“Listen to Me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish My law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.”—Isaiah 51:7

“Greg, don’t talk about those issues. They’re too political.” That’s one of the reactions I receive when I speak about the movement in our country to “normalize” homosexuality, and redefine the concepts of marriage and family. Are these political issues? Maybe. But more to the point, these are moral and biblical issues. And what I have said before I say again: We tamper with God’s order at our own great peril.

When it comes to homosexual marriage, we hear people say, “I don’t understand. If two people of the same sex love each other, why can’t they get married?”

Here is the simple answer: Homosexuality is outside of God’s order, and no amount of emotional arguments or political spin can change that precept of Scripture. It’s the same with a man and a woman living together outside of marriage: That is not in His order, either. God isn’t “anti-gay”; He is anti-sin, no matter how it is expressed. Does that make the person who opposes gay marriage “homophobic”? We could just as easily say that the person who denies the timeless truths of the Bible is bibliaphobic.

If you dare to speak out against any sin in today’s world, someone will brand you as “something-phobic.” Well, so be it. I will admit to being a sinaphobic. And here is what God says about sinners not entering His kingdom: “Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NLT).

How clear that is! There is nothing confused or ambiguous about the way the Bible speaks to this topic. In fact, there is no confusion on this issue, unless your confusion is with the Bible itself. If you still have your doubts, read Paul’s words in Romans 1:22–27. In no uncertain terms, the apostle lays out truth that the passing of millennia and the morphing of culture cannot change: homosexuality is sexual impurity, and goes directly against the Creator’s established order. What is that order? Marriage is to be between a man and a woman. Period. “Well,” someone might say, “my God would never say that.” The fact is, there is only one God, who has revealed Himself in the pages of Scripture. Any other “god” isn’t a god at all, but an idol.

Someone else will counter, “But aren’t gay people born that way?” I don’t accept that. I believe that all people are born sinners, and every one of us came from the womb with a sinful nature. As sinners, some of us are drawn to certain temptations and some are drawn to others. The fact is, some may be attracted to those of the same sex. But that doesn’t mean that a person should act on those temptations any more than a person who is tempted to steal, lie, lust, or murder. We must respect the marriage of a man and woman, and give it the honor that it deserves. How I thank God for the couples who have stayed together through difficult times, and raised their children to know and love God.

Homosexual marriage is more than a debatable, negotiable “election issue” in a contentious political cycle. It is a moral, biblical issue. Elections and candidates may come and go, but God will hold our nation accountable for how we confront this and other sins in our time.