With a 4-3 vote, on Wednesday, February 4, 2004, the highest court of the state of Massachusetts clarified an earlier opinion ruling in favor of homosexual marriage. This ruling classifies Massachusetts with Hawaii and Vermont in officially granting marriage rights and benefits to homosexual couples. Although Vermont's law differs from the other two in description (Domestic Partner Law), the results are the same: homosexual relationships are officially and legally recognized by these states.

   With these decisions, the United States has now stepped onto the slippery slope that several other countries have occupied for some time. Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands offer full marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. France, Iceland, Norway and Sweden offer comparable "legal status" to civil unions. Ontario and British Columbia now accept gay marriages and it appears that the rest of Canada will soon succumb to political pressures to comply. In Canada, it is federal law that defines marriage. Since most Canadian officials reject a patchwork solution to the problem, national legalization of gay marriage seems inevitable. With the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada, lesbian and gay Americans may enter Canada one day and come back as husband and husband or wife and wife on the next day. It is being said that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls could very well become a "gay Las Vegas," with quickie weddings for lesbian and gay Americans.

   Some Catholics say that homosexuality is not sinful because it is not specifically condemned in any of the four Gospels. They overlook the fact that fornication is condemned in two of the Gospels (Matt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21), and fornication includes all types of illicit sexual relations including homosexuality. Furthermore, Paul told the saints at Rome that he was ready to preach the "gospel" to them (Rom. 1:15,16). This "gospel" includes a list of attitudes and behaviors that will result in one being doomed in spiritual death and separation from God (Romans 1:18-32). Among the sins discussed in this list is the sin of homosexuality. I cite verses 26 and 27:

   What is commonly known as "gay" and "lesbian" sexual conduct is defined in this passage as being sinful and unnatural. Along with those who practice the other sins listed in these verses, those who do such things are "worthy of death" (Rom. 1:32). Of course, any sin, including homosexuality, can be repented of and forgiven. For instance, consider 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

   Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers and thieves can be "washed, sanctified and justified." However, not in their sins! They must quit their sinning in order to have the hope of forgiveness (Lk. 13:3,5; Acts 17:30; 2:38). The same is true with the effeminate and homosexuals. Paul described those who do such things as "unrighteous" and said they "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Though some of the Corinthians had practiced these sins in the past, they had repented of those sins and met the other conditions of God's grace that enabled them to be justified (Acts 18:8).

   The Greek word for homosexuals (arsenokoites) is also found in 1 Timothy 1:10. It means for a man to lie with mankind as he would womankind. This definition is actually found in the Old Testament. Leviticus 18:22 says, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." The Old Testament imposed the death penalty upon homosexuality. Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." We are not judged by Mosaic law today, but as we saw earlier, the New Testament condemns homosexuality just as plainly as the Old Testament and we will be judged by that law (Jn. 12:48). Judges 19:22 makes reference to sodomites that lived in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. Their wicked actions resulted in a tribe of Israel being almost wiped completely out!

   Homosexuality was also condemned under the Patriarchal system. Genesis 19:5 speaks of the wicked men of Sodom demanding of Lot that he allow them to have sex with his male visitors (hence, the name "sodomites"). God destroyed the men of Sodom with a devastating destruction. Jude said that God had set Sodom and Gomorrah forth as examples, "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7).

   Homosexuality has always been a violation of God's law, and it has always been severely punished.

   Gay marriage is simply not authorized by God! Referring to Genesis 2:24, Jesus said:

   God made man male and female and authorized their being yoked together in a marriage relationship. Every Bible passage that addresses marriage, addresses a male/female relationship. In order to avoid sexual immorality Paul said for each man to have his own wife, and for each woman to have her own husband"(1 Cor. 7:2). Homosexual relations are condemned in Scripture. Worldly, secular minds may reason that gay marriages should be accepted. However, no Bible believer can defend such marriages.

   Along with being unauthorized, gay marriage does not accomplish God's will for the marriage union. After making man "male and female" He told them to "be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:27-28). Homosexual unions cannot multiply. In fact, the very concept of homosexuality is inherently flawed. If practiced by all humans, the practice of homosexuality would terminate the entire human population in just one generation.

   Once the traditional and biblical standard of what constitutes a "marriage" has been abandoned, the flood gates are thrown open for state recognition of other forms of sexual perversity. For example, the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) has been pressing to be accepted. Will some states next grant marriage rights for pedophiles to "marry" young boys? And what about those who practice bestiality? Bestiality involves sexual relations between humans and animals. Leviticus 18:23 specifically condemns the practice. Like homosexuality and lesbianism, bestiality is a type of fornication. Will some states soon be granting marriage licenses for one to "marry" his pet goat or dog? Where will this end? Polygamists are already clamoring for legal recognition of their relationships. Mormonism once forced this country to take a stand against polygamy. Will that stance now be reversed? Let us review the digression that has already occurred in this country when it comes to the institution of marriage:

1. Marriage was seen as a divine institution between an eligible man and an eligible woman. Divorce was considered shameful and was difficult to obtain. It was acceptable only in cases where one's mate was sexually immoral. This was in harmony with Matthew 5:32 and 19:9.
2. Divorce standards began to loosen. Divorces could be more easily obtained, and for lesser reasons than just sexual immorality.
3. Marriage licenses were then granted to those who had divorced for causes other than sexual immorality. State laws approved adulterous remarriages (Matt. 19:9).
4. People lost respect for the institution of marriage. Couples began to live together (shack up) outside of the commitment of the marriage bond.
5. "Domestic partner" legislation was passed in some states, opening the door for legal benefits to be extended to gay partners.
6. Hawaii and Massachusetts have now approved gay marriages. The state of Massachusetts will be granting marriage licenses to homosexuals beginning in May, 2004.
7. A battle has been fought in the state of California over "gay marriage." San Francisco has allowed hundreds of gay and lesbian couples to "marry" each other. Fortunately, the state claims not to sanction those marriages. Just one week later, a New Mexico county (Sandoval) began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

   Where will this end? What do you think will be next?

   The Bible says that "evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). Sin and error are restrained only when Bible believers speak out boldly against them to stem the tide (2 Thess. 2:7). We cannot wait any longer. Let us speak out against these perversions. And let us speak out against the foolish notion that human legislators and courts have the role of defining and "ratifying" marriage. God is not going to allow civil courts or legislation to "ratify" gay marriages in Massachusetts or anywhere else! Rome once thought that it could defy God's moral standards, but Rome was "thrown down with violence, and shall not be anymore" (Rev. 18:21). Will that also be this nation's fate?

Tim Haile