WEDDING OF THE CENTURY

“Every Wedding is a Royal Wedding…”

Senate 925 and House 1054: “Marriage, so far as its validity in law is concerned, is a civil contract between two persons (overturning the current statute, which says: “a man and a woman”)

How should Bible-Believing Christians respond to conflicting views on marriage? How should Bible-Believing Christians respond to conflicting views on marriage?

I. THE _______ PATTERN

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN “Have you not read that at the beginning, the Creator made them male and female, and said: `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh?’” “Have you not read that at the beginning, the Creator made them male and female, and said: `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh?’” Matthew 19:4-5

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN “So they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.” Matthew 19:6

In both the Old and New Testaments, one man and one woman in a marriage covenant relationship for life is the Divine Pattern.

I. THE DIVINE PATTERN “More than ten thousand studies have concluded that kids do best when they are raised by loving and committed mothers and fathers.” Dr. James Dobson

 Happiness: More likely to be happy in a general sense (50%).  Performance: More than a third more likely to take pride in their work (34%).  Health: Nearly a third more likely to rate their health excellent or very good (30%).  Marital Satisfaction: Relational happiness (25%)  Divorce or Separation: Less likely (50%)  Adultery: More than 4 times less likely (7.7% vs. 33.8%).  Earned Income: As much as 5 times more annually ($54K vs. $9.4K). Benefits for Married Couples

Benefits for Children:  Average GPA: Almost 1/2 grade point (2.94 vs. 2.48).  Expulsion or Suspension from School: Nearly 3 times less likely.  Repeating a Grade: Nearly 6 times less likely (6% vs. 34%).  Hard Drug Use: Nearly 2.5 less likely (8.5% vs. 20.1%).  Drunkenness: Nearly 2 times less likely (22.4% vs. 41.2%).  Homosexual Activity: 3 times less likely (2.5% vs. 7.5%).  Running Away from Home: Over 2.5 times less likely.  Average Number of Sex Partners (Females): Over 3 times less (0.47 vs. 1.55).

II. THE ___________ PERVERSION

II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

“You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.” Leviticus 18:22

“If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination...” Leviticus 20:13a II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

What Is Jesus’ Perspective? “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

What Is Jesus’ Perspective? “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18 II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

What Is Jesus’ Perspective? “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.” Matthew 11:23 II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

What Is Jesus’ Perspective? “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6 II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

Additional New Testament Scriptures condemning Homosexuality as an act, behavior or lifestyle: Romans 1:18, 26-32; 1 Corinthians 6: Timothy 1:10; 2 Peter 2:6ff; Jude 7; etc. II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION

III. THE __________ PROBLEM

III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM

Is there a “Gay Gene?”

“Gay Gene” Studies conducted by…. Gays

III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way...” Isaiah 53:6

III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM “I am certain that homosexuality does not result from irresistible genetic influences, as some would have us believe.” Dr. James Dobson

III. THE _______________ Program

III. THE Destructive Program

Homosexuals represent a fraction of the total U.S. population: Only 3.5%! But the activists have been extremely successful in advancing their agenda.

III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM Goals of the Radical Homosexual Agenda:  Special privileges and rights in the laws (e.g., Federal Hate Crimes; ENDA; Military; etc.).  “Sensitivity training" of our children through public education.  Silencing critics in the clergy and Christian media.  Securing the legal benefits of marriage and parenting for any two people of the same gender.

A. Entertainment Arena III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM

B. Educational Arena III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM

“It is the first fact of civilization, whoever captures the kids owns the future.” Patricia Nell Warren III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM

C. Legal/Legislative Arena III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM

Comparison of Family Structures IBF: Intact Biological Families vs. LM: Lesbian Moms & GF: Gay Fathers  Are much more likely to have received welfare growing up (LM 306%; GF 235% more likely)  Have lower educational attainment (IBF 3.19; LM 2.39; GF 2.64 GPA)  Report less safety and security in their family of origin (LM 24%; GF 21% less safe/secure)

Comparison of Family Structures  Report more ongoing "negative impact" from their family of origin (LM 36%; GF 26% more)  Are more likely to suffer from depression (LM 20%; GF 19% more likely than IBF)  Have been arrested more often (LM 42%; GF 48% more often than IBF)  If they are female, have had more sexual partners-both male (IBF 2.79; LM 4.02; GF 5.92) and female (IBF 0.22; LM 1.04; GF 1.47)

Edmund Burke is often cited: “All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We must do something! III. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM

IV. THE ______________ PLAN

IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 1: Pray We need to pray for God's mercy on a state and a nation that is speeding toward Sodom and hurtling toward Gomorrah. IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 1: Pray “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 2: Practice We need to practice the biblical principles for a healthy marriage as a positive and winsome witness. See 1 Peter 3:1-7 & Ephesians 5: IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 3: Participate We need to participate in our “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” as Abraham Lincoln described it. IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 3: Participate “You are the Salt of the Earth…You are the Light of the World.” Matthew 5:13-16 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:21

Action Step 3: Participate Call your state elected officials and urge them to vote “NO” on SB 925 and HB 1074, which legalizes Same-Sex “Marriage.” Visit MinnesotaForMarriage.com and click on “Contact Your Legislator.” IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 3: Participate Persuade your family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to call their legislators and urge them to vote “NO” on SB 925 and HB Visit MinnesotaForMarriage.com for info. IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 3: Participate Consider voting for candidates who will respect and defend marriage and against those who will redefine and destroy marriage and let those in office know that. IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 4: Proclaim “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9b-10 IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 4: Proclaim “Some of you were like this, BUT you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 4: Proclaim “If you hold to my teaching (that’s God’s pattern), you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” John 8:31-32; 36 IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

Action Step 4: Proclaim “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 IV. THE DETERMINED PLAN

MinnesotaforMarriage.com