FGGAM Welcomes Pastor Derek Smith His First Post is on God and Marriage

What Did God Say?

By Pastor Derek Smith of Legacy Church in Albuquerque, NM

The Marriage debate in our country seems to be in the headlines of every major publication. Each side has passionate people that feel very strongly about their own opinions concerning marriage. Many people argue their personal experiences; others will opine vehemently about the truths that they hold in their own minds. In reality, the fact that there is debate over this subject shows the lack of respect that we as a nation now hold for God.

As Christians, when we are asked about our views on marriage, abortion, or any other moral issue, our response should be uniform. I’m not implying that we should all agree with each other on every issue of the day, but we should agree with God. Recently, I was asked to share my opinion on the gay marriage issue. My response was “It doesn’t matter what my opinion is.” This individual rebuked me. They told me that they truly valued my opinion. I responded by saying “While I appreciate the value that you hold for my opinion, none of our opinions really matter. What really matters is what God said. “ Let’s keep in mind that God has never had an opinion since the dawn of time; He only has truth. II Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Clearly, everything God ever told us through His word is absolute truth.

After Paul lays the foundation for the inerrancy and the authority of the scriptures, he goes on to implore us to devote ourselves to the study of it – “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As servants of God, it is our responsibility to devote ourselves to the study of God’s Word. As we do, we will find that more doors of opportunity will open to us to be able to inject God’s Word into our society. I long for the day when Christians, while being interviewed on television, will stand with conviction and proclaim God’s Word – not just their opinion. Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Let us never be so arrogant as to think that are opinions are even near the same level as God’s thoughts. The way to show true wisdom is to come into agreement with what God has already said.

So what has God said about marriage? I’m glad you asked. Genesis 2:24 states: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” You may be thinking “well, that’s the Old Testament (as if the Old Testament has no bearing on our lives today.) In Matthew 19:4-5, Jesus reaffirms this: “He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’?”

There are a myriad of scriptures that speak to the sin of homosexuality (specifically Romans 1:18-31 and 1 Corinthians 6:9). Let us lay aside any pride that convinces us that every opinion is equal, especially when compared to God’s Word. Does God love everyone? Absolutely and unequivocally He does. Will He tolerate sin because society does? Absolutely and unequivocally – no.