Just 12 days ago (Nov 2, 2003) the voters of this country sent a unmistakable message to the those who would seek to assault us with the gay rights agenda. The gay marriage initiative was soundly defeated in every state where it appeared on the ballot. And most comforting to Ohioans, was the fact that we also rejected homosexual civil unions, making it constitutionally illegal for anyone to marry in this state except a male to a female. It is a shame that something this obvious has to come to a vote. Even worse, is the necessity to have this common sense proposal installed as a constitutional amendment.

Patricia Ireland, former president of the National Organization of Women, raised what probably sounded like a good question to some recently.

She asked during a debate on the Fox News Channel: "If ... lesbian and gay rights issues were such a serious kind of value, a core value, why did Jesus never talk about them?"

The short answer is Jesus did talk about them in that He talked about all sin. Some sins He talked about in specific terms other He addressed categorically. Nevertheless, He left no area of wickedness untouched. And He certainly did not give a pass to such an egregious abomination as men having sexual intercourse with other men and women having sexual intercourse with other women.

Of course, the terms “gay and lesbian” did not even exist in Jesus’ day and certainly not in the context that we use them today. But homosexuality was prominent in the Bible dating all the way back to Genesis. The question should have been asked differently. Actually, she wasn’t even asking the right question. Let me see if I can properly frame the question to help her out.

“If the institution of marriage as we know it between one man and one woman is such an important value, a core value of the Christian faith, why did Jesus never talk about it? “

The answer to that question, of course, is that He did. He did so explicitly. He defined it clearly. And His definition leaves no room for same-sex unions.

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19:4-6

That's what Jesus Himself said about marriage. It's also a very strong statement about the fact that men and women were made for each other. There's no talk here of civil unions. There's no suggestion here of domestic partnerships. There's no hint here that men should fool around with men and that women should fool around with women.

It's a straightforward statement that alone should clarify any misconceptions about what Jesus thought and believed and commanded as it relates to sexual unions.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. - Romans 1:24-27Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. -Leviticus. 18:22Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. -1 Cor. 6:9-11

Jesus Himself was referring to the law as laid out in Genesis 2:24: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

My point is that people like Patricia Ireland (who, by the way, proclaims to be a Christian) like to pretend they are operating under the same value system that we are under, namely the Bible!

They are not. They are operating under different values. They are only pretending to have a different interpretation of those values. That is why they are so uncomfortable talking about values. Because they are in constant fear we will find them out – that we will discover they are operating under a completely different worldview. We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. Not in the first century or in the 21st century. But it's important to recognize what their game is. It doesn't matter to them what Jesus taught. When it no longer matters then people will resort to doing what is right in their own sight.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.-Matthew 7:21-23