What is to be the Christians response in a pluralistic society with respect to civil/gay marriage?
Aren't we to preach the truth in love through (voting, preaching, teaching, witnessing, conversation, lack of funding, etc.)
Questions:
Is our role to tell non-believers they cannot or may not do this thing (gay marriage) or is it our role to point out the error of their decision in light of Biblical truth?
Is a civil gay marriage a marriage according to the Bible? As long as they are not trying to replace Biblical marriage with civil/gay marriage what does impact does that have on the Church?
What implications (slippery slope issues) are there from having civil gay marriage that may impact the church?
What more should the Christian do about gay marriage other than voicing their opinion through teaching, preaching, voting and funding?
What is the difference in our response to the existence of a false church (Morman/Jehovah Witness, etc.) and the existence of a false marriage i.e. gay marriage? The church lives alongside false churches in society, why can Biblical marriage live along the side of a false marriage in society?
Does gay marriage have a right to exist in secular society just as a false church has a right to exist?
Is our role to stop them from existing or is it to preach the gospel showing the error?
Paul preached on Mars Hill, but he did not tell them to take it down. He pointed out the statues but did not tell them to take them down.
Where is my following response off target?
Gay marriage, even though sanctioned by the state is not right according to the Bible, it is consider sinful for individuals of the same sex to have sex with one another. The Bible defines marriage as between one man and one woman, therefore gay marriage is not true marriage according to the Bible. You can do it as a non believer, the state approves it, but I am not going to approve of it. I will speak my opinion through preaching, teaching, witnessing, conversation and with holding my money to support it.
Doesn't Paul give guidance about this very matter in 1 Corinthian's 5:9-12?
If the church was going to sanction gay marriage and call it right my response would be different because that is a different matter. Thank you for helping me understand where I may be missing the mark.... Michael
EDIT: It is very unwise to post your e-mail address publicly. Spammers love to grab them for illicit purposes as you doubtless know.
(Pilgrim)
