OPINION:
The inquiries started pouring in to Concerned Women for America within minutes of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject hearing cases challenging natural marriage laws. As a Christian organization, Concerned Women for America upholds God’s model for marriage, so people asked us, “What’s next for the traditional marriage side?” and “What are you going to do?” Media commentators followed — everyone from The Washington Post to Howard Kurtz at Fox News declared the battle “over.”
They fell right in line with many of my homosexual friends on social media, celebrating and declaring victory.
One cannot help but think of the post-Roe feminists declaring the abortion fight also “over.” The media and many liberals in general just cannot understand people of faith, no matter how much they try. To them, we are just ignorant and will one day become “enlightened.” So here goes another shot at explaining our reaction to these developments from a Christian perspective.
Nothing has changed.
Marriage is not on trial — America is. We are not looking to the Supreme Court or our legislatures for hope; we have hope. God is our only hope. We are joyous. When we fight for God’s model for marriage, we want to bring that joy and hope to our society. We don’t want children to suffer the consequences of our insolence in rejecting God’s counsel. We certainly grieve for our country, but they who think we feel defeated in any way misunderstand who we are at our core.
God is still God, isn’t He? Then count us content and fulfilled in any situation.
Here is the application to the current marriage debate in our country. God created marriage, and only He gets to define it. Man has no power in that definition. If you can understand that, then you can understand two essential things that will never change, no matter what happens with America’s treatment of marriage, even if the Supreme Court comes out and says everyone must be allowed to marry whomever they want, without restrictions.
First, the proponents of marriages outside of natural marriage, between one man and one woman, will never be satisfied. Never. They will always feel like their relationship is not equal. Guess why? (Please tell me you got the answer right.) Because it is not. A state license does not create a marriage. Societal approval does not create a marriage. You can deny the law of gravity all you want, but if you step off of a balcony, you are going down. You can expect proponents of same-sex “marriage” to go for affirmative action and special promotion of their lifestyle in schools and businesses. It will never end. Not to mention, other sexual “orientations” are following along and starting their drumbeat for support. (See CNN’s “Judge strikes down part of Utah polygamy law in ‘Sister Wives’ case” and The New York Times’ “Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime,” then go read the history of Lawrence v. Texas.)
Second, people of faith will continue to fight for natural marriage now and forever, no matter what. Christianity’s track record is undeniable. Many civilizations have come and gone, practicing many different things. Christianity’s principles have surpassed them all, though, including the ones that were focused on eradicating the very principles of our faith.
Marriage is an institution so sacred to God that He uses it to describe His relationship to the church. He calls Himself the “bridegroom” and the Church His beloved (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-9). He calls on husbands to love their wives “as Christ also loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25).
Marriage is not tangential to Christianity. It is essential.
So nothing has changed. There is no panic. We still love our homosexual friends and family members. And we still believe they are not wise in disregarding God’s counsel for their lives. We will continue to fight for natural marriage as the best model for families, children and the country. When the Supreme Court decides to hear the case, we will be there ready and eager to make the sound, hope-filled arguments we have always made.
That’s it. Simple, I think.
Mario Diaz is legal counsel for Concerned Women for America.
