Retired Pentecostal Pastor: The Deceptive ‘Respect for Marriage Act’

I’d like to alert U.S. readers to the radical Left’s deceptively named “Respect for Marriage Act.” This alarming legislation will effectively impose “LGBTQS+ marriage” on all 50 states if just 10 weak-willed Republican Senators cave to its Leftist ideology.

The bill (H.R. 8404) passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 19 of this year. Now, the Senate appears to have enough politically-correct Republicans to join the full Democrat caucus to pass it at the federal level, before the 2022 Midterm elections.

The legislation repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, which was approved in 1996 by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton to recognize and protect natural marriage in federal law. Now, H.R. 8404 would seem to force every state to accept the definition of marriage of other states, pushing a “lowest common denominator” on all of the states.

For example, should any state legislature or court choose to recognize polygamy, it seems every state would be effectively forced to accept that new standard, without regard for the well-being of its children and families. It also appears to increase the threat of legal liability to those who may decline to affirm any perverse form of marriage.

The deceptive language of the bill actually destroys traditional marriage and the right for our states to sovereignly establish and embrace their own laws of American freedom. It mocks the religious values of our founders and Western civilization, itself.

Disrespect for Marriage

Rather than showing “respect for marriage,” H.R. 8404 demonstrates a direct “disrespect” for biblical teaching regarding natural marriage—the union of one man and one woman (Gen. 1:27 and 5:2; Matt. 19:4-6). It also betrays state sovereignty by weakening state authority and adding more power to the federal government.

Already, secular activists are looking at ways to legally approve polygamy (more than one spouse), polygyny (more than one wife), and polyandry (more than one husband). Pedophilia, meanwhile, is being sanitized by immoral iconoclasts, and instead of condemning the sexual actions of adults with children the almost unspeakable malady is being alarmingly justified as merely the private actions of “minor-attracted persons” (MAP).

Where or when will this sexual perversion stop?

The Hebrew Prophet Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness…“ (Isa. 5:20, NIV).

Thirty-five states have laws or constitutional amendments protecting traditional marriage. Jeopardizing our religious liberties and stripping these states of their fundamental right to uphold the will of their voters, this H.R. 8404 will haunt our nation’s leaders and hurt its future. Imagine the potential consequences to their own children and grandchildren.

Please urge your congressional leaders to uphold natural, traditional marriage and religious freedoms! Tell them to “Say NO” to an even bigger federal government and to vote NO on this radical “disrespect for marriage act.” {eoa}

Gary Curtis served in full-time ministry for 50 years, the last 27 years of which he was part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the Van Nuys, California, Foursquare church. Now retired, Gary continues to write a weekly blog at worshipontheway.wordpress.com and frequent articles for digital and print platforms.