How should conservative, Canadian Christians respond to the passage of the homosexual bill, Bill C-38, re-defining the marriage covenant in Canada?
Dear Reader,
On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, Paul Martin’s liberal government of Canada successfully passed Bill C-38, which re-defines marriage in Canada to be a contract or union between any two individuals regardless of gender, by 158 to 133 votes. It should be noted that, contrary to media assertion, most Canadians are not in favour of a re-definition of marriage.
Since this is a legal act of government, conservative Christians ought to know how to respond to this new law. Here is sound biblical advice for the conservative Christian:
1. First of all, biblical Christians must ever remember that they are to be courteous and respectful to every individual; and that they should always seek to obey their government when its legislation does not contradict God’s law. Biblical Christians believe that God has instituted governments that mankind might live harmoniously, safely, and peacefully in his society. We read, for example, in the book of Romans: (Rom 13:1 KJV) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. This text simply says that God has instituted governments and that the citizens should be obedient to them.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ has also admonished His followers to be obedient to God and to their government. For example in Mark 12:17 He says: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”. In matters of morality Christians are guided, not by governments and their legislation, but by God and His legislation first and foremost. Everyone and and everything else take second place. As was written in previous articles, when government legislation contradicts God’s laws or guidance, then God comes first regardless of the human consequences; for in the end God will vindicate his faithful servants.
2. Biblical Christians must continue to affirm their belief in God’s pattern of marriage for humanity; and this pattern for all human beings is found in Genesis chapter 2: 23, 24: And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And in the words of Jesus Christ we read, in Matthew 19:4-6: Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.
Here Christ tells us very clearly, that in the beginning God made mankind male and female; and He joined them in matrimony (marriage); and He declared that no man, whether government or king, or individual, must ever break asunder, or re-define, this male/female marriage pattern. The usage of the expression “Let no man” is grammatically emphatic and authoritative. And no human being should ever contradict that command. Whoever does so will eventually have to face the consequences, whether he likes it or not, or whether he believes it or not.
3. Biblical Christians are to teach their children to obey God’s morality and not man’s regardless of the consequences. Man’s morality, as the world witnesses today, only brings pain, suffering, violence, disease, and death. Here is how the Bible admonishes Christian parents and teachers, found in the book of Deuteronomy: (Deut 11:18 KJV) Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deut 11:19 KJV) And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
As we teach our children to obey God faithfully, we must also remember that we must teach them to be kind, respectful, and prudent; modeling how and when to speak of God’s laws when they contradict human laws. The advice that Christ gives us is found in Matthew 10:16, it says that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
4. Biblical Christians are to warn their fellowmen that rejecting God’s morality for human pseudo morality will bring in this world, suffering, disease, violence, and death; and in the world to come, the loss of eternal life. And there can be nothing worse than to lose eternal life. This is how the writer, Ezekiel, put it: (Ezek 33:7 KJV) So you, O son of man, I have set you as watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them for me. (Ezek 33:8 KJV) When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand. (Ezek 33:9 KJV) Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.
Christians and non-Christians should take this admonition very seriously; for their own life and the life of non Christians depend on everyone’s response to God’s requests. Therefore, dear friends, let us not be fearful; but let us be wise and prudent; seeking always to turn men and women from sinfulness to the saving grace that is found only in Jesus Christ. In seeking to warn men of their wickedness we may become martyrs for God; we may be imprisoned, fined, or abused. As such, we will be in God’s Hall of Fame. Let us, however, be assured of one fact, and that is, in the end God will vindicate His faithful people and grant to them eternal life in a New Earth. Take courage and God bless.
Pastor Ron is a retired Adventist pastor. Reach him at ron.hende@gmail.com. with your comments.