“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Saturday, March 14, 2015

CHRISTIANS AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE

Can faithful Catholics and Biblical evangelicals accept same-sex marriage?[1] I assert that it cannot be accepted within the Magisterium of the Catholic Church nor Biblical Christians.[2] Quite the opposite is true. They cannot ascribe, accept or affirm homosexual marriage if they are to remain true to the Christian faith. Having said this, I also emphasize that as Christ's followers we must still be gracious and kind in our witness without compromising God's plan for marriage.  

CATHOLICS: I want to bring your attention to an interview done with the Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcS42gWhZ5w Please note how the Archbishop lays out the Catholic position and warns that Catholics who stay true to Catholic teaching may eventually be castigated and falsely accused of being bigots by anti-Christian society. The Archbishop warns of dark days ahead for the faithful.

EVANGELICALS: I refer you to a debate between Dr. James White[3] and Pastor Dee Bradshaw.[4] Alpha & Omega Ministries has prohibited distribution of the video without consent. I will presume such permission was given in order for the following link to be posted on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I9zYCx7JJU  It is long but Dr. White lays out succinctly and articulately the Biblical basis of marriage and addresses many typical objections raised by proponents of same-sex marriage. 

For more on this topic I refer readers of the HumanLifeMatters blog to a First Things magazine essay published in the March 2015 edition written by the organization Evangelicals and Catholics Together, entitled "The Two Shall Become One Flesh".[5] Click here http://www.firstthings.com/article/2015/03/the-two-shall-become-one-flesh-reclaiming-marriage-2

Mark Pickup
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Notes:
[1] NELSON'S NEW CHRISTIAN DICTIONARY: The Authoritative Resource On the Christian World (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) defines an evangelical as a "Member of a Bible-based Protestant church emphasizing personal salvation solely through being born again and through uncompromising commitment to the person of Jesus Christ."
[2] ibid. "magisterium (Lat., authority of a master) In Roman Catholic theology, teaching authority of the church in matters of faith and morals.
[3] Dr. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, based in Phoenix Arizona. He is a professor of Greek and Systematic Theology, and areas associated with the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than 24 books.
[4] Pastor Dee Bradshaw is the pastor of  Sacred Light of Christ Church of Salt Lake City, UT., (Metropolitan Community Church)
[5] Evangelicals and Catholics Together is an ecumenical group founded in 1994 by Richard Neuhaus and Chuck Colson.

1 comment:

Catholic Internet Television Network said...

That's a narrow view without

- evidence of harm to the individual, others and society

- based upon closed-loop reductionist neoThomistic reasoning that lacks in the virtue of prudence ... opposed by Pope Francis' values-based theology of mercy

- based upon a fundamentalist biblical exegesis on par with Papal Bulls / Canon Law support for the institution of slavery.

A majority of Family Synod Bishops have enough evidence to assert with confidence that harsh language and disciplinarian solutions do not lead people to Christ. They challenge the existence of a single, one-size-fits-all biologically-determined human nature. They note evidence that gay Catholic couples are capable of mutual aid, sacrifice and have gifts and qualities to offer the Church. They assert that children's rights must be protected. They propose eliminating the 1986 "intrinsically disordered" CCC innovation for lack of scientific basis. You will not find the word "sin" in their statement of faith. Paragraph 51 states: "the question of homosexuality leads to a serious reflection on how to elaborate realistic paths of affective growth." The operant word is realistic. Seems like a reasonable evaluation of facts and solid conclusions that in no way redefines sacramental marriage.

Family Synod Vote: Yes: 118 No: 62 ... 2 votes shy of two-thirds majority