Jewish and Christian students of the Bible have been given a detailed historical timeline in Scripture. We know that God created Adam and Eve about 6000 years ago. The biblical timeline reveals that Noah was born roughly 1000 years later. Abraham was born close to 1000 years after Noah. David was born around 1000 years after Abraham. And Jesus was born close to 1000 years after David. Christ's miraculous birth took place roughly 2000 years ago, which was about 4000 years after God created Adam and Eve. Do the math. It is laid out clearly in God's Word.

When God created man and woman, He made them equal. He created them to be incredibly satisfied with one another. He created them to produce children. That's why a man and a woman can "make a baby." Two men can't do that, and neither can two women. Two men are not equal. They are simply homogeneous. Two women are not equal. They too are simply homogeneous. Marriage equality is defined by God as a man and a woman who are equal before Him and with one another. It really is a beautiful thing the way these two beings complement each other.

When Adam and Eve chose to sin, it brought all sorts of wrong desires into the heart of man. Some of these impure desires fall in the realm of sexuality, such as tendencies toward fornication, adultery, and homosexuality. We are all sinners. In that sense, we all have a "sinner equality." We all far short of God's standard. Some people struggle with a short temper. Others struggle with jealousy. Still others struggle with greed. And some struggle with fornication or some other sexual temptation. But we all are guilty. We all need God's forgiveness. more >>

Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage this past Friday, but also apologized for previous comments he made on the subject, which Carson argues were misinterpreted by many as comparing same-sex marriage to bestiality or pedophilia.

Carson offered a "sincere and heartfelt" apology for his previous comments in a Friday email reportedly addressed to the Johns Hopkins community.

"There are many lessons to be learned when venturing into the political world and this is one I will not forget," Carson said in the email, according to New York Magazine. more >>

Over the weekend, Republican Illinois State Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. voiced his support for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state, joining fellow House Republican Ron Sandack in publicly supporting same-sex marriage.

Sullivan, who represents the 51st District in the state's House of Representatives as well as the chairman for the House Republican campaign organization, said in a recent interview that he has decided to support same-sex marriage based on personal reasons.

"This issue for me […] goes to the core of fairness – marriage equality for all people. I think it is in line with […] what I believe, and I personally believe it is in line with what our party believes, and that's trying to treat people with fairness," Sullivan said Sunday as reported by the Chicago Tribune. more >>

Long-time evangelical Left leader Jim Wallis, founder and CEO of Sojourners, has changed his position on government recognition of same-sex marriage. He announced his support in a Friday interview with The Huffington Post.

Wallis said he is worried about the decline of marriage and wants to strengthen it, but believes that same-sex couples should be included in that endeavor.

"I think we should include same-sex couples in that renewal of marriage, [but] I want to talk marriage first," Wallis said. "Marriage needs some strengthening. Let's start with marriage, and then I think we have to talk about, now, how to include same-sex couples in that deeper understanding of marriage. I want a deeper commitment to marriage that is more and more inclusive, and that's where I think the country is going." more >>

Ocean Grove N.J., a one square mile town along the North Jersey seashore, is known for its state and national historic designation as having the largest aggregate of Victorian and early 20th century structures in America. Founded in 1869 during the holiness movement by a group of ministers and friends, its mission is to establish a permanent Christian camp meeting community with the purpose of providing opportunities for spiritual birth, growth, and renewal through worship, education, cultural, and recreational programs for persons of all ages in a Christian seaside setting.

While much has changed since its founding in 1869, much remains the same. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Christian ministry organization, owns all of the land in Ocean Grove and leases it to homeowners and businesses for 99-year renewable terms. It's still a dry town and the beach is still closed on Sunday mornings. 114 tents, which are occupied from May to September, continue to frame the Great Auditorium just as they have done since 1869.

However, a drive through the town of historic Victorian homes reveals more than latticed rooftops and widow's peaks. On many homes hang blue flags with yellow equal signs, which indicate support for same-sex couples being allowed to have civil union ceremonies on Camp Meeting Association property, such as the boardwalk pavilion. Historically, the pavilion has been used for bible studies, church services, gospel choir performances, and weddings. more >>

The writer Upton Sinclair, commenting on his loss in the 1934 California gubernatorial election, wrote, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."

Sinclair's quote came to mind after reading a piece entitled "The World Can't Hear Us On Marriage" by theologian Peter Leithhart. It was the second of two pieces about the "difficulties that Christians have, and will continue to have, defending a biblical view of marriage to the American public."

These difficulties don't arise from a lack of good, even compelling, arguments for the idea that true marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It's that the culture is increasingly incapable of hearing these arguments, much less making sense of them. more >>