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Pastor's Corner by Pastor Larry

November, 2005

Just about five years ago, California voters passed Proposition 22, in which it stipulates that it is the people’s choice to uphold marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Since then, advocates for “same-sex marriage” have been challenging the spirit of Proposition 22. The mayor of San Francisco, Gary Newsom, openly issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a defiant opposition to this measure. In addition, the legislature passed the legislation of “gender-neutral” marriages (only to be vetoed by the governor). These are a couple of examples to show how liberal politicians are trying to undermine the will of the people and the state constitution. Recently, a judge in San Francisco found a loophole in the wordings of the Constitution, and has thus ruled that there is a “right” to have same-sex marriages under the California State Constitution. It is now pending the ruling by the appellate courts.

As this issue is being battled in the political arena, many Christians have jumped on the “bandwagon” to protect the traditional marriage by petitioning to amend the Constitution, which reads, “A marriage between a man and a woman is the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” Rightfully so! I believe it needs to be done. Our church is collecting signatures to support this amendment. This is the very least and the first step towards the right direction that we can do in the political arena to uphold our belief. 

As Christians, I believe there is a higher calling for us to protect the wholesomeness of marriage by living out what “Christian marriage” is all about. It is sad to say that there are so many broken Christian families. The percentage of Evangelicals who file for divorce is no less than that of the pagans’. If we claim God’s love is so wonderful, why can’t people see that in our marriages? The short-term remedy to stop the avalanche of the same-sex marriage, if at all possible, is through the political channel, but the long-term remedy to “fix” this problem is having Christian couples live out wholesome marriages so that it may create a thirst for society to pursue biblical marriages. Can we change everybody’s minds? I would love to say, “Yes,” but in reality, the answer probably is, “No.” Before we want to change the world, let’s try to change ourselves and the peers who are around us. If our marriages are successful in the midst of unsuccessful marriages, I imagine we can raise some eyebrows. Apostle Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” The principle of explaining our hope extends to explaining our happy marriage.

Before I sign off, it is my wish that all of you will have a deeper and fuller understanding of what it means to love our spouses sacrificially. It is seeking the best for him or her, according to God’s will. I also wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Come to think about it, maybe you can take this opportunity to thank God for your spouse, and also to verbalize it to your spouse.

Pastor Larry

就在大約五年前，加州選民通過22號提案，說明人民的意願是支持一男一女的婚姻。自此以後，倡導〝同性婚姻〞者就不斷挑戰22號提案的精神。三藩市的市長紐森Gary Newsom更公開簽發結婚証書給同性結合的伴侶，作為反對這標準。更甚者，州議會通過〝不分性別〞的婚姻法案﹝只給州長決定否决﹞。這些都是一些例子表明那些開放的政客漠視民意和州憲法。最近，在三藩市有一位法官找到在憲法中措辭的一些漏洞，所以就判決在加州的憲法之下，是有權進行〝同性婚姻〞的，現在正等候上訴庭的裁決。

當這事件在政治圈子中爭持的時候，很多基督徒也加入戰圈，以申請修補憲法為「一男一女的婚姻是唯一有效或本州承認的合法結合。」來保護傳統婚姻。這是絕對應該的，我相信是需要做的，我們教會也收集簽名來支持這補章。這是朝向正確方向最起碼和第一步可以在政治舞台做到的事情來支持我們的信念。

作為基督徒，我相信我們有一個更高層次的呼召，就是活出何謂〝基督徒的婚姻〞來保護婚姻的完整性。傷痛的是太多破碎的基督徒家庭，福音派信徒離婚的百分率並不比異教徒為低。如果我們宣稱神的愛是這麼好，為何人們沒有從我們的婚姻中看出來呢？如果可以制止〝同性婚姻〞的雪崩式蔓延的話，暫時是透過政治途徑；但長遠的政策來解決這問題是要基督徒的夫婦活出完整的婚姻，以至令到社會渴求這種合乎聖經的婚姻。我們是否可以改變每一個人的思想呢？我願意說〝可以〞，但事實上，答案是〝不可以〞。在我們期望改變世界以先，讓我們先改變自己和我們週圍的同儕。如果我們的婚姻在眾多失敗婚姻中是成功的話，我想像這可以使人另眼相看。使徒保羅這樣說：「有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔、敬畏的心回答各人。」解釋我們有盼望的原則可以延伸至解釋我們有美滿的婚姻。

在擱筆前，我希望你們都能夠更深和更全面的認識到何謂〝犧牲〞地去愛我們的配偶，這是在神的旨意中，為他﹝她﹞尋求最理想的。我亦祝你們有一個愉快的感恩節。我在想，或許你可以趁這機會來為你的配偶感謝神，同時亦能夠向你的配偶說出來。

唐若愚牧師

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