Scripture reads: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at him.” (Mark 2:17)
In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus Christ states that there are some decisions that should be properly left to human government and other issues that clearly belong to God. In our system of government in the United States, the principle of the separation of church and state was designed to accomplish three goals: to protect the citizenry from an oppressive supra-religion (pre-Reformation); to ensure protection of the independence of the new Republic from any single organized religion; and finally, to protect the individual faiths and beliefs of the people from the actions of government.
I want to focus on the last one and how it connects to the policy of instituting Gay Marriage as law in the State of Maryland.
The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. In several verses, in the Old and New Testaments (I Cor. 6:9; Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; I Timothy 1:9-10 and Romans 1:26-27), Scripture explains God’s view of homosexuality as sinful, even naming it as an abomination. In the book of Genesis, the concept of marriage is established between a man and a woman. Thus, the Bible identifies what belongs to God (Marriage) and what belongs to man (Sin).
What should be the proper role of government? Simply put, human government should endeavor to apply human justice to ensure equality of the people who live in that society. Some people call this “Social Justice.” Human law in society should be designed to carry out human justice, not to try to supersede God’s law and His justice. As a Christian, who has dear friends who are homosexuals, I believe that human law should be used to make sure that they have legal and social protections in our society.
This view is in contrast to some members of the clergy who have lobbied legislators in support of Gay Marriage in Annapolis last month. In supporting Gay Marriage, through the theologically faulty reasoning of Social Justice, these clergy members have allowed man’s human law to supersede God’s law – the Scripture from which they preach in their pulpits.
Why should we be concerned over whether human government chooses to supersede God’s law? Simply put, there will be consequences. In the 34th Chapter of Proverbs, Scripture teaches that “righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Our Republic was founded on Christian principles. Our money still states “In GOD We Trust.” For most of the history of this county, those core principles have been key reasons for the blessings of safety and security that Americans have enjoyed. We must be careful in how we apply law in society.
In trying to enforce equality, we may be causing more harm than good to our society. Human justice is flawed but it is necessary for people to be able to live together peacefully. Augustine of Hippo comments on the limit of questions of justice made by people by writing: “These numerous and important evils he does not consider sins; for the wise judge does these things, not with any intention of doing harm, but because his ignorance compels him, and because human society claims him as a judge.”
Our form of government is based on popular election to a finite office. As well-meaning as they may be, the members of the Maryland General Assembly do not have the authority to change what God has designed.
There is a place for Social Justice. It is a Christian ideal that all people should be treated equally in society. The Bible is very clear on what belongs to God and what belongs to human government. The legal protections of Civil Unions for same sex couples offer an equitable solution in human society.
Faculty, Department of Political Science, Towson University. Graduate from Liberty University Seminary.