in his own mind. It is the author’s belief that same sex unions are willful rebellions against the Creator and Sustainer of life.
With this being said, let us look at the implications of same sex marriage upon a society. In a society where same sex marriage is embraced individual identities become weakened. The role of the individual becomes sordid and the power of family is stifled. There is definitely no continuity for a family that is formed in a same sex marriage. The reproductive process is nonexistent. For we have proven that it takes one of each sex to provide the biological environment for a child to be formed. Without the miracle of reproduction the family dies with the union. With no offspring there is only one generation. There is no need for paternal tendencies and skills to be developed. The maternal and paternal aspects of the individuals lay to waist. This alone is a degeneration of a caring and nurturing society. This dynamic produces a “me” oriented and focused culture, which in turn causes yet another self-centered sect of society to be developed.
The advocates of same sex marriage display an attitude of entitlement that is indicative of the “me” centered individual. Advocates say that same sex marriages are their right and should be normalized in our society. This way of thinking flies in the face of traditional culture. It could be said that these advocates who say that same sex marriage is normal are also saying that traditional marriage is abnormal. For, these two very distinct unions do not agree. Moreover, this entitlement attitude that says “it is my right to have it my way” is degenerative in its very nature. It is degenerative in the sense that it produces a rebellious attitude towards social norms. This is a very dangerous attitude to adopt by any group or individual. Prisons and cemeteries are filled with people who believed that they should have the right to disregard the accepted practices of their culture and society.
It is a commonly accepted fact that a large percentage of these same sex unions are promiscuous or also known as “open relationships”. This also is a symptom of a “me” centered mentality. This sort of activity lends itself to a host of problems for the participants and society as a whole. One such problem is the increased likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or “STDs”. The worst of these STDs is AIDS or its precursor HIV. It is a well-known truth that this particular STD is prevalent among homosexual men. Interaction with a carrier of this deadly disease can prove fatal if extreme caution is not taken. In an open sexual relationship the likelihood of contracting AIDS is multiplied by the number of partners that one has a sexual relationship with. If the same sex marriage is recognized, this behavior will become less concerning over time to the whole of society; thereby increasing the likelihood of the spread of this dreaded incurable disease.
Next on the list of problems is the effect on children that may be adopted into this marriage. While it cannot be said that same sex partners are absolutely incapable of raising a functioning and normal child, there have been no credible studies that have proven children raised in same sex relationships are in any way advantaged by this sort of environment. It could easily be said that these children are certain to be at a great disadvantage. The issue of growing up in a promiscuous family setting would, of itself, lend to the dysfunction of the child. Certainly the child would age to become like the parents in behavior and learned traits. This is a commonly taught pattern in the Sociological world. Moreover, the child raised in this environment is sure to be isolated by their peers and harassed. This also, would lend to delinquency and further rebellion of the child.
When weighed from a strictly academic and sociological view, the negatives certainly out weight the positives; although, some academic minds might disagree. Even history reveals to us no society, that has survived, accepted this same sex marriage into their culture. The argument could be made that some cultures of today are accepting this as a norm in their society. Yet, time will tell the end of the story. History will prove to be the rule and not the exception. It would be foolish to ignore the historical and traditional institution of marriage as being the only acceptable way of uniting in matrimony.
From a theological stance and prospective, this issue might well be weighed in the most sobering light. It has been stated at the beginning of this essay that the Creator of all things had a particular plan and purpose for creating the human race. It can further be stated that deviation from this prescribed course will be dealt with by the mighty hand of this Creator. He evidence of God’s dealing with the same sex issue is seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; two cities that were overrun with homosexuality. According to Genesis 13:13, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. This wickedness was the cause of their destruction.
Moreover, the rebellion of man against God was exemplified in Romans chapter 1. Herein was described the result of man turning from his GOD. In verse 24 it is written, “Therefore GOD gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Verse 26 and 27 say, “For this reasonGod gave them over to (degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
By this theological look at the issue of same sex marriage, we can see that same sex relationships are not natural nor are they acceptable. According to the One who created all things, the person that doesn’t turn from this sort of activity will ultimately be condemned for his deeds. Further, it is realized that homosexuality and lesbianism is a product of rejecting GOD’s leadership in life. This lifestyle is not natural but a result of a reprobate mind. It is not the cause of an Apostate Society, but rather the result of the same. It can further be said that those who applaud or participate in this lifestyle are in a very grave circumstance.
In conclusion, same sex marriage is a rebellious issue that has detriment sewn into its fabric. The removal of the issue all together would serve any society and community in a healing fashion. The fact that our country is even seriously considering same sex marriage is a strong indicator of a society gone astray. The institution of traditional marriage will ever remain the intended plan of God and the only union that can ever be defined as “HOLY MATRIMONY”.
