Last week, after California’s high court overturned the state’s ban on gay “marriage,” floods of media reports began analyzing the court ruling’s impact and historical implications.
According to experts, the decision to begin granting “marriage” licenses to homosexuals in the nation’s most populous state could have an impact unprecedented on the nation’s landscape.
In a study last December – months before the California Supreme Court began hearing the legal arguments for and against gay “marriage – a study done by the University of California-Davis' Law Review revealed California’s Supreme Court as the most influential in the nation. According to the study, a total of 1,260 decisions made by the California high court have been mimicked and followed by other states, a figure higher than any other state in the union.
Douglas Kmiec, a law professor at the Pepperdine University Law School in Malibu, Calif., emphasized that the California high court’s decision on gay “marriage” would have far greater impact than the similar decision by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts to legalize gay “marriage” in 2004.
“The way the Massachusetts court had interpreted its state law, same-sex marriage in Massachusetts was not available to non-residents,” Kmiec explained, according to Cybercast News Service.
"In California, there's no waiting period, there's no residency requirement, and so yesterday's ruling doesn't just affect a single state with a very large population," he added.
"One of the principal effects of the California decision will be to create large numbers of same-sex marriages that will not only reside in California, but will migrate across the country," he continued. The migration of same-sex couples to other states could then spur the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, he explained.
The significance of California as a battle ground in the controversy over gay “marriage” has not been lost among pro-family organizations. Many pro-family and Christian groups are scuttling to put together a constitutional amendment that will thoroughly ban gay “marriage” in the state once-in-for-all.
The measure – which is still being processed by the State Registrar – has attracted over 1 million signatures.
If a majority of state residents vote positively on the ban this November, the amendment will overturn and nullify the decision by the California Supreme Court – an outcome that Christian groups are counting on.
"The only way Californians can reverse [the California Supreme Court’s] outrageous decision and restore common sense is by passing the [gay “marriage” ban] on the November ballot,” Bill May, chairman of Catholics for the Common Good and spokesperson for Stand with Children, explained. “That would put the definition of marriage in the state constitution – putting it out of reach of judges and politicians.”
While the effort to add the gay “marriage” ban to the state constitution has been complicated recently by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s publicly announced support of the high court’s ruling, Christian groups are confident that the will of the people will prevail.
"The majority of Americans recognize the fact that legitimate marriage and family are cornerstones of a healthy society,” explained Matthew Barber of the Concerned Women of America (CWA) in a statement released the day of the court ruling.
According to a recent Gallup poll, gay “marriage” is unpopular among the majority of Americans. Only 40 percent of Americans “currently say marriage between same-sex couples should be legal,” according to the poll’s results released this month.
Pending the ruling of the California Supreme Court, gay couples will be eligible to file for marriage licenses within 30 days.
Christian groups have requested that state officials issue a “stay” on gay “marriage” licenses until after the results of the November ballot.
Since 2004, when the Massachusetts State Supreme Court made its ruling to recognize gay “marriage,” 26 states have passed a constitutional ban on the practice, while over a dozen others have passed laws limiting or outlawing it.
Comments
http://www.narth.com/ has some very good scientific information on the subject of homosexuality that is not biased by the prevailing political agenda. You can see that homosexuality is not just a private matter and affects both the individual who is caught up in it but also the society at large. It does a grave injustice to the person caught in the deception of homosexuality to not offer a way out.
i believe that many of the Bible believig churches as well as many other conservative organizations stood firmly against this. the problem here lies in the fact that the judge overulled the will of the people. If people recall, overwelmingly (when the homosexual lobby tried hyjacking the marriage bed a few years back in California), many Californian families voted against this sort of thing; even some non Christians did this; however, as always, the liberal judges overstepped their bounds by "creating law, or trying to make it" rather than do what they are paid to do - interpret law. In politics, it is up to the legislature to pass laws(signing in , voting on it, etc) Much of this law voting and signing is done based upon what the will of the people is....(although sometimes not)...some of it is done because of persistent lobbying. In this case, there is such a homosexual lobby and influece in California (specifically San Francisco) that the homosexual lobby won the approval of the court that has seriously overstepped it's grounds. This type of a bill or law should have been drafted by the California legislature and then reviewed and voted on; sadly, it was not. You see, the court is trying to set a precedet with case law. If the lawyers in other states now want to represent homosexual couples who who wish to get married let's say in South Beach (Miami's gay hangout), then the lawyers will argue that there is a ruling on the books in another state that would allow for it. Faced with pressure from the homosexual lobby, and much of the homosexual tourism in that part of Florida, the judge in the local court may uphold it there, and so fourth....Really, the sad part about it is that they are not looking at the repercussions of such a ruling. Kids will look at it, and think, hey, it's normal for two girls to be open mouth kissing in the street, or two boys, etc.......ad then comes the slippery slide of America slouching towards gomorrah. I pray that this ruling will be challenged and overulled by the overall will of the people. But, we must not forget, that the Word tells us that in the end times men (women) will be lovers of themselves. There is warning after warning of the selfishness of mankind including sexual perversion. I mean, look at the rampant pornography that has scapegoated our culture. I mean it's everwhere! Lord help us, for we have sinned. May tghere be repentace in the land and a turning back to you thru your Son Jesus Christ. Let's pray now that many of these homosexuals would find Jesus Crist as Lord of their lives ad that tey would turn their backs on this lifestyle of sin and depravity. Likewise, let's pray for the heterosexual men and wome who pervert their marriages by allowing adultery, and pornography into their homes, and thus producing a major cause of the high divorce rate there is in our country.
The truth is, this is as much our country as anyone elses. We rule by majority. Many courts legislate instead of rule. It is up to the Christians in California to rule their state and take it back from those 3 men who seem to think they are the kings of California.
Other nations call us a "Christian nation". No wonder their view of Christianity is so messed up!
Jar1961 & Jesus4Me: You both have valid arguments. In the one hand Jar1961, I agree completey that the "world" will not take Scripture as authority. For example in 1 John 4:5-6 "They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.(6) We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not fro God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and error." Thus, I completely agree with your comment. Yet on the other hand Jesus4Me, I agree with the power and the truth of Scripture when we read Romans 10:17 "And so faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God." Therefore, how will someone come to the faith without hearing the word of God? Thus, both points are extremely valid. However, the true issue at hand is, "How can we win a seeking generation for Christ." If the world does not take Scripture as their authority as we as Christians do, than Scripture should not necessarily be quoted but lived out and explained when someone asks for an answer. This is why today's Christian should learn the "school" of apologetics which is the defense of the faith. Often times we find ourselves using more "Polemics" (attacking a philosophy) than we do defending it. Again, both are good and should be used in accordance to what is being challenged. God bless you two and prayerfully we as Christians can truly seek and learn God's word so that we can have an defense as well as a point when others of the world won't listen. Much Love!
1 Cornthians 6:9-20
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Glorify God in Body and Spirit
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”[b] 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[c] and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Footnotes:
1 Corinthians 6:9 That is, catamites
1 Corinthians 6:16 Genesis 2:24
1 Corinthians 6:20 NU-Text ends the verse at body.
19 ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity. 20 Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her. 21 And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.
24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
30 ‘Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the LORD your God.’”
Leviticus 18 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Leviticus 18
Laws of Sexual Morality
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
6 ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. 18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
Romans 1:16-32
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”[b]
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Footnotes:
Romans 1:16 NU-Text omits of Christ.
Romans 1:17 Habakkuk 2:4
Romans 1:29 NU-Text omits sexual immorality.
Romans 1:31 NU-Text omits unforgiving.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:6-8 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)
Apostates Predicted
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Maintain Your Life with God
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;[d] 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,[e] hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Glory to God
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you[f] from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,[g]
Who alone is wise,[h]
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,[i]
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Footnotes:
Jude 1:1 NU-Text reads beloved.
Jude 1:4 NU-Text omits God.
Jude 1:12 NU-Text and M-Text read along.
Jude 1:22 NU-Text reads who are doubting (or making distinctions).
Jude 1:23 NU-Text adds and on some have mercy with fear and omits with fear in first clause.
Jude 1:24 M-Text reads them.
Jude 1:25 NU-Text reads To the only God our Savior.
Jude 1:25 NU-Text omits Who . . . is wise and adds Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jude 1:25 NU-Text adds Before all time.
Jude 1 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Jude 1
Greeting to the Called
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
To those who are called, sanctified[a] by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Contend for the Faith
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God[b] and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Old and New Apostates
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Apostates Depraved and Doomed
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about[c] by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
As a gay, taxpaying resident of California, I applaud the State Supreme Court's decision. While it may be unpopular with those who support the anti-gay agenda, it was the right thing to do. I don't believe heterosexuals should have special rights (such as marriage) based on their sexual behavior. Since I pay the same taxes as a heterosexual, I should have all the same rights.
While anti-gay activists conspire to reinstate the ban on gay marriage, they overlook the fact that opinions have changed since 2000 (when the last pro-homophobia amendment was approved.) We are basically in a place where the opinion in California is split 50/50 for and against gay marriage. We are confident we can win in November. And if we do not, this is not the end of our struggle. If you read the ruling, you will see it goes much further than just granting us equality in marriage. Ultimately, we will win the right to marry here and in every other State within a generation. Time is on our side.
Why doesn't the Christian Post and other media outlets, Christian and otherwise, refer to this as "gay" when it is what it is - Homosexual marriage!!! It is HOMOSEXUAL!!!
Let the experts beware!! They shouldn't flatter themselves, because GOD always has the last WORD, and His Word is Life, and the Life was the Light of Men.
REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND!!!
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,but the end thereof are the ways of death"
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God - Luke 16:15.