In Defense of Marriage

I come before you today as a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a leader of people. I stand here today with no intention of condemning individuals, or fostering hatred toward any person. I stand here because of my concern for my family; my family of today and as a grandfather, my family of tomorrow. I stand concerned for the people whom I influence, counsel, and love. I come today not in a spirit of hatred, for the apostle Paul writes in Romans the first chapter that hatred, as well as homosexuality is a sin, but in love. It is love that has compelled me to speak today, the love for my family, my friends, and for anyone who is deceived into thinking there is freedom in any sin.

As a Christian, I have set as my standard, (the foundation of my behavior), the Word of God. It is from the Word of God that I find His expectation of me, and from here, I form the basis for developing the next generation of my family. It is from this standard, I find that which is needed to maintain the level of character that is conducive to a good society. As a Husband and a father, it is my role to protect those whom I love from harm. It is also from that Word that I find His wonderful grace that has restored me from a life of destruction into a life that is filled with hope and a future; a grace available to those who receive it.

In my role as a husband and father, I am compelled to stand against the recent ruling declaring that the law passed by our representative government, defining marriage as being between one man and one woman is unconstitutional. I believe this to be a deliberate attempt by forces outside our state to undermine the firm foundation that we in the mid-west have enjoyed, the sanctity of marriage and solidarity of the family. To understand that this ruling has any other effect is to ignore the very foundation of family, one man, and one woman committing to a life long journey and bringing into this world new life to be shaped and molded into the next generation. As the leader of a family, I feel threatened by the fact that this ruling now opens the door to require my children be taught a standard that I firmly believe is sinful and will lead to destruction. I feel threatened that this will lead to further degradation of respect to our roles as parents, and grandparents. I feel threatened that the most sublime illustration of God’s love that is used to demonstrate His relationship with us, has been altered to now represent that which the Word of God, the standard I use in raising my family, declares as sinful and worthy of eternal separation from God. As a leader of my family I vow to stand against anything that would threaten the well being and future of my greatest legacy, my children.

As A leader of people, I stand here before you concerned about the future of our society. I am not concerned that homosexuals or homosexuality in and of itself will destroy our society. Instead, I am concerned about the further erosion of standards in general; standards that I believe are under attack because of their origin, the Bible. It concerns me when the judicial branch of the government can effectively overturn the will of the people as demonstrated through their duly elected officials, and rewrite the standards of society. It concerns me that a standard that has been held for so long, a standard that until recently was not even considered challengeable, cannot only be challenged, but shattered by the opinion of four people. It concerns me when the will of those outside our state is forced upon us affording us no opportunity to respond in time to prevent it.

Today I call upon those of you who stand with me. I implore you to search your hearts and understand there is no place for hatred in this fight, for this fight is not against people but instead it is a fight in defense of an institution that has existed throughout all human history. An institution that is currently being radically redefined in unacceptable terms. As Christians, we are called to identify sin, not to tear down those who are ensnared in it, but instead to show them the light of the good news, the Grace, and love of Jesus Christ, and by doing so lift them up.

Today I call upon those who are at the heart of this issue, those who have chosen a homosexual lifestyle. I tell you that we do not hate you, but we want to maintain a standard that has been dear to us and we feel has been of vital importance to the advancement of our society, we want the sanctity of marriage restored. We do disagree with the lifestyle you have chosen. However if that is the choice you have made the consequences of that choice are between you and God. We will not condone the behavior, but neither will we turn you away. Your standards are in conflict with our standards, but that does not mean the established, Biblical standard must therefore be abolished. You are no less of a citizen, you are no less a member of a family, you are no less a friend because of your choice. Based upon my beliefs and what I read in the Word of God, I will continue to pray for you as I pray for all who I feel are deceived by sin. I will treat you no differently than I have ever treated you, nor will I treat you any differently than I treat anyone else.

I also speak to those members of the clergy who recently commented that all Christians are joyful for the recent ruling. I would say in the strongest way I can, please do not speak for me, and please do not assume the role of being a judge concerning my relationship with God. My relationship with God is not predicated upon my acceptance of a ruling, it is predicated upon my acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice and the Grace of God, and that is something of which you have no authority to judge, however subtle that judgment might be. I will not judge the soul of another, that is strictly outside my purview and reserved for the redeemer alone, I ask you do the same.

We join today across many traditions, traditions that at times separate us. However today we realize the strength of the unity that will bind us together and allow us to see this through to victory. That unity is not a cause. Thant unity is the saving power of Jesus Christ, it is the blood of Christ that unites us and the Grace of God that calls us to declare; ‘that which God has united let no man put asunder.’
Thank You