Marriage Battle

                The war between good and evil continues with the marriage battle.  When this battle ends, there will be other battles to fight until the return of Jesus Christ to earth.  We must stay strong and continue our fight.

The Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments about marriage last week.  On Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the Justices heard arguments on California’s Proposition 8, and they heard arguments about the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.  The Proposition 8 arguments on Tuesday focused on those who want to marry while the DOMA case on Wednesday concerns those who are already married. 

                The Justices will deliver their decisions on the cases in June, but court watchers are suggesting possible conclusions.  In the Proposition 8 case, the Justices weighed the fundamental issue of whether or not the Constitution requires that people be allowed to marry whom they choose, regardless of the gender of either partner.  There was a question of why the Supreme Court was even hearing this case:  no state recognized the unions of same-sex couples before 2003 and forty states still do not allow them.  The Justices made clear from the beginning of the eighty-minute argument that they had doubts about whether they should even hear the challenge to California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.  There was a suggestion that the case could be dismissed with no ruling at all, an outcome that would probably allow gay marriages in California but have no effect in any other state.

                The DOMA case could also falter on a legal technicality without a definite ruling by the Supremes.  The first fifty minutes of this argument focused on “whether the House Republican leadership can defend the law in court because the administration decided not to, and whether the administration forfeited its right to participate in the case because it changed its position and now argues that the provision is unconstitutional.”  If the case ends without a definitive ruling, the Defense of Marriage Act would remain on the books.

                Same-sex marriage supporters as well as pro-marriage citizens gathered in Washington, D.C., to support their causes.   UKDailyMail reported that “Both sides of the debate were out in force, with Christian opponents easily outnumbering advocates for gay marriage.”  We would never know this information except for foreign media sources.

Thousands of pro-marriages citizens from across America peacefully gathered at the National Mall on March 26 to send two simple messages to the Supreme Court:  “Respect Our Votes!” and “Kids Deserve a Mom and a Dad!”   The March for Marriage was led by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and a coalition of more than forty-five organizations, all united for the common purpose of defending marriage between one man and one woman.  The event featuring more than twenty speakers demanded that the Supreme Court “respect the millions upon millions of Americans who have voted to enact laws protecting marriage in their state constitutions.”

                Brian Brown, President of NOM said, “A diverse crowd of more than 10,000 marched today to show that those who protect marriage are on the right side of history.  The Supreme Court has no right to redefine marriage and roll back the efforts of Americans to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman, the only social arrangement that gives children the mother and father they deserve.”

                Brown continued, “The fact that our supporters remained peaceful, kneeling in prayer and singing songs and chants even in the face of verbal attacks and intimidation by our opponents is a testament to the respectful way pro-marriage activists carry themselves, even when harassed."

                Brown concluded, “Forget the media hype and confusion, our numbers today show that the American people are strongly pro-marriage and pro-marriage Americans aren’t going anywhere.  This is the beginning of the fight to protect marriage.  Our opponents know this, which is why they are hoping the Supreme Court will cut short a debate they know they will ultimately lose if the political process and democracy are allowed to run their course.  Those who believe that marriage is the unique and special union of one man and one woman are on the right side of history.”

                There are numerous opinions on the Internet about why there is a war on marriage.  The staff at Conservative Headquarters believes that this war is a political means to destroy the foundation of America.  “Today’s Supreme Court hearings on same-sex marriage come cloaked in an aura of solemn legal proceedings, but they have little to do with the Constitution and everything to do with the raw politics of the campaign to replace the foundations of American exceptionalism with radical secular liberalism….

                Today, Christians are the only religious believers in America that are regularly subjected to publicly sanctioned discrimination.  From the petty (such as banning Christmas displays) to the personal (such as schools and employers banning the wearing of Christian religious symbols) to the fundamental attacks on Christian beliefs perpetrated by the federal government through the Obamacare abortion and contraception mandates, Christians are subjected to a relentless campaign to stifle the public profession or demonstration of Christian belief – and to prevent them from living and conducting their businesses according to those beliefs.

                “None of this is by accident in our view.

                “The Left long ago figured out that traditional Christian faith is the greatest obstacle to their agenda – and that if secular liberalism was to become the governing philosophy of America, then traditional Christianity would have to be destroyed and replaced with something more akin to the state-sponsored churches of Red China.

                “If Christians are left alone to freely practice their faith, then many elements of Barack Obama’s secular liberal agenda (such as Obamacare) would fall, or at least lose some of its most oppressive and coercive elements.

                “Today’s Supreme Court hearing isn’t really about fairness or the separation of powers between the states and the federal government.  It is about forcing traditional Christians to accept radical homosexual practices and the radical secular liberal agenda, stifling traditional Christian religious freedom and undermining the influence of traditional Christian practices and beliefs on American culture.

                “That is the goal of this week’s hearings at the Supreme Court and ultimately of the secular left.”

                Doug Hagmann believes the hearings are more sinister in nature.  “What we are seeing today in the fight for `equal rights’ by homosexual activists is the culmination of an agenda that was set in motion more than a half-century ago.  Before you can fully understand and appreciate what is taking place today, you must first understand that you are being lied to, hoodwinked, and manipulated into the erroneous belief that the issue is about `civil rights’ or `equal rights.’  It’s not.  It’s a deliberate perversion of the moral integrity of our society to advance a much larger and more nefarious agenda.

                “The Progressive homosexual agenda is a tool of those who are seeking the destruction of America.  The activists hypnotized by the illusion of equal rights are nothing more than pawns duped into believing they are fighting for tolerance and inclusion, while the end game scenario leaves no room at the proverbial table for them.  What is taking place today is the systematic destruction of a nation from within, and is insidious in nature and effectiveness by its simplicity.  It is a tactic that uses the pretext of tolerance to break down our cultural standards of morality.  You might be surprised to learn that presenting homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as `normal, natural, healthy’ was identified as one of the goals of the Communist agenda for the takeover of America as read into the United States Congressional record on January 10, 1963 by Rep. A. S. Herlong of Florida.  Of course, the mere mention of such an inconvenient truth will earn you the title of conspiracy nut within the corporate media.

                “If that premise is so far-fetched, one must ask how a mere 3.8% of the U.S. population who identify themselves as homosexuals, bisexuals and `transgendered’ are able to wage such an effective campaign to redefine the morality of our nation.  And even that number is arguably generous as it includes all natures of behavior that do not fit within the definition of traditional heterosexual behavior.  So, how is it possible that such a small percentage of our population is able to polarize a nation?

                “The answer is simple.  The homosexual agenda is an extremely well-organized, well-funded initiative to destroy our core moral values, redefine what is healthy and normal, and to erode our Judeo-Christian values for a greater purpose.  Much like the feminist movement of the 1960s, it is simply one battle of a larger war against America….

                “The fight for the recognition of homosexual marriage rights is not about equal rights, but the promotion of special rights.  It’s not about civil rights, but about moral wrongs.  It’s not about tolerance, but redefining the traditional moral values of our nation.  It is a perverse and sustained assault against our culture.”

                Hagmann concluded his article by stating that “those who choose silence over vocal opposition are complicit and will be held accountable for the violation of our values and for the fate of our nation….  Tolerance of an immoral behavior becomes itself immoral.  Therefore, we will be judged accordingly by our silence.”

                Still another idea was put forth by John Horvat who claims that the bottom line on marriage has to do with economics.  “There are those who claim that the notion of traditional marriage should be `redefined.’  In fact, the Supreme Court is now considering the future of marriage in this country.  Those who advocate `redefining’ marriage fail to understand that we do so at great risk.

                “There are plenty of moral arguments that deal with the need to defend traditional marriage.  However, many refuse to recognize the existence of an objective morality.  For these, perhaps the best way to explain the importance of this essential institution is in terms that people today understand best – economic terms.  If one can reduce things to the bottom line, it seems people sit up and take notice.

                “And so the bottom line is this:  a wedding is more than just a social celebration; it is also a major economic event.  It signals the entry of a new entity – the family – into economy that naturally favors balanced production and consumption.  By its very nature, the family expands the economy by celebrating the coming of life since children are seen as blessings, not burdens….

                “The bottom line is that the heart and soul of economy is found in the family based on indissoluble marriage.  Strong families lead to strong economies.  Frenzied lifestyles cause frenzied markets with their restless spirit of frenetic intemperance.  That is the long and short of it.”

                I believe this entire battle is just a distraction from other more serious problems.  I have little doubt that the marriage battle will continue in the United States regardless of the decisions made by the Supreme Court.  Pro-marriage advocates are not going away, and neither are those who want to redefine marriage.  We will continue to fight this battle because we know that marriage between one man and one woman is ordained of God.  We know that marriage has been between a man and a woman since the time that God performed the marriage ceremony of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  We know that man does not have the power and authority to change the laws of God.  Same-sex marriage may win the battle on earth, but marriage will continue to be one man and one woman throughout eternity.