Conscience and Same Sex Marriage

Conscience definition:

“The inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.”

 Same Sex Marriage is an Unjust Law 

 1. It is unjust to God who created male and female and united them in marriage as a provision and protection for the human family. “This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. ² He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.”  Genesis 5:1-2 (NLT)

 2. It is unjust to the unique and special relationship designed only for a husband and wife. Their relationship is personal, intimate and a covenant of trust and love which they share together. “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:24 (NLT)

 3. It is unjust to children who deserve and need the unique qualities that come from a father and mother in the relationship of marriage and family. “Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. …...” Malachi 2:15 (NLT)

 4. It is unjust to society in which Biblical individuality is defined by gender through which a person develops their unique personality as a boy or girl in the process of growing into a mature man and woman. To ignore or reject these distinct realities is the corruption of the normal life God intended for the particular roles of men and women.

Romans 1:26-27 (NLT)
    ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. ²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

5. It is unjust to a true follower of Christ who is determined, in good conscience, to be obedient to the Word of God and the moral values it advocates. It is not unlike the situation Peter and John faced in defending their faith and conscience before the Sanhedrin who were the ruling power and authority of their nation.

The Apostles Peter and John were arrested and hauled in front of the Israeli Supreme Court, Leaders and Rulers. They commanded them to virtually violate their conscience and faith in Christ and to obey their authority as the ruling Council.

Acts 4:18-19 (NLT)
     ¹⁸ So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?

Acts 5:28-29 (NLT)
     ⁸ “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

 Decisions of conscience based on the Word of God are always superior to the laws of man, including the Constitution of the United States. When the Word and will of God come into conflict with human laws and traditions God’s laws are always preeminent!  It is not a matter of letting our conscience be our guide but rather the Word of God informing, influencing and guiding our conscience.

Thus we are obligated and committed to say with the Apostles: ““We must obey God rather than any human authority.”  And the Constitution of the United States of America supports such freedom of conscience in the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…...”

Romans 9:1 (NLT)
     With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

 Reformer Martin Luther spoke in good faith and conscience at the Diet of Worms:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason-for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves-I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen.”

“Man Between God and the Devil” (English edition Yale, 1989), Reformation scholar Heiko Oberman