According to the Family Foundation, in 2006, 57 percent of the state of Virginia voters voted and passed a constitutional amendment to protect marriage between one man and one woman. But because activists supporting same-sex marriage have failed annually to repeal the vote in the General Assembly, they have gone to the courts to overturn the vote.
The case, Bostic v. Rainey, concerns a couple who resides in the Tidewater area, and they are asking the court to overturn the state’s marriage amendment.
We would expect the sitting Virginia attorney general to uphold the law of Virginia and the Constitution of Virginia, but Attorney General Mark Herring is not. Not only has he made the choice not to back the law regarding same-sex marriage, but he himself is also jumping into the case in favor of those who want to overturn the constitutional amendment protecting marriage.
Residents are encouraged to call Attorney General Mark Herring’s office at 804-786-2071 and let their voice be heard in support of what advocates of the law are calling NORMAL marriage. NORMAL is an acronym that spells out the position of the supporters of the Virginia constitutional amendment:
Natural as nature teaches us. In the academic discipline of theology, “natural law” is the innate law within the heart of man that gives him an inward conscience of right and wrong. Natural law teaches humans that homosexual unions are unnatural. In other words, they do not occur in nature. By the way, rare exceptions, like certain penguins, do not negate the law.
Original as God created from the beginning. Jesus Christ said regarding marriage, “‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate'” (Matt. 19:4-6, NIV).
Notice Jesus points out that it was God’s original design in creation and marriage to make them “male and female.” Also, He forbids that man should separate what God has joined. If God has joined a man and woman, then homosexual marriage will separate that possibility at least for the participants.
Reproductive. Homosexuals cannot truly reproduce (outside of adoption). God’s main intent for marriage is that the two will procreate, partnering with God’s purpose.
“And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it” (Gen. 9:7, NKJV, emphasis added).
“Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring” (Mal. 2:15, NIV, emphasis added).
Notice how God tells His creation to “be fruitful and multiply.” There are rare exceptions, such as some heterosexual couples that cannot have children. This does not negate this truth.
Moral. Morality can be determined by a lot of factors in forming people’s opinions. As Christians, our worldview is formed by Scripture, which rejects homosexuality as a sin.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Even so, all of these sins can be repented of, and we can all receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. But once Christ forgives us He instructs us to, “Go and sin no more.”
And Legal. There was a reason that 57 percent of Virginians voted in an amendment to the state constitution to protect the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. It is currently the law of the land, which we must uphold as citizens. And if it wasn’t the law, then it would still violate God’s law, which is ultimately higher than societal laws.
“Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth” (Article 1, Section 15 A, Virginia Constitution).
What Can You Do to Help?
1. Pray. Believers across Virginia and the United States can join together in prayer for this attempt to overturn the constitutional amendment not to succeed.
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
2. Sign. The Family Foundation has an online petition that you can sign and show your support: familyfoundation.org/ag_
3. Call. You can call Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s office at 804-786-2071 and let him know you want to keep the constitutional amendment for the state of Virginia supporting marriage being defined as between one man and one woman.
4. Announce. Let others know what is taking place through your social media outlets and through your church’s pulpit.
John Blanchard, senior pastor at the Rock Church in Virginia Beach, Va., is the son-in-law of the late John Gimenez and his wife, Anne.
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