Should government regulate marriage??

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Yes our government should regulate marriage and in addition take a stand against homosexual marriage.

I agree.

In fact the government already regulates marriage to an extent.

I am against homosexuals given the "right" to marry. Inevitably, it would force churches to have to recognize, and even perform those marriages.

I am not against the idea of some sort of government recognized civil union status for homosexuals, written and enforced in a way that does not encourage "shackin up" by heterosexuals.

Both are issues of morality that have huge societal implications.

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Marriage (Adam & Eve style) is how our species reproduces. Studies showing the importance of a stable home life are too numerous to even begin to cite.

If someone wants to "hook up" in an unconventional way in the privacy of their own closest then I am too busy to care. But what we do as a society (our "governments") should be to "promote the general welfare" and a mom & pop type marriage is the essential foundation.

So where does promoting stop and enforcement start?

[Aquila]

I'm for liberty and justice for all. All means all. Either you believe in it or you don't. Freedom is holy even when men and women are not.

I believe that God will bless a "free nation" over a "Christian nation" any day.

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I am against homosexuals given the "right" to marry. Inevitably, it would force churches to have to recognize, and even perform those marriages.

I don't think that is inevitable. Does a church HAVE to perform all heterosexual wedding requests brought before it now? I thought that was a pastor's discretion.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by OnTheFritz

I don't think that is inevitable. Does a church HAVE to perform all heterosexual wedding requests brought before it now? I thought that was a pastor's discretion.

It is, you're exactly right.

This is just another unfounded scare tactic. Pastors can choose to only marry congregation members, requiring anyone desiring to be married to take discipleship classes and even pre-marriage counseling. The pastor can still choose not to perform the wedding if they feel it isn't in the couple's best interest. That's why there's a Justice of the Peace they can turn to if all pastors deny them a wedding. lol

[BrotherEastman]

The only issue I have with the government getting involved with people's lives is if they can regulate one aspect of marraige such as homosexual marraige, then who's to say that they will not disrupt what we think is normal? Government should not be involved when it comes to relationships whether we like the gay agenda or not. The government already has too much power as it is.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

The only issue I have with the government getting involved with people's lives is if they can regulate one aspect of marraige such as homosexual marraige, then who's to say that they will not disrupt what we think is normal? Government should not be involved when it comes to relationships whether we like the gay agenda or not. The government already has too much power as it is.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

The only issue I have with the government getting involved with people's lives is if they can regulate one aspect of marraige such as homosexual marraige, then who's to say that they will not disrupt what we think is normal? Government should not be involved when it comes to relationships whether we like the gay agenda or not. The government already has too much power as it is.

Agreed!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

The only issue I have with the government getting involved with people's lives is if they can regulate one aspect of marraige such as homosexual marraige, then who's to say that they will not disrupt what we think is normal? Government should not be involved when it comes to relationships whether we like the gay agenda or not. The government already has too much power as it is.

EXACTLY!!!!!

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

The only issue I have with the government getting involved with people's lives is if they can regulate one aspect of marraige such as homosexual marraige, then who's to say that they will not disrupt what we think is normal? Government should not be involved when it comes to relationships whether we like the gay agenda or not. The government already has too much power as it is.

Let me chime in on this row of positive responses you have going.

Amen... great post.

To add a few of my thoughts...

The short sighted view that many people take is... control them... they are bad... or that is bad...

The government that can stop people that you don't want to be married from being married can, some day, force you to marry those you don't want to marry.

Then people will wonder how the government ever got this kind of power... you gave it to them... back when they were singing your tune. It mesmerized you into not thinking it out.

There are 2 sides to every coin. We forget that all too soon.

If we are to fight against marriages such as these... let us fight against them in the church. The world is, well, the world and sinners... you guessed it... sin.