Marriage

The following article by Pastor Joe Fuiten of Cedar Park Church in Bothell, Washington gives an interesting slant on the subject of Domestic Partnerships or Homosexual Marriage. If you are not convinced by 5000 years of history, religion, or logic that marriage should not be changed, then maybe this stunningly simple yet elegant argument may help you. It reminds me of the wise words of President Ronald Reagan: “Government is not the answer to our problems; government is the problem.”

May these words speak to your heart and help you understand why you must vote to REJECT Washington State Senate bill 5688 on November 3. RB

By Joe Fuiten

I was on vacation recently in God’s great creation in the deserts and mountains of Oregon and Washington. I had time to reflect on what God had made as opposed to what the government makes. I wrote this little parable about what I might hear from people around the state. I imagined these conversations to reflect what people must be thinking about this proposed domestic partnership law that they are calling “everything but marriage.”

Parables of Government “Fixes”

Rancher’s Wisdom …

My first stop is at a ranch in Ellensberg. I ask the rancher if he understands the legislature’s attempt to fix marriage. He says, “When a rancher fixes a bull we call the outcome a steer. When government fixes marriage we call the outcome domestic partnership. I’m voting “Reject.”

Sensible Realtor …

I asked a real estate broker from Richland is she understood the issue of domestic partnerships and how she intended to vote. She said, “People can’t get a loan to buy a new house and even if they could, there is nobody there to buy their old house. When the government fixed the economy we started choking on a $1.8 trillion deficit for just this year. With the government trying to “fix” marriage we will choke on domestic partnerships.” She will be voting “Reject” on domestic partnerships.

Fisherman’s Woes …

I was camping on Nason Creek near Lake Wenatchee so I wandered nearby to find out where my camping neighbor was on this. As I came up I could see that he had one of those shiny new “green” cars. When I commented on it he said he had traded in his old gas-guzzling pickup during the cash for clunkers program. He only had a small tent because that was all he could get in his new car. He stood there a little unhappily with his red polo shirt neatly tucked into his pressed jeans unfolding his telescoping fishing pole. He said “We do this God’s way or the Government’s way. Consider the difference. In God’s way, I am looking at this beautiful pristine brook lined with magnificent trees. I look up the creek and see the tree covered mountains in the distance. God is so extravagant that he left the river running all night and it lulled me to sleep.

In the Government’s way I have here my $24 freshwater fishing permit. Hanging from the mirror of my “green” car is my authorization paper to have a vehicle out here. For the last two hours I have been reading my 144 page rule book put out by fish and wildlife department. My fishing line is topped off with a barbless hook. After two hours I finally discovered the Government closed God’s beautiful creek here year round. It’s the same with your question. God’s way is marriage. The government’s way is domestic partnership. That’s why I will be voting “Reject” on domestic partnerships.”

Simply Redneck …

After going upstream I found a redneck walking around in his wife-beater t-shirt. I asked where he stood. I think he said “The government is full of domestic partnership,” or something like that.

My little reflections are probably not a scientific sample but it does appear that people understand they need to vote “Reject” if they don’t want domestic partnerships.

Religious conservatives make up somewhere between 35-42% of Washington’s electorate by my estimate. By ourselves, we don’t win anything. However, we could win based on the way people are thinking about government. We could have a whole section of people willing to vote along with religious conservatives.

If you like FEMA Trailers …

The government effort toward domestic partnerships feels a lot like FEMA. Domestic partnerships are government manufactured homes. You can live in a FEMA trailer if you want, but it falls far short of what God has in mind and it should not be the ideal toward which we strive.

On a spending spree …

A lot of people don’t think the government has done very well in fixing the economy. The budget deficit and wild spending spree are evidence of that.

The Fanny and Freddie Mess …

They don’t think the government has done very well in fixing the mortgage mess. Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac are evidence for that.

Given the multiple disasters of government they really don’t trust the government to fix marriage, which is why they will vote “Reject” on domestic partnerships.

If you combine the religious conservatives with those who are distrusting government there may be a majority who will vote to reject domestic partnerships. It comes down to a choice between God’s way or the Government’s way. If you prefer God’s way you will vote “REJECT.”

Western culture is facing a seminal moment–one which may determine whether it thrives and survives or joins the infamous dustbin of civilizations whose actions brought the hurtful consequences of sin and the judgment of a Holy God.

The issue at stake in the 21st century is whether the nuclear family–the relational foundation stone of all just and free societies–will remain in tact or torn asunder. It has been ripped from its moorings by our own neglect through easy divorce and infidelity, and is now under attack by those who would have us change our entire moral code–the one upon which our civilization is based–through the imposition of homosexual marriage.

This fight is not about rights or being nice to other people–it’s about legalizing and normalizing immorality. Homosexuality is not a viable sexual choice. It’s immoral, abnormal, against nature, and personally and societally destructive. At greatest risk in the present struggle are innocent and impressionable children, who, if they are told by society that homosexuality is okay, will more easily fall into its destructive trap. If we really love people, we must point them the way of the truth.

In forty-two days the State of Washington will allow its citizens to vote on the issue of homosexual marriage. SB5688 is technically not about marriage–but deceptively so. It will give homosexuals the same rights as marriage that will ultimately lead to the grand prize of changing our marriage laws.

If you live in the state of Washington, this is the time to fight for your culture and children. If you live in other states and nations, would you pray for the citizens of Washington state–that we would understand the truth, vote for the truth, and allow that truth to set people free. If you would like to donate to this vital cause, please click here.

Gary Randall of the Faith & Freedom Network is one of the leading organizers of Referendum 71 which allows the citizens of Washington to vote on SB5688 on November 3. His words are clear and poignant on the the importance of preserving marriage for our children and future generations. RB

* * *

By Gary Randall

SB 5688, the “Everything but Marriage” bill, was presented to the Legislature as a bill about benefits, yet Senator Ed Murray, one of the sponsors, told the Seattle press that it is really part of a long term strategy to re-define marriage and legalize same-sex marriage. SB 5688 is the threshold. Representative Jamie Pederson, also a sponsor of the bill has called it a “bridge” to homosexual “marriage”. The Seattle Times editorial board agreed that with the passage of SB 5688, the Legislature should go ahead and give the homosexual activists the name “marriage” as well.

We must REJECT SB 5688.

If this bill becomes law, domestic partnerships will be elevated to where there is no legal difference between marriage and domestic partnerships. The Washington State Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) will be declared irrelevant and same-sex marriage will be imposed through the courts by litigation, claiming discrimination.

Although they were in the minority, many Legislators opposed this bill and have worked with Referendum 71, to bring SB 5688 to a vote of the people.

The Gregoire Administration has not been able to accurately assess the actual cost of implementing all aspects of SB 5688. It is fiscally irresponsible, in these extreme economic times.

Senator Dan Swecker says, “A domestic partnership diverts rights and resources from a family to an unrelated adult. These include benefits for independent children, end of life decisions by older children for elderly parents and inheritance rights of all surviving family members, just to name a few.”

The homosexual community emphasizes the fact that they have biological children, yet no child is ever produced by a same-sex relationship. There is always an opposite sex partner involved and they can lose their rights as well.

Support natural marriage. REJECT SB 5688.

Homosexual rights, or equality, as they call it, are not equal to civil rights.

Homosexuality is not equal to ethnicity.

The gay movement has evolved. Historically, homosexual behavior was defined as an “act”. Sodomy. Later it was elevated to be a “condition”. Homosexuality. In recent years it has become “Gay”. An “Identity”.

There is no medical evidence to support the idea that people are born homosexual.

Homosexuality is not equal to ethnicity and must not be treated the same as civil rights. Homosexuals have the legal right to live as they choose, but must not be given the right to re-define marriage.

To treat homosexual union as marriage, with or without the name, —even in terms of rights and privileges, is to fake equality between two fundamentally unequal relationships.

SB 5688 is an attempt to deconstruct marriage as it has existed throughout all human history. This unique and exceptional relationship that connects a man and a woman genetically to a child, is the cornerstone of every successful society in history and is the master plan of the Creator. There is no other relationship that meets these criteria for marriage.

Only natural marriage provides generational sustainability.

Rejecting SB 5688 is not rejecting or hating individuals. It is not taking something from someone. It is rejecting their attempt to redefine and deconstruct marriage, normalize homosexuality and rewrite our children’s text books.

Representative Matt Shea has said, “At the founding of our country we made the conscious decision to promote marriage between one man and one woman above all other legal unions because of its inherent value to children and society. REJECTING  SB 5688 will help us preserve that decision for another generation.”

This is your time to speak. REJECT SB 5688.  Inform others.

If you live in the state of Washington, we are moving into the final week of collecting signatures for Referendum 71 which would strike down the recently passed law equating domestic partnerships with marriage (SB 5688). The deadline for mailing in the petitions is July 22. We need you to go into a full-court press of citizen activism to help us reach our goal of 120,000 signatures.

If you need more petitions for a last minute thrust, please call (360) 631-1894. When your petitions are filled up, please send then in by July 22nd to: Protect Marriage Washington, P.O. Box 501, Arlington, WA 98223.

The following article by Gary Randall, the head of the “Preserve Marriage–Protect Children” Coalition will fire you up to understand the issue and do the right thing. God bless you!  RB

By Gary Randall

I want to address some of the questions and charges that are raised by those who want to redefine marriage. The primary source for my comments will be taken from a book titled, “Marriage On Trial: The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting,” written by Glenn T. Stanton and Dr. Bill Maier. You can buy it from Amazon for $10.20 and  if you buy it through our website Faith and Freedom Foundation will receive between 4% and 8% on your purchase. (Click here for details).

If not through us, please buy the book somewhere. Every family that cares about marriage and family and its future, should have this book in their home. Particularly in these days when marriage is under such assault. Every person of faith should read it–parent and child.

One of the questions often raised by those who want to redefine marriage is, “If heterosexuals can fall in love and form committed relationships called marriage, why can’t we?” Or, “If heterosexuals gain access to legal, tax and health benefits with their marriages, why can’t homosexuals have access to these same benefits when they commit themselves to one another?”

Marriage equality.

Here’s something to consider.

I watched as homosexual couples brought their children into the hearings on SB 5688 to testify and help make the case for same-sex parenting. The adults and children argued that kids need loving parents and two men or two women can love and care for a child as well as a mother and a father can. They often point to the failures in marriage as reason to redefine it.

Here’s the problem with that.

These arguments exclusively serve the interests of those making the argument. They are never about serving the common good.

Marriage is never only about the couple. It is always about the larger community. Marriage is an agreement between a couple and the larger society. Concern for the good of all society is the primary reason social institutions such as churches and governments get involved at all.

In the great debate about marriage we seem to have forgotten that marriage is not just about benefits for the couple. It always includes concern for the next generation.

Stanton and Maier expand on this a great deal and outline why every society needs marriage and how it contributes to the greater good. Among other things, they say the institution of marriage:

*Regulates sexuality, keeping it confined to committed, loving exclusive relationships.
*Socializes men, channeling their sexuality and masculine energy in community-building ways.
*Protects women from being exploited from men.
*Ensures that children grow up with a biologically connected mother and father.

The failure of some marriages is not a legitimate argument to redefine and deconstruct marriage.

The institution of marriage serves these purposes in all known human civilizations and it does so because it brings men and women together in permanent, exclusive relationships.

Same-sex marriage is incapable of doing any of these things.

Stanton and Maier conclude, there is simply no social need for same-sex “marriage”. But all societies need what they call natural marriage.

Consider this.

Could society be harmed by too much same-sex “marriage”? Of course, if all or a majority of “marriages” were same-sex, a society would disappear.

On the other hand, is too much natural marriage ever harmful? No. Actually, too little natural marriage can be harmful.

Natural marriage cannot be regarded as “equal” in social value and benefit. Society needs one, but does not need the other.

“Marriage equality” cannot be achieved by simply redefining or deconstructing natural marriage.

SB 5688 is not about benefits or children, it is the final incremental step to redefining marriage. If you are unsure about the issue of defending marriage, please consider these things.

To those in the faith community who have been persuaded to sit this out and not support the defense of marriage for whatever reason, please reconsider.

If you have been led away from supporting Referendum 71 because of political calculations and economic considerations, please reconsider.

We cannot wait two years to address the deconstruction of marriage.

Consider this:

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

“God’s ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind, and the manner in which a human spirit is infused into the body of a baby while it is yet in its mother’s womb.” Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 Living Bible.

Strategy is a good and wise action. Being faithful in standing for righteousness and righteous purposes and principles is the higher calling.

There is a time for everything and this is the time to defend marriage.

Thank you for standing with us.

God bless you.