Gay Marriage and the “slippery slope”

I can still vividly remember as a young boy when homosexuality was not only viewed as a psychological illness but a criminal offence. Indeed, it is only as recently as 1997 that homosexuality was decriminalised in the state of Tasmania. At the time, people talked about this being the start of a “slippery slope” that would inevitably lead to the adoption of children and gay marriage – a prediction that was met with wild derision and the claims of “fear mongering.” All gay people wanted were the chance to express their love for each other physically.

Fast forward just one generation and we are almost there. The debate concerning gay marriage is in full swing and despite the attempts of some to simply push it through the parliament it looks likely that we will be asked to vote on the issue as part of a national “plebiscite” after the next election – depending of course on which political party gets elected.

What is at stake though if the Australian people make a decision in favour of changing the way most civilisations have always understood the institution of marriage? Well in short nothing, and everything!

On the one hand nothing is at stake in the sense that the world will still go on as it has before and the Lord Jesus will still reign upon His throne. What’s more, both believers and unbelievers will continue to get married. So on one level, the immediate results will be minimal.

On the other hand though everything is at stake because once we re-define what marriage is absolutely everything is up for grabs. Significantly, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage people immediately started agitating for polyamorous unions to be recognised arguing that the same legal and moral reasoning applied to them.

We stand right now at a tipping point in our nation’s history. Now is the time to pray. Now is the time to speak. Now is the time to act. This means writing to our politicians as well as debating with those who hold a different view – respectfully and graciously – but most of all it means praying, asking the true and living God to sovereignly over rule in our land.

I vividly remember a minister saying twenty years ago that he could see a day coming in his own life time when Christians in Australia would be persecuted to the point of imprisonment for their faith, with the issue being what one said about homosexuality. Tragically I think his words will be proven true. When that day comes may God give us the grace to stand up for the truth of His Word no matter what the consequences might be…

Mark Powell