Marriage Is God's Design (Part 2)

Intro. This morning we saw the Principle that Marriage is of God. It was established by Him, and in reality for Him. To pervert it is to defy God Himself. This morning we saw -

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN

A. Marriage, between a man and a woman, is Rooted in Creation

B. Marriage was Reaffirmed by Christ

C. Marriage is Revealed in the Church and the Lord’s relationship with it.

But there is a problem in our society:

II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

A. The Clear Condemnation - Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Nothing more is needed to be said!

B. The Controversial Destruction Genesis 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah)

Homosexual revisionists only point to Ezekiel 16:49-50: pride, gluttony, laziness, apathy, etc., and state that the problem in Genesis 19 was that the people were "inhospitable." But let’s look at the verses: 49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good."

1. They Had Plenty, and were ungrateful - vs. 49

2. They were Prideful in themselves - Pride, haughty

3. They committed and Abomination - vs. 50 Their sin went to a new low. What was the Sinm the Abomination of Sodom? Genesis 19:5 "And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." It could not be more clear!

But society cries for us to be tolerant of what God says is intolerable.

III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM

A. Mankind is all Born in Sin - Isa 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

B. The Progression of Sin - Romans 1 teaches that one that is in the sin of homosexuality has gotten there by a progression. It is not a sin of birth, but a sin of gross permissiveness. Sin never satisfies, and new levels of iniquity are sought. Even if they could prove one was born that way - it would only prove that we are born sinners. (Adrian Rogers)

Sin is destroying our society. Sexual sins are wrecking our homes.

Homosexuality, Adultery, Fornication, Pornography, are all damaging us. This is not a civil rights issue, it is a sin issue.

IV. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM - there is a radical group in our country that wants to rid society of God’s Word and Ways. Goals of the Radical Homosexual Agenda:

- Universal acceptance of the "gay and lesbian" lifestyle.

- Special privileges and rights in the laws (e.g., Hate Crimes Law; Empolyment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 - modeled after the Civil Rights act to protect based on “sexual preference”).

- "Sensitivity training" of our children through public education.

- Tolerance teaching, but not tolerant of those that believe differently.

- Silencing critics in the clergy and Christian media. (Pelosi has declared when they have Democrats in control, they will bring back the “Fairness Doctrine.”"

- Securing the legal benefits of marriage and parenting (legal adoption) for any two people of the same gender. Folks, We are There!

How are they doing it?

A. The Entertainment Arena - TV and Movies have portrayed these lifestyles as normal while Christians watch and laugh.

1. Television

(CNN) -- “Not just in one episode, not just a side character and not just for easy laughs. Issues of homosexuality have arrived in commercial television...” That was not this year, but May, 1999! Shows like Friends, Will and Grace, and Dawsons Creek were named then. Soap operas began making it appear normal in the early ‘90’s. And the church sits and laughs.

2. Movies

2005, Brokeback Mountain, story of Homosexuals in a western format. Made millions - while society made excuses for the movie. None of this is new!

B. The Educational Arena - Patricia Nell Warren, a Lesbian activist said, "It is the first fact of civilization, whoever captures the kids owns the future." And publishers are putting out the books, and librarians are allowing them.