Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What's Really at Stake
    The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What's Really at Stake
    The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What's Really at Stake
    Ebook154 pages2 hours

    The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What's Really at Stake

    By Erwin W Lutzer

    1.5/5

    ()

    Switch to audiobook
    Read preview

    About this ebook

    HEADLINE: Is it really that big of a deal? 

    A May 2009 Gallup poll revealed that fifty-seven percent of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, while only forty percent are in favor of it (down from forty-six percent in 2007). This short, easy-to-read book helps shed light on what so many people believe, and why they ought not be at a loss about what to do now.

    The headlines only tell part of the story. In this revised and updated version of his bestselling book, Dr. Erwin Lutzer clearly and accurately depicts the truth about what is at stake here. By asking the right questions and by pinpointing the very real ramifications of same-sex marriage this handbook will help guide reality back to Truth.

    Dr. Lutzer expertly answers the questions that so many individuals, parents, friends, and families are asking:

    -How did we get to this point?
    -Why is marriage, as God intended it, better—and healthier?
    -How can I talk to my kids about this?
    -How do I responsibly read, watch, and filter the news?
    -Is there still hope?


    Let no one say that we have to choose between loving homosexuals and opposing same-sex marriages. Biblically, love is defined not as license to legitimatize sinful behavior of any kind, but love helps us see that there is a better way. Obviously, we must be as concerned about our own sins as we are about the sins of the homosexual community. We must be concerned enough to speak out about any action, heterosexual or homosexual, that violates God’s intended plan for marriage and the family. 

    This simple, straightforward look at the issue of same-sex marriage will equip you to know what is really happening and, most importantly, why it matters for you.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMoody Publishers
    Release dateDec 17, 2009
    ISBN9781575675213
    Author

    Erwin W Lutzer

    Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church, where he served as the senior pastor for 36 years. He is an award-winning author and the featured speaker on three radio programs that are heard on more than 750 national and international outlets. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three grown children and eight grandchildren and live in the Chicago area.

    Read more from Erwin W Lutzer

    Related to The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Where is God IN THE CHAOS?

      Mar 18, 2022

      We live in extremely challenging times. Our unemployment rate is among the highest in the world. Our economy is tanking. Skilled people are emigrating. Crime, poverty, corruption, and violence are endemic in our society. Chaos seems to be overtaking

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Val

      Jul 21, 2023

      Ask Val
      2 min read

    • Article

      ‘Socially Acceptable’ Sins

      Apr 22, 2022

      In the church today, there are many sins that are seen as ‘socially acceptable’. Are we changing the Bible to fit our culture, or are we changing our culture to fit the Bible? While the sin of worry, for example, may not seem as severe as murder, it

      6 min read

    • Article

      Why Study Church History?

      Jun 15, 2020

      Why Study Church History?
      3 min read

    • Article

      Why, God, Why?

      Sep 7, 2021

      Why, God, Why?
      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Jul 30, 2021

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      7 min read

    • Article

      Time For The Church To Embark On A Navel-gazing Exercise

      Mar 31, 2024

      FOR any political structure that fails in the absence of moral direction, it would seem natural for it to turn to organised religion for leadership. Unfortunately, the direction of most modern institutional religion is decidedly secular. The institu

      5 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The EDITOR

      Jul 21, 2023

      D ear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to k

      6 min read

    • Article

      Faith Comes To Fore In Democratic 2020 Field. Why Now?

      May 6, 2019

      Some Democratic hopefuls want to foreground their Christian faith in seeking the nomination, arguing Republicans should not have a monopoly on religion.

      8 min read

    • Article

      Stark Revelations: For Catholics, An Excruciating New Test Of Faith

      Aug 16, 2018

      For Catholics, the past two decades have forced the faithful to grapple with wide-spread sexual abuse among clergy. Now, as other traditions discover similar predators among their ranks, a new report still has the power to shock the nation, as well a

      5 min read

    • Article

      Discernmentof Faith

      Oct 6, 2020

      Discernmentof Faith
      3 min read

    • Article

      Letter To The Editor

      Mar 16, 2020

      My working environment is non-Christian and I work very hard with long hours every day. After a few months, through the mighty and powerful work of the Holy Spirit, I started a prayer group at our workplace, but I have been doubting if this is the pl

      6 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Dec 30, 2019

      Letters To The Editor
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage

    1.5/5

    2 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage - Erwin W Lutzer

      With pastoral compassion and biblical clarity, my friend Erwin Lutzer has issued a compelling challenge to God’s people, calling us to respond in love and truth to one of the most pressing issues of our time.

      —JOSEPH M. STOWELL

           President, Cornerstone University

      With the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor, Erwin Lutzer has in succinct fashion called evangelicals to stringent but loving action before it is too late for our country. This is the book that should be in the hands of every church member.

      —PAIGE PATTERSON

          President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

      A strategic book at a pivotal time for the family!

      —DENNIS RAINEY

          President, FamilyLife

      The attack on marriage we are witnessing on every front in our society strikes at the heart of the character, the authority, and the redemptive plan of God. With courage, conviction, and compassion, Dr. Erwin Lutzer explains why this is such a critical battle and calls the church to fulfill its responsibility in this defining moment in history.

      —NANCY LEIGH DEMOSS

          Author and host of Revive Our Hearts radio

      Dr. Lutzer strikes the right balance between grace and truth in this insightful and practical book.

      —WILLIAM J. HAMEL

          President, Evangelical Free Church of America

      The normalization of homosexuality through marriage or similar unions is a greater threat to our futures than most are willing to admit or even discuss. Someone must speak out and Dr. Lutzer has done so. Brilliantly.

      —SANDY RIOS

          Radio Talk Show Host

          Past president, Concerned Women for America

      This book delivers what it promises: It orients biblical Christians to what they must know about the growing acceptance of and push for the legal establishment of same-sex marriage. Lutzer frames the issues correctly and then rightly calls on the church to rise and be heard on this foundational issue.

      —STANTON L. JONES, Ph.D.

          Provost, Wheaton College

          Co-author of Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research

          in the Church’s Moral Debate

      Dr. Lutzer’s first-rate book makes a compelling addition in the debate. As he notes, this is not about hate—it’s about debate. The Judeo-Christian argument for traditional marriage rings true because it aligns us with our manufacturer’s design.

      —JOSEPH NICOLOSI, Ph.D.

          Author of Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality

          and A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality

      This is a must read for every individual who is concerned about providing a secure future for our children and grandchildren. Lutzer is direct but compassionate, intensely biblical but culturally perceptive. He is also theologically balanced and avoids emotional, reactionary solutions to a problem that—if not corrected—will cause our nation to implode.

      —GENE A. GETZ

          Pastor Emeritus, Fellowship Bible Church North

      Erwin Lutzer has issued a wake-up call to the church about one of the most pressing moral issues of our day. Marked by pastoral wisdom and biblical faith, this book points us past politics to the spiritual center of our lives. Let the church read and let the church act.

      —TIMOTHY GEORGE

          Dean of Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

          Executive Editor, Christianity Today

      I wholeheartedly recommend this book. This insightful and compelling resource will prepare and equip you so that you can properly address this very controversial subject.

      —SHEILA BAILEY

          International speaker and wife of the late E. K. Bailey

      The issue of same-sex marriage is one of the most critical of our times. Dr. Erwin Lutzer has responded in a biblical way to this vital subject. For Christians looking for answers from God’s Word, this book, written by one of our most effective pastors, teachers, and communicators, is required reading.

      —JACK GRAHAM

          Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church

      Erwin Lutzer is among the heroes taking a stand for biblical morality by using his influential voice to educate our culture on the dangers of same-sex marriage while promoting God’s very best invention for human relationship: marriage between one man and one woman for one lifetime.

      —ALAN CHAMBERS

          President, Exodus International

      I commend Dr. Lutzer for addressing a difficult topic with truthful love. The battle for same-sex marriage does affect you, as well as our society’s very future. We must not turn a blind eye to this issue; it is the single greatest threat to religious freedom today.

      —ALAN E. SEARS

          President, CEO & General Counsel

      Alliance Defense Fund

      Erwin Lutzer writes with the passion of a prophet and the heart of a pastor as he calls upon every Christian to help recover the biblical portrait of marriage and sexuality. Lutzer writes with compassion and not condemnation as he reveals the dangers of same-sex marriages for the family and the culture as a whole.

      —MARK L. BAILEY

          President, Dallas Theological Seminary

      The body of Christ cannot ignore the issue of same-sex marriage. It is time for the Church to stand up! Who better to give us precise biblical insight on this subject than Erwin Lutzer!

      —JAMES MEEKS

          Illinois State Senator and

          Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Chicago

      6 THINGS YOU MUST

      KNOW ABOUT WHAT’S

      REALLY AT STAKE

      MOODY PUBLISHERS

      CHICAGO

      © 2004, 2010 by

      ERWIN W. LUTZER

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

      All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

      Editors of 2004 edition: Mark Tobey and Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse

      Editor of 2010 edition: Dana Wilkerson

      Interior Design: Smartt Guys design

      Cover Design: Brand Navigation LLC

      Cover Images: istock 6333392, istock 6655757

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Lutzer, Erwin W.

                The truth about same-sex marriage : 6 things you must know about what’s really at stake / Erwin W. Lutzer.

                   p. cm.

                  Originally published: Chicago : Moody Publishers, ©2004.

                  Includes bibliographical references.

                  ISBN 978-0-8024-9177-0

                  1. Homosexuality—Religious aspects—Christianity. 2. Marriage—Religious aspects—Christianity. 3. Same-sex marriage—Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Title.

      BR115.H6L88 2010

      241′.63—dc22

      2009033819

      1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

      Printed in the United States of America

      CONTENTS

      From My Heart to Yours

      While We Were Sleeping…

      1. The Church Must Speak

      2. We Must Consult the Designer’s Manual

      3. We Must Remember the Children

      4. We Must Resist the Pressure

      5. We Must Act Now

      6. We Must Seek God

      Notes

      Resources

      About the Author

      Acknowledgments

      FROM MY HEART

      TO YOURS

      YOU HOLD in your hands a book that is a reflection of both my love for the homosexual community as well as my deep concern for our nation if same-sex marriages are legalized. When I saw the jubilation of the same-sex couples who were married, I knew that we as a church had to respond. But, quite frankly, I did not know what to say and do. Two thoughts came immediately to mind: First, I knew that we as a church must have some response both to our political leaders and to the gay community. But on the other hand, I thought it might be too late and reasoned, Whatever will be, will be.

      I quickly learned that many believers simply did not know where they stood on this issue. Some thought that we might as well let homosexuals marry, because what they wanted to do was up to them and it would not bother us; they could live in their world and we could just live in ours. Others thought that since the divorce rate among heterosexuals was so high, we simply did not have the right to sit in judgment upon the gay community.

      As I began to study the implications of what same-sex marriages would mean for the wider society, I realized that we were on the verge of the destruction of marriage as we know it. This redefinition of marriage would impact the kind of future we leave for our children and grandchildren. Enormous implications are at stake for us as a nation.

      There are also great implications for the church. For, as we shall see in a future chapter of this book, same-sex marriages will jeopardize freedom of religion. A lesbian attorney in Canada correctly said that the real battle is between gay rights and religious freedom; freedom of religion, she said, will have to give way to the homosexual agenda. What is true for Canada applies to the United States.

      Most of all, I thought of the young people in our churches who are growing up sexually confused as they are daily exposed to the pro-homosexual pressure of our culture. I wondered what messages same-sex marriages would communicate to them—what would same-sex marriage tell them about marriage, parenting, and role models? At that point I knew we had to speak to this issue.

      Finally, I had to ask: What does God think? Of course we know that the Bible condemns homosexuality, but I was wondering what God was saying to us as a church through the possibility of this frightening reordering of society. In other words, I was asking God not just for wisdom on how to respond to the culture, but what all of this should mean for His people. How have we as

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1