JCSM's Weekly Devotions

"Same-Sex Marriages and Homosexuality"

Genesis 2:21-24  "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  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 a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Matthew 18:15-17  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

Matthew 19:4-6  "And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at 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 flesh’?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

Romans 1:18-32  "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.  For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Insight: The Bible tells us that marriage is a covenant between one man, one woman, and God Himself.  Biblical marriage (which is redundant because the very concept of marriage was given to us first by the Bible) is never between two people of the same sex.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and help us to love one another.  Thank you for giving us an instruction manual on how to live.  Thank you for the people who love You deeply and do your will.  Forgive those who disobey You and repent from their sins.  Help us to treat homosexual Christians with love and gently rebuke them in private, so they can be restored.  Convict those who seemingly have no convictions on this issue and educate them on biblical marriage and how it is the best way and the only way.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

On March 23, 1925, Tennessee passed a creation law for its public schools. The Butler Act stated that "it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the universities, normal and all other public schools of the state which are supported in whole or in part by the public funds of the state to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." Critics immediately made plans to test the law. A staged conviction under the law involved John T. Scopes (see July 24).

This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."

Marriage is the basic molecule for the organism of society.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

We're thankful that God's grace is given to all people, in all places, at all times.

Same-sex marriage disregards biblical oneness in marriage.

The word "one" in Genesis 2:25 is the same Hebrew word that is used for the trinity.

Marriage is so important to God, He used it to illustrate the intimacy between God and Israel and Christ and His church.

The Bible opens with a marriage between a man and woman and it ends with Christ receiving His bride - the church.

The Bible never approves of same-sex marriage, but refers to a marriage between one man and one woman every time.

To affirm same-sex marriage is to throw out the owner's manual and do things your own way.

Marriage - in every culture around the world - has been between a man and a woman.

Same-sex marriage denies children the right of being raised by a mother and a father.

Same-sex marriage isn't drive by the children's best interests.  It's driven by the radical wishes of certain adults.

Kids who live with their married mother and father thrive more than any other situation.

Same-sex marriage defies the perennial history of marriage.

Same-sex marriage decides for the minority at the expense of the majority.  In California, there are 6.5 million traditional families and 92,000 (1.4%) same-sex families.

We need a marriage amendment so people who know marriage is between a man and a woman aren't defined as bigots committing hate crimes.

Allowing same-sex marriage doesn't expand marriage.  It destroys it.

If same-sex marriage is legal, business that decline to recognize same-sex marriage will suffer consequences.

If we don't pass this amendment, my civil right to teach the truth about marriage will be threatened.

If we don't pass this amendment, churches will be pressured to marry people of the same sex.

Children will be taught that homosexual same-sex marriage is ok and traditional marriage is optional.

You can't legislate morality, but God will hold people accountable for their immorality.

These notes came from the Holy Spirit, David Jeremiah, and Jason Gastrich.  If you'd like to read more wise quotes, you can either visit our Quotations Archive or get a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.