Pastors Voice Their Views on Homosexual Marriage

With the help of the American Family Association, pastors in Arizona are urging people at the local level to sign petition in support of a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

Phillip Medlin, associate minister at Mountain Home Church of Christ located in Mountain Home, Arizona, have been working with the congregation to gather signatures.

Medlin, ministers Ken Burton and elder Doyle Davis voiced their views on homosexual unions and why they think the amendment is important.

Medlin believes those who oppose the homosexual lifestyle need to make their voices heard.

"If we passively sit back, issues like this will continue to spiral and become more and more prevalent. We have to use any means at our disposal within legal realms to voice our opposition," he said.

He suggested signing the petition to support the constitutional amendment, contacting lawmakers and writing letters to the editor.

"The way things are right now, judges seem to have the control to redefine what marriage is," Burton said. "We need protection from judges who are making law instead of interpreting law."

They said they are not against homosexuals as individuals, just their lifestyle.

"As with Jesus Christ, following His example, we love the people. It's their way of life that we're disturbed about," Medlin said.

"God loves them as much as He loves any of us," Davis added.

But they are concerned that the homosexual community is pushing to make this lifestyle "part and parcel of our society as a whole," Burton said.

Davis cited Romans 1, particularly verses 25-27 as a passage to show God's disapproval of homosexuality. And Burton referred to the very order of creation as God's ideal for marriage.

"God created them male and female," Burton said. "He didn't make a harem for Adam, and he didn't make a male partner for Adam. One man and one woman is what he styled a home."

Medlin pointed out that this arrangement is what God called "good."

All three expressed concern that demands put forth by the homosexual community will take away Christians' rights to oppose what they see as a sinful lifestyle. "It's difficult to see 2 percent of the population controlling the rest of society," Davis said.

Davis and Medlin, who have both been involved in foster care, expressed concern about how acceptance of homosexuality in society will affect children. Medlin said parents should worry that it will end up in the school curriculum being taught as an acceptable alternative lifestyle.

Burton said he doesn't see this as a civil rights issue. He said groups such as blacks and women have been discriminated against because of who they are, but the issue with homosexuals is what they do.

He said they have the option to repent and change their behavior. As an example, he referred to I Corinthians 6:9-11, where the apostle Paul lists a number of behaviors that will keep people from inheriting the kingdom. Two of the offenses listed are different Greek words that refer to roles in a homosexual relationship, Burton said.

"People in the church at Corinth came out of a homosexual lifestyle," Burton said. "They changed. They repented. They gave up their lifestyle and became Christians. That hope is open to anybody. God's salvation is open to those who are homosexual when they repent and give up the lifestyle. It's not an unpardonable sin."

"We are genuinely concerned about the effects of homosexual activity upon society, upon the family, upon children, upon the general moral sense of our nation, and for the souls of those involved in it," Burton said.

By signing the petition, the issue will be able to put on the ballot. Each petition must contain signatures of registered voters from a single county, and each copy must be notarized. To get the issue on the ballot, petitioners will need to obtain 80,570 names on petitions before July 5.

Courtesy of The Baxter Bulletin

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.