Remarks on the Irish Referendum about “gay marriage”

The outcome of the recent Irish referendum on the so-called "gay marriage", with over 60% of voters who voted yes, did stir up the controversy in Italy between those who are in favor and those who are against the same sex marriage.

We are aware that in Italy we are facing an unstoppable phenomenon, and sooner or later Italy could capitulate too, and join 14 other European countries.

The first to adopt this kind of law was the Netherlands, as early as 2001, and then Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, New Zealand, France, United Kingdom, Estonia, Slovenia, Finland, Luxembourg, and now Ireland followed. Meanwhile, in the US gay unions are legal in 37 states.

Of course, if someone does  not recognize himself as a Christian, he is free to think what he wishes even in this matter, 'but' it is inexplicable that people who declare themselves to be Christian expect to teach the church what is acceptable according to the God of the Bible and what is not.

To face this situation, what should the Church of Christ do, but keeping on supporting God’s Word position, which includes homosexuality among the behaviours that separate man from God?

The Sacred Text exhorts in love the sinner to repentance and conversion, to enjoy again God’s fellowship: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13).

Jesus himself said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). This is an answer to those who claim that when the Bible was written, it was consistent with that historical context, but today it is necessary to realize the changes in our society, and therefore, to adapt it to the new requirements and reinterpret it in the light of these changes.

But despite the many changes that may have been occurred, as Solomon insistently said: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1: 9).

So our first task as a church is to proclaim the forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith in God's Word.

Of course, we must also warn the authorities of the tragic consequences of the systematic demolition of the Christian values which inspired the creation of our society, and the distortion of the family institution and the marriage as decreed by God.

Of course, we cannot expect to impose the Christian model of marriage and society by law; grace certainly cannot be imposed, it is offered freely by God through faith in the sacr sacrifice of His Son.

But the real strength of the church lies in the proclamation of the gospel, led by the Holy Spirit, who is able to convince and win the hearts and minds ("And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" - John 16: 8).

The real game is not played in the public space, or on the benches of the halls of the Parliament, where even believers must be present, not in the demonstrations (which are also useful, but often inevitably receive criticism that sometimes it is difficult to handle by those who organize them): the real battlefield is the heart of man; that is our real goal.

It is therefore necessary to find a right balance between the fulfilment of the Great Commission: to preach the gospel to every creature, and civic engagement of calling those with power to do what is right, and stand on the side of the weak.

Obviously I am worried about the possibility that Italy would approve the recognition of "gay marriage"; as well as the introduction of the aberrant gender theory in schools, but above all I’m concerned about the attempt to gag the church, through the introduction of so-called rules against homophobia.

Rules which would not allow Christians to define homosexuality as a sin, a wrong behavior incompatible with the Christian faith (indeed like many other behaviors, and not only in the sexual sphere), as it has already happened in other countries where these rules came into force.

They want to gag our knowledge of the persuasive power of the proclamation of the "foolishness of preaching" (I Corinthians 1:21), because they fear it. We should be especially aware of that.

Stefano Bogliolo is a pastor in Italy, member of the Italian Evangelical Alliance board.