"slouching
towards Gomorrah," as Judge
Robert Bork warned in his best-selling book1; we are hurtling toward it.
To cite another metaphor, the old earthen dam that has held and protected
the reservoir
of Judeo-Christian values and beliefs since the days of our Founding Fathers
has been leaking for decades. Even the most casual observer has witnessed
greater structural damage each passing year. But in recent weeks, the entire
superstructure appears to have given way. What thousands of homosexuals in
San Francisco have achieved represents the collapse of the rule of law, with
no legal or governmental official being willing or able to stop it or
provide more than a temporary stay. A revolution of striking proportions
now looms before us.
This is distressing for many reasons, including the historical perspective
of Focus on the Family. We have fought for "the preservation of the home"
since I left academia in 1977.That phrase appeared at the bottom of the
first printed stationery, which summarized what we were attempting to do.We’
ve been frantically waving a red flag ever since, warning our listeners and
readers that the family was in mortal danger. Aided and abetted by arrogant,
unaccountable and unelected judges who are determined to implement their
vision of political correctness, thousands of unlawfully "married"
gays and lesbians are fanning out across the nation, preparing civil rights
suits and demanding
recognition by the courts. Given the outrageous decision in Lawrence v.
Texas (the so-called
"sodomy case") and the disturbing rationale for it written by one of the
most dangerous men in
America, Justice Anthony Kennedy2, there can be little doubt that the U.S.
Supreme Court will soon
"find" a provision in the Constitution that guarantees homosexual marriage.
If the people accept that
decision passively, the issue will never be in question again. The
institution of the family will have
been destroyed.
Well, so what? How would sanctioning marriage between homosexuals be harmful
to society? Why
shouldn’t the family, which they see as outmoded and irrelevant, be
broadened and modernized?
What harm could possibly be done by yielding to the demands of gays and
lesbians? These are
among the questions being asked frequently by the secular media, which is
almost always biased in
its responses. Columnist Steve Blow, for example, recently published an
op-ed piece in the Dallas
Morning News that addressed the question, "Gay Marriage:Why Would It Affect
Me?" Blow said
he had read one of my recent letters on this subject and disagreed
emphatically with my perspective.
He wrote:
". . . when opponents talk about the ‘defense of marriage,’ they lose
me.
James Dobson’s Focus on the Family just sent out a mailer to 2.5 million
homes saying: ‘The homosexual activists’ movement is poised to administer a
devastating and potentially fatal blow to the traditional family.’ And I
say, ‘Huh?’ How does anyone’s pledge of love and commitment turn into a
fatal blow to families?"3
I will try to help Mr. Blow understand our concern, although I doubt if he
really wants to "get it."
He seems committed to "political correctness," along with others who hide in
places where logic and facts cannot penetrate. Nevertheless, I’ll offer 10
powerful arguments against lumbering into this untested and unprecedented
social experiment, as follows:
(1) The implications for children in a world of decaying families are
profound. A recent article in the Weekly Standard described how the advent
of legally sanctioned gay unions in Scandinavian countries has already
destroyed the institution of marriage, where half of today’s children are
born out of wedlock.4 It is predicted now, based on demographic trends in
this country, that more than half of the babies born in the 1990s will spend
at least part of their childhood in single-parent homes.5 Social scientists
have been surprisingly consistent in warning against this fractured family.
If it continues, almost every child will have several "moms" and
"dads,"
perhaps six or eight "grandparents," and dozens of half-siblings. It will be
a world where little boys and girls are shuffled from pillar to post in an
ever-changing pattern of living arrangements—where huge numbers of them will
be raised in foster-care homes or living on the street (as millions do in
other countries all over the world today). Imagine an environment where
nothing is stable and where people think primarily about themselves and
their own self-preservation. The apostle Paul described a similar society
in Romans 1, which addressed the epidemic of homosexuality that was rampant
in the ancient world and especially in Rome at that time. He wrote, "They
have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of
doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless,
heartless, ruthless" (v. 29-31, NIV). It appears likely now that the demise
of families will accelerate this type of decline dramatically, resulting in
a chaotic culture that will be devastating to children.
(2) The introduction of legalized gay marriages will lead inexorably to
polygamy and other alternatives to one-man, one-woman unions. In Utah,
polygamist Tom Green, who claims five wives, is citing Lawrence v. Texas as
the legal authority for his appeal.6 This past January, a Salt Lake City
civil rights attorney filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of another couple
wanting to engage in legal polygamy.7 Their justification? Lawrence v.
Texas. The ACLU of Utah has actually suggested that the state will "have to
step up to prove that a polygamous relationship is detrimental to
society"—as opposed to the polygamists having to prove that plural marriage
is not harmful to the culture.8 Do you see how the game is played? Despite
5,000 years of history, the burden now rests on you and me to prove that
polygamy is unhealthy.The ACLU went on to say that the nuclear family "may
not be necessarily the best model."9 Indeed, Justice Antonin Scalia warned
of this likelihood in his statement for the minority in the Lawrence case.10
It took less than six months for his prediction to become reality. Why will
gay marriage set the table for polygamy? Because there is no place to stop
once that Rubicon has been crossed. Historically, the definition of marriage
has rested on a bedrock of tradition, legal precedent, theology and the
overwhelming support of the people. After the introduction of marriage
between homosexuals, however, it will be supported by nothing more
substantial than the opinion of a single judge or by a black-robed panel of
justices. After they have done their wretched work, the family will consist
of little more than someone’s interpretation of "rights." Given that
unstable legal climate, it is certain that some self-possessed judge,
somewhere, will soon rule that three men and one woman can marry. Or five
and two, or four and four.Who will be able to deny them that right? The
guarantee is implied, we will be told, by the Constitution. Those who
disagree will continue to be seen as hate-mongers and bigots. (Indeed, those
charges are already being leveled against those of us who espouse biblical
values!) How about group marriage, or marriage between relatives, or
marriage between adults and children? How about marriage between a man and
his donkey? Anything allegedly linked to "civil rights" will be doable. The
legal underpinnings for marriage will have been destroyed.
(3) An even greater objective of the homosexual movement is to end the state
’s compelling interest in marital relationships altogether. After marriages
have been redefined, divorces will be obtained instantly, will not involve a
court, and will take on the status of a driver’s license or a hunting
permit. With the family out of the way, all rights and privileges of
marriage will accrue to gay and lesbian partners without the legal
entanglements and commitments heretofore associated with it.
(4)With the legalization of homosexual marriage, every public school in the
nation will be required to teach that this perversion is the moral
equivalent of traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Textbooks,
even in conservative states, will have to depict man/man and woman/woman
relationships, and stories written for children as young as elementary
school, or even kindergarten, will have to give equal space to homosexuals.
(5) From that point forward, courts will not be able to favor a traditional
family involving one man and one woman over a homosexual couple in matters
of adoption. Children will be placed in homes with parents representing only
one sex on an equal basis with those having a mom and a dad. The prospect of
fatherless and motherless children will not be considered in the evaluation
of eligibility. It will be the law.
(6) Foster-care parents will be required to undergo "sensitivity training"
to rid themselves of bias in favor of traditional marriage, and will have to
affirm homosexuality in children and teens.
(7) How about the impact on Social Security if there are millions of new
dependents that will be entitled to survivor benefits? It will amount to
billions of dollars on an already over-burdened system. And how about the
cost to American businesses? Unproductive costs mean fewer jobs for those
who need them. Are state and municipal governments to be required to raise
taxes substantially to provide health insurance and other benefits to
millions of new "spouses and other dependents"?
(8) Marriage among homosexuals will spread throughout the world, just as
pornography did after the Nixon Commission declared obscene material
"beneficial" to mankind.11 Almost instantly, the English-speaking countries
liberalized their laws against smut. America continues to be the
fountainhead of filth and immorality, and its influence is global. The point
is that numerous leaders in other nations are watching to see how we will
handle the issue of homosexuality and marriage. Only two countries in the
world have authorized gay marriage to date—the Netherlands and Belgium.12
Canada is leaning in that direction, as are numerous European countries. Dr.
Darrell Reid, president of Focus on the Family Canada, told me two weeks ago
that his country is carefully monitoring the United States to see where it
is going. If we take this step off a cliff, the family on every continent
will splinter at an accelerated rate. Conversely, our U.S. Supreme Court has
made it clear that it looks to European and Canadian law in the
interpretation of our Constitution.13 What an outrage! That should have been
grounds for impeachment, but the Congress, as usual, remained passive and
silent.
(9) Perhaps most importantly, the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will
be severely curtailed. The family has been God’s primary vehicle for
evangelism since the beginning. Its most important assignment has been the
propagation of the human race and the handing down of the faith to our
children. Malachi 2:15 reads, referring to husbands and wives, "Has not the
Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because
He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not
break faith with the wife of your youth" (NIV).That responsibility to teach
the next generation will never recover from the loss of committed,
God-fearing families. The younger generation and those yet to come will be
deprived of the Good News, as has already occurred in France, Germany and
other European countries. Instead of providing for afather and mother, the
advent of homosexual marriage will create millions of motherless children
and fatherless kids.This is morally wrong, and is condemned in Scripture.Are
we now going to join the Netherlands and Belgium to become the third country
in the history of the world to "normalize" and legalize behavior that has
been prohibited by God, Himself? Heaven help us if we do!
(10) The culture war will be over, and I fear, the world may soon become "as
it was in the days of Noah" (Matthew 24:37, NIV). This is the climactic
moment in the battle to preserve the family, and future generations hang in
the balance. This apocalyptic and pessimistic view of the institution of
the family and its future will sound alarmist to many, but I think it will
prove accurate unless—unless—God’s people awaken and begin an even
greater
vigil of prayer for our nation.That’s why Shirley and I are urgently seeking
the Lord’s favor and asking Him to hear the petitions of His people and heal
our land. As of this time, however, large segments of the church appear to
be unaware of the danger; its leaders are surprisingly silent about our
peril (although we are tremendously thankful for the efforts of those who
have spoken out on this issue). The lawless abandon occurring recently in
California, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere should
have shocked us out of our lethargy. So far, I’m alarmed to say, the concern
and outrage of the American people have not translated into action. This
reticence on behalf of Christians is deeply troubling. Marriage is a
sacrament designed by God that serves as a metaphor for the relationship
between Christ and His Church. Tampering with His plan for the family is
immoral and wrong. To violate the Lord’s expressed will for humankind,
especially in regard to behavior that He has prohibited, is to court
disaster. Here’s the question of the hour: How can we stop the imperious
courts and rogue local officials from overriding the will of the people, who
continue to oppose homosexual marriage by a wide margin?
There is only one answer. It is for the Congress and the state legislatures
to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment to define this historic institution
exclusively as being between one man and one woman.That is the passion of my
heart at this stage of my life. Seven times in the past few months, I have
joined more than 50 pro-family leaders in Washington,D.C., imploring members
of Congress to protect the family while there is still time. I’m told that
there is a brief window, now that the President has expressed his strong
support, when a Federal Marriage Amendment might be possible. Still, the
opposition to its passage is formidable. It is terribly difficult to pass a
constitutional amendment under the best of circumstances. It requires a
two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress and passage by three-fourths
of the state legislatures.That has only occurred 27 times in our 228 year
history.14 It will certainly not be easily accomplished this time. As I
write, 34 senators (seven Republicans and 27 Democrats) are reportedly
planning to vote against the FMA.15 Nothing short of a national outcry by
the citizens of this country will secure the necessary support.We heard that
repeatedly last week when we were on Capitol Hill.This is a time of destiny
for our great nation.
Despite the danger that confronts us, I am hopeful that the death of the
family can be averted. Most Americans still believe in the Judeo-Christian
system of values, and millions of them are people of faith who are calling
on the Lord for a miracle on behalf of our nation. That is the source of our
confidence at such a perilous time. As we approach the National Day of
Prayer (NDP) on May 6, I am beseeching our brothers and sisters to pray in
the public square for the survival of the institutions of marriage and
parenthood, and to rally for the restoration of our First Amendment rights
that are being stripped away, inch by inch. The theme of this year’s NDP is
"Let Freedom Ring," taken from Leviticus 25:10, which reads, "Proclaim
liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants" (NIV).
In addition to gathering on the National Day of Prayer, we are suggesting
that our friends and supporters participate in what the NDP Task Force is
calling "Freedom Five." The purpose is to commit five minutes a day to pray
for the five centers of power. They are education, the media, the church,
the family and the government (especially the judiciary). Perhaps a million
people across the country will join in this effort. For information about
NDP or about other prayer observances in your area of the country, please
see the clickable map found at www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
I will leave you with this familiar story told in 2 Chronicles 32.There we
read about King Hezekiah who had served God "wholeheartedly" during his
reign. However, he eventually faced a terrible crisis when Sennacherib, King
of Assyria, invaded Judah with 185,000 well-armed and trained warriors. They
wiped out the defenders of every city that lay in their path. Then they laid
siege to Jerusalem and demanded that Hezekiah surrender or be totally
destroyed. These are the irreverent words shouted by Sennacherib to
Hezekiah and his defenders who were standing on the wall: "Do you not know
what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were
the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? Who
of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to
save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? Now
do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe
him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people
from my hand or the hand of my fathers.
How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!"(2 Chronicles
32:13-15, NIV).
Hezekiah along with the prophet Isaiah did what you and I would have done
under those distressing
circumstances.They cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for
deliverance. Hezekiah also encouraged his countrymen with these inspired
words:"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of
the King of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power
with us than with him.With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the
Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8a,
NIV). And indeed, the Lord did intervene as a result of the prayers of His
people, delivering them from the hands of their enemies. That story should
be of great encouragement to every believer who faces overwhelming odds at a
time of great distress.
To summarize, let me say that Focus on the Family will not waver during this
time of national urgency. By working with the other pro-family
organizations and thousands of committed churches throughout the nation, we
will strive to defend the principles that matter most. In so doing, we will
likely be attacked, misquoted and maligned by the liberal media and by those
whose views on marriage and sexuality are radically different from our
own.We would covet your prayers during this time of intense debate. No
matter what the odds, we are determined to stay the course. And may our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ, bless us as we do. Will you join me in this
closing prayer?
"Heavenly Father, our great and magnificent King, we ask You to intercede on
behalf of the institution of marriage and plead with You to save the family
from those who would destroy it.With them is only ‘an arm of flesh,’ but our
appeal is to the God of the universe who has never lost a battle.We do not
deserve Your mercy, but we kneel humbly before You today and repent of our
sin and disobedience. When the history of this era is written, let it be
remembered as a time when righteousness was rediscovered and when the
wickedness of this day would be transformed by a nationwide spiritual
renewal that would sweep through the land. For this, we and future
generations will be forever grateful."
Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
Founder and Chairman
