It was possibly a shock (maybe not a surprise) to hear our President articulate his support of same-sex marriages. He has a right to have his opinion and so does everyone else. Even though his opinion may have greater influence than mine, it is needful that I make my opinions known. I stand in total disagreement with our President’s viewpoint, not because of any malice or criticism towards him. I respect him and the office he occupies and will do my best to regularly uphold him in prayer to God as we are privileged and honor bound to do.

 I take exception when President Obama states his change in position stems from the biblical admonition to “to treat others the way you would want to be treated.” Although it has become popular to quote scripture out of context to defend a personal position and/or political agenda, it still doesn’t change what God’s Word clearly states. That, in and of itself, makes it needful that followers of Christ become more and more familiar with what the Bible clearly teaches and why. According to the Bible marriage should be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. There is no affirmation of homosexual behavior found anywhere in scripture and the Bible is replete with evidence that this type of behavior is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.

 According to an article in the New York Times (January 2009) a study released offered a rare glimpse inside gay relationships revealed that monogamy is not a central feature for many. New research at San Francisco State University reveals just how common open relationships are among gay men and lesbians in the Bay area. The gay couples study has followed 556 male couples for 3 years. About 50% of those surveyed have sex outside their relationships with the knowledge and approval of their partners. The consent is key! Colleen Hoff, the study’s principal investigator stated, “With straight people, it’s called affairs or cheating, but with gay people it does not have such negative connotations.”

 None of this is news in the gay community, but few will speak about it. They worry that discussing the subject would undermine the legal fight for same-sex marriage. Interesting!

 Of course, “open relationships” are not exclusively a gay domain. Some heterosexuals utilize an open marriage technique in what they hope will spice up or help to maintain the “covenant of marriage” they have with their partner. Joe Quirk, author of the relationship book, "It's Not You, It's Biology," told San Francisco TV journalist Scott James that, "In 1900, the average lifespan for a U.S. citizen was 47. Now we're living so much longer, 'until death do us part' is twice as challenging." It may be good to look at the long range consequences of our “right” to choose what we believe is best for us. It is not the purpose of this blog to do the research for anyone, but plenty is available to help us see the cost to persons, family, society, and country of doing “what seems to good to us.”

 God, the One who created us, will always have our best interest at heart. That’s why He gave us a “guide book” to help us know what is best for us.

 I belong to an international fellowship of like-minded churches known as the Assemblies of God, numbering over 65 million constituents in over 212 countries. The Assemblies of God's official position paper on homosexuality, states: “We believe, in the light of biblical revelations, that the growing cultural acceptance of homosexual identity and behavior, male and female, is symptomatic of a broader spiritual disorder that threatens the family, the government, and the church.”

 So it becomes more and more important for us followers of Christ to not underestimate the implications of a pro-homosexual, pro-abortion President and what it means for our country and the church. In no time in our nation have we ever needed to pray more for our political leaders and this country than we need to today.

 At the same time, we hold out our hands and hearts to those who are caught in the entanglements of homosexuality and lesbianism with the assurances that there is hope and help for those desiring to “come out!” Paul, the Apostle, wrote in the Book of I Corinthians 6:9-11, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? 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. And that is what some of you were. 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.”

 There is hope in the reality of change!