(Statement updated 7/6/15)
Lutherans For Life mourns with others who mourn the great tragedy of the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges forbidding states to outlaw same-sex marriage. This ruling is an affront to the U.S. Constitution, natural law, a centuries-old universally recognized union, and plain old common sense. Most tragically, it is an affront to the Creator of life, He who instituted marriage, and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church.
Remember David’s cry as he ran into battle against Goliath? “I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” David understands that Goliath, in his arrogance, is defying God. I pray all Christians will understand that this ruling also defies God’s laws. I pray we will share David’s courage and not only stand firm in the midst of persecution that is certain to come, but also take the offensive as we strongly and confidently proclaim and practice God’s truth about the sanctity of marriage. I pray we will be what the Church is supposed to be, a place where Christ shares His Word and Sacrament with His people, where Christians are salt and light in a broken and perverse world. I pray we will always reflect Christ’s love for all sinners, including ourselves.
What follows is a portion of LFL’s statement on marriage that addresses same-sex marriage and a link to a unique perspective by LFL board member, Colonel John Eidsmoe as well as additional commentary.
Our complete statement on marriage may be found here.
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From Lutherans For Life’s “Statement on Marriage” …
Lutherans For Life affirms the great blessing of the institution of marriage as revealed in God’s holy Word. We affirm that marriage is a God-given institution between a man and a woman. We affirm that this one-flesh union reflects our relationship with our Creator and Redeemer. We affirm that it is the means God has chosen for procreation.
Based on this, we are compelled to humble ourselves before God and ask His forgiveness for all the times we have dishonored marriage by trivializing its importance, by neglecting to reflect Christ’s love in our marriages, and by failing to connect the importance of marriage to our relationship with God.
Based on this, we are also compelled to reject homosexual unions as contrary to the Word of God. The “sameness” of homosexuals prevents a one-flesh union as well as the possibility of the procreation of children. Such unions do not and cannot reflect our relationship with our Creator and Redeemer. Such unions are based on a lie rather than the Word of God (Romans 1:25) and cannot constitute a marriage.
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Additional Commentary
Marriage – A Statement by Lutherans For Life
Statement Regarding “Obergefell v. Hodges” Decision by Col. John Eidsmoe (Senior Counsel and Resident Scholar at the Foundation for Moral Law and national Lutherans For Life board member)
Rev. Matthew Harrison Releases Letter on Landmark Supreme Court Ruling by Adriane Heins
Marriage Law and the Protection of Congregations’ Religious Liberty by the North American Lutheran Church
Statement on Supreme Court’s Same-Sex Marriage Ruling – Wisconson Evangelical Lutheran Synod
God Is in Heaven and the Supreme Court Is Not by Linda D. Bartlett
So Gay Marriage Is Here. What Now? by Pastor Mark Jeske
Serpents and Doves by Rev. Ken Klaus
15 Reasons “Marriage Equality” Is about neither Marriage nor Equality by Stella Morabito
Thoughts from the Other Side of the “Obergefell” Decision by Hunter Baker
Gary Varvel on the Supreme Court
The Real Goal of the Same-Sex Marriage Movement by Ben Shapiro
How Will the Bride Respond? by Rev. Jeff Alexander
America the Great? by Fr. Lawrence Farley
Supreme Shockwaves by Bradley Mattes
40 Questions for Christians Now Waving Rainbow Flags by Kevin DeYoung
The Ol’ Bait and Switch – Changing, Not Expanding Marriage – by Eric Metaxas – “Was marriage “equality” the real goal of the gay marriage movement? Or was it something else?”
Answering Bad Biblical Arguments Supporting Same-Sex Marriage by Gary DeMar