What’s Really Going On with Evangelicals and Same-Sex Marriage

Nov 2, 2016 by Jill

By Trevin Wax, The Gospel Coalition:

The biggest debate in evangelical circles these days is not over same-sex marriage. It’s whether or not male-female marriage is a “core commitment” or an issue we can “agree to disagree” on. And more and more institutions and organizations are making it clear that marriage is the first, not the second.

That means, institutions are rejecting the “moderate” position among evangelicals, which I’ve summed up this way:

“One’s position on homosexuality or gay marriage is not an essential point of theology. There are faithful Christians who disagree on these matters, just as faithful Christians disagree on baptism, the Holy Spirit, church structure, etc. The gospel is not at stake in whichever position you take. What is at stake is our unity before the world and how we love each other. We can agree to disagree on these issues and still partner in missions and relief work.”

In 2014, I predicted the moderate position would not last:

The Moderates hold to an unsustainable position. They uphold a traditional understanding of marriage and sexual ethics, and yet they downplay the significance of these issues by taking the “agree to disagree” posture or a quiet agnosticism (“since people disagree on this, who can really know?”). I sympathize with those who feel like the culture has thrust upon us an issue we didn’t ask for and those who are weary of the constant cultural clashes between evangelicals and revisionists. That said, this category will shrink the fastest. The revisionists will challenge moderates to stop linking arms with people who affirm traditional marriage because they are “hateful” and “bigoted.” The evangelicals will challenge moderates to recognize the underlying authority of Scripture issues that accompany this debate. Moderates today will be forced to choose sides tomorrow.

I still stand by that assessment.

Read here

To illustrate the point, read also: Brighton churches ‘supportive’ as city prepares for UK’s largest gay pride march by Harry Farley, Christian Today

Rosaria Butterfield responds to Jen Hatmaker’s blessing of same sex relationships, by Justin Taylor, The Gospel Coalition