Barack Obama, president of the United States, is not deity. What he says about any moral issue does not change anything about the morality of the issue. CNN posted on their site an “Open-Mic” video which had a lot of different people addressing Obama in reaction to his open declaration that gay marriage is all right with him: a lot of people expressed gratitude; one woman (with a very strong southern accent) expressed her dismay … the media strikes again!

This unidentified southern woman in New York City talking to CNN’s camera expressing her dismay over Obama’s endorsement of “homosexual marriages” wondered how any Christian could endorse sin of any type. She has a very good point.

It’s not the sinner, it’s the sin. But our country has reduced itself voluntarily to the degree that if we say anything against the sin, we are bigots. It’s the “tolerate everything but intolerance” ideology.

Personally, I am dismayed by reactions from those whom I know who identify themselves as Christians who endorse Obama’s statement: in other words, they are happy for homosexuals! This is wrong! As the prophet Isaiah put it, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

In my opinion, part of the problem is that we have a difficult time recognizing what genuine marriage is anymore: the issues fought over marriage, divorce, and remarriage carry over and directly affect our understanding and application toward “gay marriage.” God said, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Essentially, just because people call it marriage does not make it marriage. You can call a dog’s tail a leg: it is not for this reason a leg … it’s still a tail.

God speaks against fornication and adultery — and before anyone thinks otherwise, fornication includes every sexual deviation, including homosexuality. And so, we find a very simple truth: if we have sexual intercourse with anyone who is not our heterosexual spouse then it is sin. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’ … So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve (apologies to all the “Steves” out there).

“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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Our society is obsessed with sex — pornography of all types seems to drive the Internet. Billions of dollars annually are lost to pornography alone. TV shows typically portray moral laxity as the norm. And almost any time a homosexual character is introduced in a movie or TV show, they’re likable; unlikeable is the southern preacher who cannot even pronounce the word “homosexuality” without stuttering.

“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19).

One recent argument I read said “Jesus never spoke against homosexuality.” Well, the word “homosexuality” was not used by Jesus; neither was “pornography” or “bestiality.” This argument is not a good argument. Jesus did say, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications [Greek, porneia], thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).

“This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19).

“I appeal to you, brethren, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve” (Romans 16:17-18).

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). And at the end of time, Barack Obama cannot save you from the wrath of God. “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard” (Colossians 1:21-23).

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).

—Jamey Hinds