I received a newsletter concerning the same-sex marriage legislation that is being proposed for Canada. The newsletter was comparing Canada to Australia (a country which has legislated against same-sex marriages), and stressing that if same-sex marriage legislation is passed, it will have a profound detrimental impact on our society. While I do not deny this, the impression I received when reading this newsletter was that same-sex marriage legislation is the one key thing that is opposing traditional marriage in our society; almost as if to say that if the legislation were to be struck down, the state of marriage in our society would no longer be at risk. Here’s some excerpts from the newsletter:
“how marriage is defined will profoundly affect our future stability and our success because it will directly affect families. They [the Australian government] understand that the future of Australia is tied to the strength of her families. Throughout history and across cultures, strong families have always been the essential foundation of strong, resilient and successful societies.” But don’t we understand that we no longer have strong families in this society? Divorce runs rampant in Canada.
“Legalizing same-sex marriage would profoundly and negatively affect the future of the family in Canada or any other country that takes such an action. It would inevitably and irreversibly change the way our children and future generations would look at marriage and its relationship to the family. Instead of viewing marriage as we generally do today, as the ideal and desirable relationship within which to form a family and raise children, future generations increasingly would view it as little more than an official recognition of any two people’s professed affection for each other. If government devalues marriage and the family, as our Government proposes to do through this legislation, then the citizens will soon do so as well.” The government already devalues marriage; its citizens already devalue marriage. Divorce is an acceptable way of dealing with less than ideal marriages. The way our children view marriage has already been skewed. Our society has already been affected.
Just what battle do we think we’re fighting here? If we’re fighting to try to save the state/value of marriage in our society, we’re already too late. We’re already drowning in the flood waters. Can’t we see it? Do we honestly think that if same-sex marriages are stopped, our marriages and the stability of our society will be restored? I don’t think there’s anything we can humanly do to stop this tide. The only one who can rescue us is God. And as long as we think that by our own human effort we will be able to make things right, we will continue to drown.
So you’re saying it’s okay to sit and do nothing? Perhaps that’s part of the reason why we are where we are. Too many people just didn’t do anything!
flowerlady:
No, I am not saying it’s ok to do nothing. I just don’t think using political means is the answer. The policies of the government are a reflection of our society. Government policy will not change people’s attitudes. Whether same-sex marriage legislation is passed or not, the concept of homosexuality is becoming an accepted norm for many people. Why? Because our society is changing. Christian faith, God, church, continue to have less and less meaning for people. Why? Because the body of Christ seems to be having less of any impact on people. And until God can change that, can change us, can change who the body of Christ is, we will remain ineffective in our society. That’s where the change needs to happen.
But really, the point of my post was not to advocate doing nothing. It was to point out the flaws in the arguement that the anti same-sex marriage legislation advocates have. They are trying to paint the picture that if we can just overturn this legislation then our problems will be solved, which is not true. There is a far bigger problem out there, a far bigger threat to the stability of the family: divorce. If the same-sex legislation is overturned, our society will still be unstable, because divorce, the break-up of the family, is an accepted norm in our society. And I believe that this has a greater far-reaching impact than anything else in regards to the traditional family and our society.
I agree that legislation doesn’t solve our problems but it does give many without an absolute standard or a belief in God some paramaters. This is also a struggle in the US. One of the things that is happening here is that less and less are certain politicians aware of what the majority of Americans want and they use their office to promote personal or party agendas. Not that any of this is new to you. I think we should-in love- let our voices be heard and take a stand for things that reflect the values we claim to support as Christians. However, it is that “in Love” part that tends to get left out. Too many of us(Christians) tend to bash each other and those we perceive as sinners with “the Gospel”. The trouble is we forget that the original Gospel is that He loved us enough to lay down His life for us…. Wow, what a rant-all that said …I am a big supporter of “traditional marriage” and sometimes too timid in my stand. I am an even bigger supporter of loving others with the love of Christ,which it seems you and I share.