On the day that the Australian Parliament has knocked down the latest attempt at redefining marriage, we hear that NSW is going down the track of Tasmania and South Australia of having separate state laws in favour of homosexual "marriage." Bill Muehlenberg exhorts the churches to make a stand,

 Marriage Wars: No More Cheap Excuses
from CultureWatch by Bill Muehlenberg

Francis Schaeffer once said words to this effect about abortion and the responsibility of the churches: “There should be a sign in front of every abortion clinic that reads: ‘Open by permission of the church’.” There is of course plenty of truth in that statement.

While there are many churches and Christians who are standing against abortion, there certainly are far too many which are not. By failing to be salt and light in this area, we have allowed the abortion holocaust to continue largely unabated. And we will have blood on our hands as a result.

The same is tragically true in the marriage wars. Far too many believers, churches, and church leaders have said and done nothing in this key battle. They have sat back and watched this most fundamental of institutions be ravaged and destroyed by the militants.

The silence of the churches has simply been deafening here. Given that marriage is the key institution made by God, appearing in the opening chapters of Genesis, and still going strong in the closing chapters of Revelation, how in the world can believers be so blasé about it?

How can they not care about something which God cares about so very deeply? How can they not be fully concerned and fully involved in the defence of this most basic and crucial of all God’s gifts to us? How can they just sit by in blatant apathy and indifference?

We have abandoned our responsibilities here as believers big time, and we will one day have to give an account before our Lord as to why we allowed his endearing institution to be lost without a fight. We will then have nothing to say, as we hang our heads in shame, realising how reckless and disobedient we were.

So if marriage is destroyed in Australia and believers did nothing to prevent this from happening, what will they tell God when they stand before him? What lame excuses will they seek to drag up? What lousy justifications will they try to offer? Well, many cheap excuses come to mind here:

-But I was just so busy watching TV and playing games
-Oh, I did not think you cared that much about marriage
-I didn’t want to be seen as judgmental
-But our church was more interested in entertainment and feeling good about ourselves
-I did not want to offend anyone
-You really did not expect me to take my faith seriously did you?
-I thought Christianity was just a private affair
-Jesus did it all, so I just enjoyed the free ride
-Religion and politics don’t mix
-We are just supposed to save souls
-But I did not want to rock the boat
-It did not seem like a loving thing to do to defend marriage
-We are meant to be peacemakers and not cause any trouble
-I was so busy looking after myself and my wants that I just could not get involved
-I really did not think that redefining marriage would be so important
-The church is not supposed to be divisive
-I was in the process of getting a new high score in my Facebook game
-It seemed polishing my new car was more important
-I did not want to upset anyone or lose any friends over this
-Believers should not be involved in worldly issues like politics
-Jesus does not want us to be so unloving and divisive
-The world is going down the tubes anyway, so why waste time trying to reform it?
-But my favourite sporting events were on at the time
-I did not want to appear to be too radical

Please feel free to add your own lousy excuses here. Plenty more could be offered. But not one of them will stand up on that day when we stand before him. We will instead realise in an instant what fools and disobedient rascals we were.

Our heads will hang in shame as we realise what selfish and rebellious Christians we have been. Those outstretched, nail-scarred hands will remind us immediately that Jesus gave everything for us, while we couldn’t even get off the stupid TV for a few minutes to stand up for his most precious institution.

Well did Bonhoeffer say, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

And well did Leonard Ravenhill say, “Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously’?”

So let me ask you again: what are you doing right now to save marriage? If you are not doing anything, why not? What lousy excuses will you offer to your Lord when you appear before him?

I've been thinking quite a bit about marriage, particularly following the "Defining Marriage" broadcast last night.

Here are some thoughts, in no particular order:

* Marriage is intrinsic to society. Regardless of our theology, ideology or philosophy, how we define marriage will affect everyone in a society becasue, if nothing else, it affects the way we raise children. We are now reaping a terrible harvest of  dysfunctional families, damaged people, crime, substance abuse and much more becasue of the watering down of our commitment to marriage since the 1970's. Easy divorce, recognition and encouragement of de facto relationships and the "try before you buy" approach to living together are all contributing to generations not knowing who they are. As John Anderson pointed out, this costs our nation billions in various social welfare, health and other programmes.

*  Marriage is more than sex. Sex is good and designed by God to not just make children but to bond people together and strengthen their love commitment. There are hormones released during sexual intercourse which not only make us feel good but increase our love for our spouse. Sex helps make the commitment of marriage possible. But marriage is ultimately designed to be an exclusive commitment of a man to a woman for life.

* Marriage provides a secure environment  in which children can grow and understand their own identity. They receive a different form of affirmation from mum as from dad. Mothers are nurturers and protectors while fathers encourage exploration and courage. Same sex marriage not only denies this complimentary parenting, it also denies the biological identity of the children- you might argue this is the case for any adoption but the point is that this is not fundamental to the design of marriage as it is for same sex relationships.

 * Marriage provides security for the partners. When marriage is truly honoured by all, there is no fear of abandonment, no need to compete with an infinite number of potential sexual rivals. Marriage provides for ongoing care and support through all of life's crises and dfficulties.

* There has been an amazing turn around in the thinking of so-called progressives on the issue of marriage. It used to be considered smart to repudiate marriage. "We don't need that piece of paper." Now the same people are demanding this out-dated institution must be made open to everyone.

* Gay activist Dennis Altman was quoted in the "Defining Marriage" broadcast as saying that while there are many long lasting male homosexual relationships they are almost never monogamous. In other words the traditional condition of "forsaking all others" or exclusivity- fundamental to marriage-  is rarely practised.

*  Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson pointed out that once the State determines that marriage is the right of people of the same gender, it then has to defend that against those who disagree. The inevitable consequence is that the rights of those who disagree are taken away. In Denmark the Lutheran church must now sanction same-sex marriage and, if the local priest refuses, the bishop must provide a compliant priest. In Quebec a register of homophobic acts has now been introduced as a means of intimidating those who dare suggest that there is something wrong or immmoral with homosexuality.

* As a follower of Jesus Christ I must follow His teaching and not my own desires. Christians have a different standard to the world- or at least they should. The world says that we should be free to express our  sexuality any way we like. Jesus says that I may not do just what I please, that my sexuality and every part of my being are subject to His reign.

Ray Ortlund writes some very good advice

"Rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18

It does not say, “Rejoice in your young wife,” though that is biblical and delightful (Deuteronomy 24:5). It says, “Rejoice in the wife of your youth” — that girl you married when you both were younger. By now, time has gone by. Maybe a lot of time. But nothing important has changed. She is still that girl who gave herself to you on your wedding day. She put herself in your arms. She could not have been more vulnerable and trusting. Remember that. Dwell on that. Marvel at that.

Remember how you used to laugh and have fun, because you so liked each other? You can have that again. Go back there. Yes, so much in life has changed. You both have seen trouble and sorrow, maybe more than you ever dreamed you would. But you still have her, and she counts for more than all the troubles in the world. Look at her. Look closely. Notice how much about her has not changed. Dwell on that. Think about her faithfulness to you through the years, despite your weaknesses and failings, through the many hardships, all by the grace of God. Meditate on the divine mercy she represents to you. Let your heart melt again, and rejoice in God and in her.

Your marriage is not a prison, and you have not received a death sentence — except to your selfishness. Your marriage can be a God-given source of rejoicing. How wonderful of God that release from shallow Self is a pathway into ever deeper joy with her, as long as you both shall live.

Pat Robertson has come out with some wacky stuff over the years, but his latest pronouncement is amongst the most worrying of them all.

Most christians would agree that marriage vows are life-long. There is no "get out of jail free" card, no crossing your fingers. It's a life-long commitment... even through Alzheimer's.

If you say there is any get out clause where do we end up with drawing the line. In the end this view of marriage becomes indistinguishable from the secular world's view.

Pat Robertson Says Divorce Okay if Spouse has Alzheimer's


Pat Robertson advised a viewer of yesterday's 700 Club to avoid putting a "guilt trip" on those who want to divorce a spouse with Alzheimer's. During the show's advice segment, a viewer asked Robertson how she should address a friend who was dating another woman "because his wife as he knows her is gone." Robertson said he would not fault anyone for doing this. He then went further by saying it would be understandable to divorce a spouse with the disease.

"That is a terribly hard thing," Robertson said. "I hate Alzheimer's. It is one of the most awful things because here is a loved one—this is the woman or man that you have loved for 20, 30, 40 years. And suddenly that person is gone. They're gone. They are gone. So, what he says basically is correct. But I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something he should divorce her and start all over again. But to make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her."

Co-host Terry Meeuwsen asked Pat, "But isn't that the vow that we take when we marry someone? That it’s For better or for worse. For richer or poorer?"

Robertson said that the viewer's friend could obey this vow of "death till you part" because the disease was a "kind of death." Robertson said he would understand if someone started another relationship out of a need for companionship.

Robertson gave the example of a friend who faithfully visited his wife every day even though she could not remember his visits to illustrate the difficulty of caring for someone with the disease.

"It's really hurtful because they say crazy things," Robertson said. "Nevertheless, it is a terribly difficult thing for somebody. I can't fault him for wanting some kind of companionship. And if he says in a sense she is gone, he's right. It's like a walking death. Get some ethicist besides me to give you an answer because I recognize the dilemma and the last thing I'd do is condemn you for taking that kind of action."

Robertson's advice stands in stark contrast with most theologians and ethicists who would advise fidelity. The decision would not be easy.

 

Full article here

Egyptian cuts off penis to torpedo marriage

An Egyptian has cut off his own penis in protest at his parents' choice of bride, a police official said.

The 25-year-old labourer from the village of Sheikh Eissa in southern Egypt was taken to hospital in stable condition, the official said, adding that the man had also mutilated his testicles.

"He was in love with a woman but his parents rejected her and told him to marry another woman he didn't want. He took a knife and cut off his penis in his room," the official said.

Doctors were unable to reattach the severed member, the official added.

Megachurch Co-Pastors Announce Divorce
By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter

The married duo pastoring one of the nation's biggest churches is planning for divorce.

Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International in Tampa, Fla., announced their decision to split at their Thursday evening service, shocking most congregants and bringing some to tears.

"It's the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my entire life," Randy White told the congregation with Paula by his side at the podium appearing choked up, according to Tampa Bay Online.

Married nearly 18 years, the Whites, who have both been married and divorced before, said in interviews that the split is amicable. They also mentioned that the divorce comes after years of visits to counselors.

Trouble in the couple's marriage was picked up by The Tampa Tribune in May as the two were rarely seen preaching together anymore.

Both blamed the two different directions their lives are going.

Paula, 41, the church's senior pastor, leads her own ministry, making frequent trips as a sought-after speaker, author and televangelist. She leads monthly services at her newly opened Life by Design Empowerment Center in New York, appears regularly on "The Tyra Banks Show" as a life coach and serves as oversight pastor at Family Praise Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Meanwhile, Randy, 49, has been traveling to Malibu, Calif., where he plans to start another church, he told his Tampa congregation. He already signed a one-year lease on a beachfront dwelling there but plans for the new church are on hold, according to TBO.

Randy White will remain at Without Walls as senior pastor and Paula will remain based in Tampa and pledged to return frequently to preach.

Some congregants said the surprising announcement won't deter their continual attendance.

The announcement "didn't weaken the church in any way," said Kerran Fuller, who has been attending the church for less than a year, according to the TBO.

Still, Randy predicts attendance at the 23,000-member church "will take a hit" and finances will also be affected. Paula White Ministries brings in about $50,000 to $80,000 a week, said Randy.