Protect the sanctity of Marriage

Picture this. Rose petals adorably scattered on the floor by little children, church festively decorated in shades of red (the color of love), and the sounds of “Can you feel the love tonight” (by Elton John) playing in the background. Then finally, 15 minutes past schedule, the groom emerges from one side of the church, and the bride appears from the opposite side of the church… all rise! …“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

[Insert the sound of the needle abruptly being
ripped from the record here...]

That was the scene I witnessed nearly 6 weeks ago when I blogged about a wedding I attended.

Saturday, March 29, 2008: I just got back from attending the wedding of my neighbor’s daughter. It was at a church. Not unusual in and of itself, but this was the “whole enchilada”–complete with a long diatribe on what marriage is, and is not. It was a real sermon I tell you! I was looking around at the wedding party who were all looking a little weary. I think they wanted to get to the good stuff! Anyway, the pastor clearly was outlining the very specific “Christian” point of marriage (pretty much the “party line” we are hearing from conservative politicians). That marriage is “not a legal or civil contract,” rather it is solely a “religious covenant.” I’ve know the couple who were getting married for several years… this sermon didn’t seem like their bag (they’ve lived together for years and already have a kid)… and I know it was not mine! I’ve been in churches all my life and been to countless weddings, but this… this is a new day in our world. It is like they need every opportunity to verbally protect “traditional marriage.“

What does “sanctity” mean anyway? One definition is “holiness: the quality of being holy.” And at the wedding described above, the “traditional, biblical, holy, ‘one man+one woman’ marriage” was definitely “preached” (almost like a PSA)!

Well, so much for the “one man+one woman=marriage” success formula.

After barely 6 weeks, this one ended in a train wreck!

I listened in shock yesterday as the twenty-something woman told me that she and her 2 year old son were “kicked out” by her new husband, and that the marriage was already over and she and her son were once again living with mom and dad.

This example strikes me as the type of cause that “Concerned Oregonians“ (and the 700 Club) ought to be taking up, campaigning for, working to prevent–instead of feverishly protecting “sanctity of Marriage” from committed, loving, stable same-sex couples! Committed same-sex couples are not the ones who are jeopardizing marriage (as the ADF characterizes it in its newest campaign to thwart same-sex marriage in California). I mean honestly, in Oregon a young person must log 100 hours of driving skill building time before they are allowed to apply for a driver’s license. Maybe, just maybe, a young couple ought to be required to log a certain amount of “relational skill building hours” before they are allowed to apply for the much protected, sacred marriage license.

If the “institution” of marriage ever closes its proverbial doors for good in our society… it will not have been because same-sex couples were or were not allowed to partake in the rite.

glbt-christians