Gallup released a poll today that found 55% of Americans believed that same-sex marriages should be recognized by law and given the same rights as traditional marriages.
Below shows the trend line since they have polled on the issue.
They found 8 out of 10 Americans between the ages of 18-29 support same-sex marriage. They noted that Republicans still do not support same-sex marriage, with only 30% saying they do, it still represents a 14 point jump since 1996. There has been a 17 point jump among those who identify themselves as conservative since 1996 with 31% saying they support same-sex marriage.
You can read all of their findings here.
I’d like to direct my thoughts to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who maybe troubled by this news.
-
This is not a surprising development. Popular opinion goes with the culture and popular culture has advocated this for a very long time.
-
While Gallup didn’t specifically poll young evangelicals, it is a trend we’ve seen that many have rejected biblical truth on this issue for cultural norms primarily again because young people are inundated by a popular culture that is slanted this direction.
-
Evangelicals and social conservatives must reconsider their strategy. I think the primary problem, and have said so on different occasions, is that we focused for too much on the political aspect of this issue and not as much from the perspective of the Great Commission. We need to be salt and light, but that doesn’t just encompass going to political rallies and voting.
-
Church must make apologetics and worldview training a priority for its children and youth – not just teaching the what we believe, but the why as well, and then how to defend it.
-
The Church must engage the homosexual community in the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ and through servant evangelism.
-
Christians must place as much emphasis, if not more, on cultural missionary work as we do foreign missions work. We can’t afford to cede music, movies, TV, and other popular cultural mediums to secular culture. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place.
-
We must remember that our fight is not “with flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV). Homosexuals, even militant homosexual activists, are not the enemy. Satan is. Jesus died for them, as much as He died for you and me.
-
We must continue to defend traditional marriage and our religious liberty, but do so in a winsome way. There are two extremes here. One position is to just remain silent and withdraw. The opposite extreme (among mainstream evangelicals) is to use pejorative terms in attempt to defend our faith. While I understand the tactic, and I defend their constitutional right to do so, I don’t believe it is the most effective way to be salt and light in culture. I do see in scripture that we are to speak truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15), and we are to make a defense for the hope we have within us with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15-16). We should do all thing as though we are serving Christ, (Colossians 3:23). We should seek to honor Christ. Does that mean being weak and mealy mouthed? No, but if our goal is to win an argument instead of being winsome for Christ I think we’ve gone astray.
-
We also need to remember this is not new. The Roman Empire had its share of debauchery and in many ways was worse, it persecuted Christians, and yet the Church thrived. We were never promised we would be spared persecution, in fact Jesus promised the exact opposite. We also need to remember that God has not come off His throne. He is in control, and He knows and is in control of the final outcome.
And here is a general comment towards those who disagree with me. Since it seems popular opinion is shifting in your favor shouldn’t you then try to push your agenda through legislatively instead of the courts? At least then the people would have a say through their elected officials instead of us falling under judicial tyranny. If you truly believe this is the right course for America do what those of us who support traditional marriage have done, honor the constitutional process.