Editorial

The United States Senate will soon vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA), which would define marriage in the U.S. Constitution as solely the union of one man and one woman. With the homosexual lobby bringing challenges across the nation to various state laws protecting the traditional definition of marriage and the adoption of same-sex “marriage” in Massachusetts, it is only a matter of time before activist federal judges require affirmation of “gay marriage.”

The question for Floridians is will Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, protect marriage when the Senate votes on the MPA, S.J. Res. 1, probably around June 6 or 7?

James Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family Action, in a recent letter said Bill Nelson “has been among the misguided lawmakers who have refused to support federal marriage protection on the grounds that state safeguards are sufficient. When he voted against an earlier version of the MPA two years ago, he said: ‘I firmly believe marriage should be only between a man and a woman, which is why I support Florida’s law and states’ rights to ban same-sex marriage.’”

Dobson adds that with state laws under threat, Nelson should “be true to his word and commit to support the MPA.”

In a different letter, Dobson joined Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, in urging Southern Baptist pastors to lead their congregations to defend marriage.

Dobson and Land wrote, “… traditional marriage is under attack from radical liberal groups and homosexual activists. We need your help defending the family — and we implore you to involve your congregation, as well, in the battle to preserve the biblical definition of marriage in the face of these attacks.”

“Protecting marriage is so important that we’d also like to ask you to consider mentioning this campaign personally from the pulpit, if God should lead you to do so,” said Dobson and Land.

Last year, the Research Institute of Land’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued the “Nashville Declaration on ‘Same-Sex Marriage’” making a compelling case against “gay marriage.” The main points of the declaration were:

1. “We affirm the biblical teaching that God designed marriage as a lifetime union of one man and one woman. We deny that the God-ordained institution of marriage is subject to redefinition as merely a civil institution or simply a private matter.”

2. “We affirm that marriage has certain essential defining personal and social characteristics. We deny that a same-sex relationship can ever be the same as or equivalent to marriage.”

3 “We affirm without reservation the biblical teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful and contrary to God’s design. We deny the legitimacy of any attempt to characterize homosexuality as an acceptable or unchangeable alternative lifestyle.”

4. “We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and are of equal worth before God. Acknowledging that all of us are sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness, we express our compassion for those trapped in homosexuality. We deny that God hates people who practice homosexual behavior.”

The Nashville Declaration concludes, “Therefore, because of the clear biblical teachings about homosexuality and marriage, and the serious social consequences that homosexuality and ‘same-sex marriage’ post for our nation, we reject all attempts to legitimize ‘same-sex marriage.’ The multiple efforts to legitimize ‘same-sex marriage’ are misplaced and unwise attempts to redefine the historical, social, and moral foundation of human culture.”

The declaration urges “all concerned citizens to resist these efforts with all due conviction,” appealing for, among other responses from Christians, “to call on Congress to pass immediately an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage in the United States as the union of one man and one woman.” (To read the entire declaration, go the ERLC’s Web site: www.faithandfamily.com).

The case against same-sex “marriage” could not be stronger and the time for Christians to act is today. Fortunately, on this issue, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-FL, has committed to vote in favor of the MPA. Nevertheless, both Martinez and Nelson need to hear from citizens expressing their strong support for the MPA and urging our senators to vote in favor of it.

Our senators may be contacted at:

Sen. Bill Nelson
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5274
http://billnelson.senate.gov

Sen. Mel Martinez
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3041
http://martinez.senate.gov

Even while Florida Baptists and other concerned citizens of the Sunshine State continue to work to put the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment on the 2008 ballot to enshrine traditional marriage in our state constitution, we must at the same time urge our federal lawmakers to protect marriage in the U.S. Constitution. Ultimately, only a federal constitutional amendment will finally settle this matter, but we continue to work at the state level until there is a federal constitutional protection of marriage.

James Dobson sets well the stakes of this debate: “The definition of marriage for our children’s generation will soon be decided — either by us and our elected representatives, or by unelected, unaccountable judges. Now is the time for Christians to stand up for the principles we hold dear and to make sure that the traditional definition of marriage is decided once and for all. Your phone calls and faxes can be the driving force behind preserving an institution that has served all civilized societies for thousands of years.”

Please urge Sen. Nelson today to support the Marriage Protection Amendment.