The United States House of Representatives passed a bill in July which garnered bipartisan support entitled the “Respect of Marriage Act.” The U.S. Senate is trying to pass the bill but has not yet garnered enough Republican support.
The bill’s title sounds great, right? After all, isn’t it time that Americans respected the God-given institution of marriage?
Therein lies the deception of the bill. It has nothing to do with the biblical concept of marriage. In fact, it does the opposite.
According to Alliance Defending Freedom, the bill “will enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law and jeopardize the religious freedom of millions of Americans who follow the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.”
ADF partners with Christian organizations, including the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, to defend religious liberty in the United States.
The legislation does not “respect” marriage as we know it. It makes a mockery of what God intended marriage to be — a union between one man and one woman.
Our nation’s elected political leaders took a seemingly harmless name “Respect of Marriage” and are attempting to weave deception and hypocrisy into law.
Not only is it concerning that the legislation would “enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law,” the legislation as it now stands could jeopardize religious freedom as we know it.
The ADF website cites three reasons why the bill should cause churches and ministries grave concern.
1. It would require the federal government to recognize any state’s definition of marriage — such as polygamous marriages — without any limitations.
2. It would empower activist groups to sue religious individuals and organizations that believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman.
3. It could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of non-profit organizations that believe marriage is only between one man and one woman.
Ryan Womack of ADF summed it up well in a column posted recently on the organization’s website (adflegal.org).
“Let’s be clear here: while the bill is superfluous and ideological, buried in its text are grave threats to religious freedom, free speech, and parental rights. It not only redefines marriage in American law — undermining marriage and family as the most fundamental institution for society — it clothes the federal government with sweeping new powers to discriminate against people and groups who hold sincere beliefs about marriage.
Womack also wrote, “In the grander scheme, the Respect for Marriage Act is a way of putting an exclamation mark on the sexual revolution and its ideology. RFMA asserts an understanding of marriage that, for good reason, has never existed in American law or even most of human history.
“This bill tramples religious freedom in our country. The government would use this new definition of marriage as a cudgel to coerce all Americans into accepting its definition or face punishment by the state. This could include churches, schools, and private associations being stripped of their tax-exempt status or being dragged into court simply because they desire to operate according to their sincere beliefs about marriage.”
Not only is this bill deliberately deceitful, it is hypocrisy. Proponents claim the bill will protect same-sex marriage (which by the way is legal in all 50 states), yet they have put language into the legislation that will ridicule and make life difficult for those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage.
I am 100 percent opposed to same-sex marriage. It contradicts the biblical tradition of marriage. But, if our nation is going to pass laws, shouldn’t the laws protect both those who support same-sex marriage and those who support traditional marriage?
This bill is not about equal protection. It is about forcing Americans to abandon their religious beliefs.
Christians need to step to the plate and be heard. Encourage your Senators to oppose this bill, which will be considered in the next few weeks. If you have friends in other states, encourage them to contact their Senators.
Pray that God will intervene. He is our only hope. B&R — Editor’s Note: Tennessee Baptist churches that are participating members of the Tennessee Baptist Convention are eligible for services provided by ADF at a discounted rate through the partnership between the TBMB and ADF. For more information visit: https://www.adfchurchalliance.org/partners/tennessee-baptist-mission-board.