Mohler Warns of Same Sex Marriage Impact on Churches

Two prominent Southern Baptists discussed the consequences of same-sex "marriage" at a biennial conference, warning that Christians will face increasing difficulties as the culture changes. 

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., was interviewed by Washington, D.C. pastor Mark Dever about the cultural impact of same-sex "marriage." They were at the “Together for the Gospel” Conference in Louisville on April 11.  The event attracted 8,000 people.  Mohler’s seminary is one of the largest in the world.  Dever’s Capitol Hill Baptist Church is a prominent congregation in the nation’s capital. The 16 million member Southern Baptist convention is America’s largest Protestant communion.

Six states currently recognize gay "marriage," and two more have passed laws that are being challenged by citizens and could be overturned. The laws in those two other states, Maryland and Washington, have yet to go into effect.

The definition of marriage, Mohler said, is simple: “Marriage is the union of a man and a woman before the Creator in an exclusive and permanent relationship that models his own character and covenantal love.”

Historically, Western civilization was built on the understanding of marriage as both a biblical and legal institution, Mohler said. The trend in recent times, however, has been to sever marriage away from its biblical understanding and more towards a legal understanding. This poses a problem for Christians as their views conflict with the state’s definition.

“Christians have essentially agreed with the civil aspects of marriage, but have believed beyond the legal understanding -- that marriage fits into a Gospel structure," Mohler said. "We now find ourselves in a position of saying that we believe in contrast as to the state’s definition of marriage.”

With shifting attitudes toward homosexuality, Mohler noted the consequences for Christians who insist on holding to biblical marriage: “What we now have in an increasingly short period of time is the condemnation of anyone who will not approve of homosexuality.”

Apart from a supernatural act, Mohler said he does not expect the culture to reverse its opinion on homosexuality.  The implications for pastors are many, Mohler said. “You can count on this being an enduring, permanent challenge set to impact every single local church.”   Continue at Andrew Walker