Our President Said...

"My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians -- whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."

This was said in a speech last week by President Obama. Parents, I think it is important that as your children start to get older, you speak to them about matters like homosexuality and the importance of marriage. If you do not, I promise you that they will be far more likely to absorb our culture--and our President--'s view than the biblical view.

Don't assume that your children hold the same beliefs as you about issues. Ultimately, they might choose to disagree with you and diverge from your stance. But, your responsibility is to raise up men and women who are turning to God's Word for answers and not just absorbing culture's cues.

Using President Obama's speech, which you can read at the White House Press's site, you have a great opportunity to have a conversation with your older children about marriage and the importance of following God's design...Help them see that though a gay couple might love each other just as much as a married couple and their commitment might be very "real" (to use the President's term), in the end their relationship is not one that is "admirable." And our lack of admiration is rooted not just in our own political opinions, but in the fact that they are flying in the face of God's clear design and commands.

BUT (and this is important too) be sure to squash any sort of superiority or arrogance in your children that can come from such discussions...Heterosexuals are no less in need of God's grace and forgiveness for their sin than homosexuals. All people need God's mercy--received only through faith in Christ, the One who suffered as a substitute for us. Being "straight" and submitting to God's design/commands is not a box to be checked off in a quest for heaven. Rather, it should be a fruit of our faith in Jesus and our willingness to submit to Him.