A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison and 34 other U.S. religious leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to traditional marriage and religious freedom.
All signed “The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness,” an open letter to “those in positions of public service.”
Released April 23, the letter “promotes and defends” marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and acknowledges that “marriage is the foundation of the family where children are raised by a mother and a father together.”
Redefining “legal marriage to include any other type of relationship has serious consequences, especially for religious freedom” and “changes every law involving marital status,” according to the letter, and “no person or community, including religious organizations and individuals of faith, should be forced to accept this redefinition.”
Instead, “government should protect the rights of those with differing views of marriage to express their beliefs and convictions without fear of intimidation, marginalization or unwarranted charges that their values imply hostility, animosity or hatred of others.
“In this and in all that we do, we are motivated by our duty to love God and neighbor,” the letter asserts. “The well-being of men, women and the children they conceive compels us to stand for marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We call for the preservation of the unique meaning of marriage in the law, and for renewed respect for religious freedom and for the conscience rights of all in accord with the common good.”
In addition to the LCMS, signers represent the National Association of Evangelicals, Anglican Church in North America, North American Lutheran Church, Islamic Society of Washington Area, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Free Methodist Church — USA, Presbyterian Church in America, Church of the Nazarene, Assemblies of God and a number of other groups.
Harrison also was among faith leaders who signed two previous letters on marriage and religious freedom — “Marriage and Religious Freedom: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together” (2012) and “The Protection of Marriage: A Shared Commitment” (2010). Read them here.
To read the April 23 letter in its entirety, click here.
To learn more about religious liberty and the Synod’s “Free to be Faithful” initiative, visit https://lcms.org/freetobefaithful.
Posted April 23, 2015
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Its all about the Gay Vote not if its right or wrong
I think the real issue is, as a non-partisan court, who represent all Americans, they may find it difficult to agree that the US Constitution forbids gay/lesbian marriage. Even though I don’t agree with gay/lesbian marriage, as the Bible seems very clear in its point of view which as Lutheran Christians we do our best to understand and follow, it may not be unconstitutional.
The “secular” state can legislate what they want as they represent all, not just Christians. However, on the other hand, they also are supposed to represent us Christians too. So what I believe the correct answer for them to be is that they’d allow gay/lesbian marriage, but NOT require churches/mosques, business, or individuals to be forced to participate in a marriage ceremony/reception that violates their religious beliefs. That respects our beliefs, yet respects the other sides belief too.
Thank you LCMS and Pastor Harrison for standing in the gap! We cannot let the antichrist world system dictate our morality. We as laymen and women must be more active in helping our clergy–we must hold up their arms as Aaron held up the arms of Moses during a critical battle! We are citizens in a republican Constitutional government in which we HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to pray for, research, elect, and support God fearing leaders–leaders who will be constrained by the Judeo Christian principles America was founded upon. If we do not do our part, we will be ruled by ungodly tyrants, which is fast becoming our reality today.
We must realize something–if the Supreme Court validates same sex marriages, the Churches will be accused of discrimination and federal /hate crimes if they refuse to marry these couples. And what about our Lutheran School System? Will we be forced to hire homosexual teachers ? At the least we will lose our 501 c3 status and at the worst, the Churches will have to go underground.
IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP!!! PRAY FOR AMERICA AND SUPPORT FAITHFUL PASTORS WHO PREACH THE WHOLE WORD OF GOD!!