Same Sex Marriage and the Church

Running head: SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE CHURCH
SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE CHURCH
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE CHURCH
Introduction: Statement of Purpose
In the modern context of the world wherein in social affairs are dealt by the state and
religion has been subordinated to it, the dynamism of the relationship between the state and the
church is an issue of concern with regard to the framing of the legal arrangements that shall be
conducive to the applicability of all social contexts within the limits of the state boundary. For
the purpose of the formulatiuon of value free and objectively applicable laws, it is manadatory
that they have a secular basis, and that is possible only by means of a clinical separation of the
personal sphere of religion or the church and the public sphere of the state.
Like for instance, it is the generally held view that the stance of the church on contentious
social issues like same sex marriage is generally negative, however since all sections of the
population of the United States of America do not subscribe to the Christian faith, hence there is
the need of a legal set up which does not condemn same sex marriage making the religiously
held view of the Church. Rather the state must consider opposition of a lifestyle simply because
it is opposed to a religious ideal as wrong on an objective basis, and that is necessary especially
in a multicultural set up like that of the United States of America.
For the present purpose, the discussion shall be dealing with the political dynamism of
the relationship between the church and the state and on the basis of it, the most befitting stance
of the church on same sex marriage with regard to the opposing or supporting or remaining
neutral to the legalization of the same sex marriages by the government of the United States of
America shall be analyzed.

2SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE CHURCH
Relation between the Church and the State
According to the Horton (2013), the dynamism of the relationship between the biblical
concept of morality and the generally applicable code of ethics is disparate but not necessarily
irreconcilable. The viewpoint of the church on certain forms of social deviances emanates from
a moral standard based on principles having divine and theological basis. On the other hand the
laws of the state are based on the principle of justice which is essentially devoid of any value
predisposition which cannot be considered as rational according to the Enlightenment ideals.
Hence Horton (2013) has favoured the separation of the church and that state, by arguing that the
Bible has stipulated the exercise of discretion for securing the general or the specific benefits. IT
can thus be concluded from Horton (2013) that the separation of the Church and the State is
something which is sanctioned by the Bible, and that is manifested in the verses from Mark
12:17, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” This
particular quotation very clearly states that the sphere of politics and the sphere of divinity and
spiritual matters are separate and they must be kept separate.
McQuilkin and Copan (2013) also provide similar arguments like that of Horton (2013),
with regard to the relational dynamics between the church and the state. McQuilkin and Copan
(2013) argues that the Biblical notion of ethics and morality is a compilation of various values
which can be both implicitly and explicitly antithetical as well as conducive to the modern values
cherished by the state. The scope of the applicability of the Biblical principles are limited given
the fact that the United States of America is while the state has to cater to a wide range of
audience who need not be willing to abide by the Biblical conception of morality. Also the Bible
has mandated the exercise of discretion which is immanent in the verse John 18:36, “My
kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been