Real Social Consequences

On the layers of consequence that results from false idols. Religious Influence on Secular Thought is Real There are consequences within the church and the secular world as a result of the biblical truth being suppressed for so long. Here are some of my thoughts on the layers of consequence in the church and secular world. I personally believe it is a much bigger issue than we realize. Because of Christianity's place in world history, and religion's tendency to influence all aspects of human culture over time, the compromise of the reality of the equality of monogyny and polygyny does represent a reprehensible miscalculation. This caused misunderstanding and more pain as men and women failed to understand themselves and/or the full scope of human nature and ways to morally manage it that are without sin. They failed to have the full truth taught in an honest way anywhere. Now we have a generation of serial monogamist who in some ways, rely on the idol of the certificate to affirm the nature/difference/significance of their final monogamous relationship. They exist in a paradigm where the moral goodness of the thing is in the monogamy and the certificate. Neither can be proven necessary for a true biblical marriage, and yet because of their assumptive need in establishing moral relationships and practical benefits economically speaking; the certificate and the monogamy have become nearly universal idols. The Thing we Lift Up to Defend Us So a marriage certificate can definitely be a false idol (false authority): that is the idea that any institution of any kind can legitimize a most natural relationship between man and woman, that is the sexual coupling and/or cohabitation of consenting men and women. The American marriage certificate gives valuable legal and economic advantages to its users, as well as a decent amount of control and influence to the government. The church should understand that our government is a secular institution whose purpose is to fulfill the will of the people. Yes, they are all upset when the court system decides to pass the rights of this government certificate to the gay community. I can't blame the gay community at all for seeking to have such a thing, as it is indeed a constitutional right to seek it legally and now they have succeeded. Now the church is in a tizzy because it doesn't know how to deal with what is happening politically, and is stuck labeling the whole thing as a degradation of God's morals and thus sin. An example of the complications of biblical ignorance. Read This: Kentucky clerk opposed to gay marriage fights attempts to recoup legal fees This is a great example of why this matters, as well as how ignorance and fear have managed to cause a situation steeped in hypocrisy and misunderstanding. This woman genuinely believes she is defending the very law of God by denying a certificate to a gay couple. Obviously the gay community see this as an affront on their freedoms and motivated by hate. They want what they are legally (U.S. Law) entitled to and, in fact have a right to it. The woman is projecting the value of marriage in the eyes of God onto a government issued piece of paper. Her religious standing might be commendable, if in scripture it was made clear that the certificate was indeed marriage in the eyes of God. She has fundamentally misunderstood what biblical marriage is, and is now out of that misunderstanding denying her job duties in the name of "defending marriage". If she doesn't stand up, she isn't being faithful because she honestly believes she is defending biblical marriage, and as a result a generally non-religious minority is being oppressed. If she would study biblical marriage she would see it is deeply connected to heterosexual sex, provision of needs, hierarchy led by God and then the man, and communion and family. Brew on it for awhile. Scripture is consistent and practical A bible believer need not be upset by what is happening in the government / courts, as biblical marriage is founded and rooted in Yahweh and his Word. Marriage in scripture is between a man and a woman exclusively. Whatever is happening between the gays is to me, not marriage and I don't care what they call it. If the Church continues to accept the legitimacy of the certificate in establishing marriage then they must accept gay marriage, because a God ordained institution says so. On the other hand if they deny the certificate they must also reclaim a biblical basis only for marriage, which leads right back to a whole group of God-declared-righteous poly folk. I feel like the church should change it's focus from attacking gay marriage on a state institutionalized level, to affirming biblical marriage on an truth level. Who cares what the fed / state does when God gave them no authority over marriage in our families lives? Now I have one of these certificates with my wife, and I am going to keep it, but to us it is a tool in a socio-political context. A tool we use to help us save money and legally navigate this complex legal environment. The nature of the substance of our marriage consists in God's sight and approval only. It is in the sex, the children that come from that, the family we build, and the companionship we will reap from that. Just as it has been for families from the beginning. We are responsible before God to fulfill our place in our marriage and our family and that is what we do. A Difficult Position to Be In I have no doubt there are some pastors who are of genuine faith that probably shudder at the prospect of having to drop this bomb in the congregation. Can you imagine depending on your church body to feed your children and then being told you need to teach that polygyny is just as acceptable as monogyny? All I would say to them is lean heavy into God in prayer and study. I'm not in that position but it is a perplexing issue to consider from my angle. The truth may be buried, but it MUST BLOOM. Its going to be painful for a lot of people, and much of this pain is most definitely the consequence of false doctrine. I hope that God will move and establish his true laws and principles through the power of his Spirit in the Church. I hope we can rely on the goodness and truth and consistency that is his word, and in that confidence find love and inclusion for the non-believing world.