Friday, October 28, 2005
Mixed up about voting...
Tuesday, November 8, we in Texas get to vote on an amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. So all of our churches are making dramatic announcements for all their members to demonstrate their Christian commitment by voting in favor of this amendment. Now don't misunderstand. I agree with this definition of marriage, and I will go vote for the amendament. And I have signed on to the pastoral statement to be read Sunday at Southern Hills. But there are a few things that really concern me about our attitude to this amendment.
First of all, God defined marriage a long time ago, and no matter what any country legislates, they cannot change the truth. And if this is some sort of effort to "keep America a Christian nation", then we are really missing the point. Our citizenship is in heaven, not in this world. There is no nation on earth that is chosen by God.
I would rather our dramatic call to action be to model Godly marriages as living witnesses in this world. That takes much more effort than voting, and will have a more lasting impact. Legislation does not change lives, nor does it enforce morality. Jesus changes lives.
First of all, God defined marriage a long time ago, and no matter what any country legislates, they cannot change the truth. And if this is some sort of effort to "keep America a Christian nation", then we are really missing the point. Our citizenship is in heaven, not in this world. There is no nation on earth that is chosen by God.
I would rather our dramatic call to action be to model Godly marriages as living witnesses in this world. That takes much more effort than voting, and will have a more lasting impact. Legislation does not change lives, nor does it enforce morality. Jesus changes lives.
