Dr MARTIN VASQUEZ

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Mesa, Arizona, United States
EDUCATION: Holt High School, Holt Mich., Lansing Community College, Southwestern Theological Seminary, National Apostolic Bible College. MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE: 51 years of pastoral experience, 11 churches in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. Missionary work in Costa Rica. Bishop of the Districts of New Mexico and Florida for the Apostolic Assembly. Taught at the Apostolic Bible College of Florida and the Apostolic Bible College of Arizona. Served as President of the Florida Apostolic Bible College. Served as Secretary of Education in Arizona and New Mexico. EDUCACIÓN: Holt High School, Holt Michigan, Lansing Community College, Seminario Teológico Southwestern, Colegio Bíblico Nacional. EXPERIENCIA MINISTERIAL: 51 años de experiencia pastoral, 11 iglesias en los estados de Arizona, Nuevo México y la Florida. Trabajo misionera en Costa Rica. Obispo de la Asamblea Apostólica en los distritos de Nuevo México y La Florida. He enseñado en el Colegio Bíblico Apostólico de la Florida y el Colegio Bíblico Apostólico de Arizona. Presidente del Colegio Bíblico de la Florida. Secretario de Educación en los distritos de Nuevo México y Arizona.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE?


Romans 1:24-32

The homosexual movement continues to grow in force and number, and they have now got big enough where they are wanting their homosexual relationships formally legalized as real marriage unions. As a result, many liberal minded Christians are now supporting this legalization, thinking that God has no problems with this union, much less have any problems with homosexuality in general.

As Christians, the only thing that should matter to us is what God thinks about this issue not what the politicians think, not what some of the liberal media thinks, and not what the world in general thinks.

While the Bible does address homosexuality, it does not explicitly mention same sex marriage. It is clear, however, that the Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals “marrying” is not God’s will, and would be, in fact, sinful.

Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife.

The Bible alone, however, does not have to be used to demonstrate this understanding of marriage. The biblical viewpoint of marriage has been the universal understanding of marriage in every human civilization in world history. History argues against gay marriage. Modern secular psychology recognizes that men and women are psychologically and emotionally designed to complement one another. In regard to the family, psychologists contend that a union between a man and woman in which both spouses serve as good gender role models is the best environment in which to raise well-adjusted children. Psychology argues against gay marriage. In nature/physicality, clearly, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. With the “natural” purpose of sexual intercourse being procreation, clearly only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman can fulfill this purpose. Nature argues against gay marriage.

So, if the Bible, history, psychology, and nature all argue for marriage being between a man and a woman why is there such a controversy today? Why are those who are opposed to same-sex marriage labeled as hateful, intolerant bigots, no matter how respectfully the opposition is presented? Why is the gay rights movement so aggressively pushing for same-sex marriage when most people, religious and non-religious, are supportive of—or at least far less opposed to—gay couples having all the same legal rights as married couples with some form of civil union?

The answer, according to the Bible, is that everyone inherently knows that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural, and the only way to suppress this inherent knowledge is by normalizing homosexuality and attacking any and all opposition to it. The best way to normalize homosexuality is by placing same-sex marriage on an equal plane with traditional opposite-gender marriage. Romans 1:18-32 illustrates this. The truth is known because God has made it plain. The truth is rejected and replaced with a lie. The lie is then promoted and the truth suppressed and attacked. The vehemence and anger expressed by many in the gay rights movement to any who oppose them is, in fact, an indication that they know their position is indefensible. Trying to overcome a weak position by raising your voice is the oldest trick in the debating book. There is perhaps no more accurate description of the modern gay rights agenda than Romans 1:31, “they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

To give sanction to same-sex marriage would be to give approval to the homosexual lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. Christians should stand firmly against the idea of same-sex marriage. Further, there are strong and logical arguments against same-sex marriage from contexts completely separated from the Bible. One does not have to be an evangelical Christian to recognize that marriage is between a man and a woman.

According to the Bible, marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Same-sex marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to God who created marriage. As Christians, we are not to condone or ignore sin. Rather, we are to share the love of God and the forgiveness of sins that is available to all, including homosexuals, through Jesus Christ. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and contend for truth with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, when we make a stand for truth and the result is personal attacks, insults, and persecution, we should remember the words of Jesus: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

There is not one verse in the Bible that condones or supports same sex marriage. This is a fact. As Christians we are called to live Holy lives free from sinful activities. The issue here is not discrimination in terms of taking people rights away but rather it is about confirming and supporting God's definition of marriage. Marriage is clearly defined in the Bible and in the Community (until 10 years ago) as Heterosexual in nature. A Male and a Female in a loving relationship confirmed by vows at a public ceremony.

What does God thinks about same sex marriages? The Bible gives us a very direct and solemn answer on this very controversial issue. It simply is a matter of putting together 3 very basic and solid verses from Scripture, and then extrapolating off these three basic verses.

The first verse is from Leviticus 20:13  where it says that a man shall not lie with another man as he would with a woman, and if he does, this act will be considered an abomination in the eyes of God. The second verse was from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11  where it lists the sin of homosexuality as one of the specific sins that will literally keep you from being able to enter into heaven when you die.

I believe these two specific verses from the Bible are God’s emphatic answer on this issue. When God says that any kind of homosexual act will be considered an abomination in His sight – and then tops it off by saying that this kind of activity will prevent you from being able to enter into heaven – I believe these are the two strongest and strictest warnings that God can possibly give us on this one topic.

When God uses the word “abomination” to describe this specific sin He is using the strongest and most intense word that He can possibly use to describe what He really thinks about this particular sin. There is simply no way to sugarcoat what these two verses are saying. They are both direct and as plain as day.

The third verse tells us that God does not change, and that He is the same today as He was yesterday. What this tells us, without any other possible interpretation is that if God thought homosexuality was an abomination in the Old Testament  then He will still think that it is an abomination in the New Testament.

There is simply no way that God is going to change His mind on this issue from Old Testament times to New Testament times especially with the Bible telling us that God does not, cannot, and will not change!

When God first created the man Adam, He created one man and one woman and then told them to be fruitful and multiply. He created Eve for Adam. Nowhere in Scripture does God ever ordain or approve of any type of homosexual relationship between two men or two women.

When we understand these verses we can conclude that it does not take a rocket scientist to see what God’s opinion is going to be on any type of same sex marriage.

In conclusion, if any type of homosexual act is a complete and utter abomination in the eyes of God then trying to legalize a homosexual relationship under the holy grounds of marriage is going to be just as much of an abomination in His sight as any type of homosexual activity was beforehand.

I believe that the sacrament and institution of marriage is something very holy, very sacred, and very special in the eyes of God. Any homosexual who wants to try and take their abominable acts one step further into God’s holy ground of matrimony is mocking God Almighty Himself. Any liberal Christian who is thus actively supporting or engaging in this particular abomination is treading on extremely dangerous grounds.




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