Marriage has become a controversial issue in the Christian community. But it shouldn’t be. Marriage was created and defined by God as a holy union between one man and one

woman. His ultimate goal in a marital union is for husbands and wives to have oneness expressed within a relationship bound together by a Holy Covenant. Any other union is an imitation—designed by the Master of Deception, not God. Do you remember how you felt last year when you first heard the U. S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the legalization of same-sex marriage? I experienced an initial disbelief. I was

shocked when I realized how far our culture has drifted from God’s definition of marriage. I also wondered what my dad (who lived as a transgender woman) would’ve done if he were still alive. Would he invite me to attend his wedding to another man? If so, I’d be confronted with a difficult choice. Would I attend a ceremony that wasn’t centered on God and His definition of marriage for the sake of hanging on to a relationship with my dad? Would I support an imitation of God’s holy covenant?

The Holy Word of God contains no deception. Its truth regarding marriage is plain:“The LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman” for she was taken out of man.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:22-24 NIV). God designed love and marriage to be an example of this: “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love”(Proverbs 5:18-19). God created sexuality, and His guidelines for experiencing sexual relations in holiness and joy are clear.

According to Romans 1:24-27, we are intuitively informed through Scripture that homosexual acts, along with other practices—such as gossip, slander, haughtiness, boasting, and ruthlessness—are sins. Furthermore, this passage doesn’t give any conditions under which it’s acceptable to practice these sins. If my dad had married another man or another male-to-female transgender, it wouldn’t have been marriage in the eyes of God—He wouldn’t have blessed that union because we can’t expect God to bless a ceremony that is both unnatural and unholy.

Presenting the biblical perspective on this topic isn’t easy for me. More and more families tell me they’re facing this situation. The emotional turmoil created by same-sex marriage can tear families apart. But do we stop long enough to admit who is behind this kind of turmoil in our lives and in the world?

I wrote this with a heavy heart. My conviction is that it wouldn’t be right to attend the wedding of a same-sex couple or a transgendered loved one.. If you and your family are facing this situation, please spend much time in prayer. Study the Scriptures diligently, and ask God to reveal a clear path for you. May all our actions glorify God. And may we choose to honor Him as we strive to love those who are dear to us in this world of chaos.