Customer Reviews

The Truth About Same Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What's Really at Stake

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

To be honest, this book gets 4 stars, but I couldn't help but note the very low ratings it got from those who, apparently, disagree with the author's argument. That is fine. But labeling someone a hate-filled bigot, just because they express their opinion (which happens to disagree with your own) is not discourse at all, but a short circuit of discourse using very emotion-filled language that does little to address the particulars of the argument. This has been the problem with alot of the homosexual-marriage related debate, on both sides, there has been alot of fear, defensiveness, finger-pointing, and unrestrained anger. None of those things will serve the cause of truth (though they will most certainly help to further polarize us). Erwin Lutzer makes an argument (in my opinion, a very good one). If you disagree with him, propose a counter-argument and meet every one of his objections head-on and demonstrate the flaw in his thinking (if you do so, I promise to read your book too!). But don't label him a bigot just because you disagree with him; please, for all our sakes, don't do that. Lutzer is very much upfront in redressing the Church for being so insensitive, and sometimes, downright hateful. He calls upon her to repent of her genuine evils toward homosexual persons. He calls for Christians to love homosexuals, to end the sinful rancor, and work for the redemption of us all in the belief that Christ really has the power to make a new creation. Upon reading some of the reviews on the other hand, I began to wonder if I accidentally skipped the chapter entitled "Burn the Heretics and Gays!" So I checked again, and it is still not there! There is obviously much fundamental disagreement on this issue. That is fine. Are we willing to talk to one another and seek consensus together, or not?

Well, as you probably know homosexual indoctrination have led to the point in USA where it is needed to argue that homosexuality is a anomaly and sin, as if this is not obvious.
The only reason why this seems not so obvious is due to the enormous efforts (and money) injected in culture to redefine and subdue it into something completely twisted and perverted.
This book [which I listened to on CDs] will not be sufficient to inform you about all issues and challenges homosexual agenda introduces, but it will be good starting point for any concerned Christian, or otherwise moral person.
This book exposes homosexual agenda, it's threats to society, and prompts Christians to be loving to homosexuals, but at the same time stand strong on the Biblical position regarding this sin.
If this happens to be your first book on the issue, make sure to read other important books that deal with homosexuality:
-- The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today This is FOUNDATIONAL book that presents facts and statistics of homosexual movement to destroy traditional marriage and compromise health of society. If you think, my statement is an exaggeration, simply read the book, filled with facts, quotes and statistics...
-- Correct, Not Politically Correct; How Same-Sex Marriage Hurts Everyone This little book deals with dangers of homosexuality for the society, families, and most importantly kids. This book does not touch on the Bible verses at all. This gives it somewhat faith-neutral perspective on the homosexual issue.
-- Homosexuality: Contemporary Claims Examined in Light of the Bible and Other Ancient Literature and Law Deals with issue exclusively from Christian perspective.
-- The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics Well known and respected text on the issue. Title says it all.
-- Same-Sex Partnerships?: A Christian Perspective This little book is written by respected theologian, and even though short, deals with the homosexual issue with compassion and does not compromise to homosexual agenda.

Overall, this book is recommended as an introduction. It is motivational and overall represents historical orthodox stands on the issue.

I think this book is an excellent argument why we as Christians should be upset about the concept of sodomy marriages. The question is what the Bible teaches and how the Christian should respond to political and cultural movement in the United States. Those who support sodomy unions sometimes argue that they are not about restraint religious argument or practice. Maybe most are not, but in Canada such regulation of airwaves and pulpit does exist. The ACLU already has filed lawsuits against people who do not wish to participate in ceremonies involving people of the same sex. The same-sex marriage is one part of the Sodomy agenda. Erwin Lutzer goes to great length to express the difference between hating the sin not the sinner. This would also be offensive to those not repentive for their sin. It seems to me that he does not think Christians should exclude certain advocates of sin from certain social settings. I do not agree with this. But I do agree certain cordialness toward all should be followed by Christians.

This book is less a call to political action as compare to Dobson's book The War on Marriage. I found this book better written.

Lutzer here provides six action points for Christians who are opposed to the rise of same-sex marriages in America today. He encourages the church to speak, claiming that for too long the body of Christ has been silent on the decline of biblical marriage. He encourages Christians to take a fresh look at the Scriptures, allowing the Word of God to speak for itself on the subject of homosexuality in general and same-sex marriage in particular. He also encourages the church to act now and to seek God in this moral and spiritual crisis regarding the institution of marriage.

Lutzer is very clear in stating that concerned Christians can and should be developing friendships with homosexuals, while at the same time working fervently to preserve biblical marriage. The author here does not participate in any kind of bashing of homosexuals, but does assert God's standard for sexuality and for marriage.

If you want to bury your head in the sand and ignore the present peril of biblical marriage in our country, don't read this title. If you are concerned however, and want more information and suggestions for speaking the truth in love, get this book.

Erwin Lutzer and his supporters deliberately ignore the main point - a secular democracy is supposed to be different from a Christian church. I fully agree with Lutzer that if you are a Christian belonging to a sect that disagrees with same-sex marriage (many Christian churches perform and bless same-sex marriages and unions), you should have the right not to marry and your church should have the right not to perform such a marriage. Churches and individuals do have these rights in all democracies (such as Canada, Spain England, France, the Scandinavian countries and most other European countries)that recognize same-sex marriages and unions.
The question is: why should a secular state be defined by some Christians' interpretation of their own religion? Either the US is a secular state or it's not. If it is to be governed by the Bible, then the Constitution should be amended to redefine the US as a Christian theocracy (Christians can then battle over which interpretation of the Bible should prevail), and non-Christians who do not wish to live in a theocracy should relocate.

Until that happens, ALL arguments from the Bible on any question whatsoever are completely irrelevant to formation of state laws that govern citizens, including non-Christian citizens.

This book doesn't advance any sound or new arguments against gay marriage. Instead it merely trots out the same old nonsensical, bigoted arguments without verified facts to back it up.

I like Erwin Lutzer. I think he is a great speaker and writer. There are, however, several statements in this book with which I must take issue.

First, he starts from the point of view that homosexuality is a choice. I am so tired of hearing the term "sexual preference," as if people could choose their sexual orientation. Nobody who has actually talked to a gay person could actually believe this. I'm sorry, it just isn't true, no matter how much we might like it to be.

When discussing whether homosexuals can change and become heterosexual, he points to several ministries and "thousands of testimonies" from those who have had their desires transformed. He says that gays write-off these stories by saying that the individuals involved were never truly homosexual. Again, anyone who has actually spoken to a gay person knows that is untrue. Gays and other reasonable minded people believe that they are living in denial, not that they were never gay to begin with.

The research overall is sloppy. Lutzer depends exclusively on sources who agree with him and ignores sources that might have a view that is different than his own. Worst of all, he attempts to incite panic and fear among evangelicals over the prospect of legalized gay marriage. He has no proof of the disaster he foretells. Lutzer does not provide documentation from countries in Europe where gay marriage has been legal for many years with no ill effects to "traditional" marriage.

I know that this is a volatile issue and that feelings run strong on both sides of the debate. Unfortunately, this book cannot be seen as help for reasonable people who want to follow Jesus and "do the right thing."

D. Brennan, the one who wrote the review "A Hateful Right-Wing Piece of Pseudo Christian Propaganda" was wrong to call Erwin Lutzer's book hate-filled. Lutzer's message is overflowing with love and concern. He shows us that homosexual behavior is no different from any other sexually immoral behavior, and he makes people understand and sympathize why homosexuals want these marriages. Nevertheless, he sticks to the Bible, the Word of God, which clearly condemns homosexual behavior. Many people who call themselves Christian will ingore this part of God's will and only teach a message love and tolerance. While God is love, He is NOT politically correct. Moreover, anyone who shows contempt for any part of God's will for us, no matter how miniscule, shows contempt for God Himself.

This book was excellently written, and used good examples and metaphors. However, it can only be read with an open heart, a heart that wants to do God's bidding. Anyone who reads any piece of literature with their minds only open to their own personal agendas will find bad out of good. Therefore, anyone who is God-fearing or at least open-minded will find much use for this book.

In the first chapter of THE TRUTH ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGES, Dr. Erwin Lutzer lists the purposes that he wrote the book: to encourage and equip God's people to defend marriage, giving reasons why its definition should not be broadened to include same-sex marriages; written as an illustration of compassion to the gay community to illustrate that the Church (the true body of Jesus' believers) still offers a place of understanding, direction, and hope for all sinners; and finally that the book is written primarily intended for the Church as a call to action and a reprimand for the double-standards and hyporicy in our own lives and for not truly following Christ. The book is divided into 6 short chapters. The book briefly explores how things got to way they got to be, offers solid reasons why Christians should should oppose same-sex marriages, and provides a few tips about what Christians can do to influence our society and culture and return to being the salt and light of the Earth.

Lutzer's book is in no way defamatory or hateful towards homosexuals. The book was written in a spirit of mercy and grace. The only people that the book condemns are the members of the Church and how we have failed to live the life God has called us and lived lives full of hypocrisy by treating some sins more or less sinful than others. Sin is sin, whether that sin be lying, murder, adultery, child abuse, or homosexuality. In fact, THE TRUTH ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGES makes a point at illustrating that those who struggle with the sin of homosexuality are no less human or loved by God than any other believer who sins (which is all of us).

The book is informative, but it is quite short, too. Therefore it serves more as a primer than a hardcore examination of sin or a treatise on everything that Christians can do to start influencing society and culture again. I recommend this book for all Christians. It would especially appeal to those who know that they are opposed to same-sex marriages or think that they should be, but don't really know why.

Well, I have to admit I was one of those liberals before I ordered this fine audio CD and realized that this country is going to Hell in a handbasket.

While same sex marriage may only be legal in one state and will likely be made illegal there in the near future, you should not rest easy. What the same sex couples don't want you to know is that they plan on kidnapping your children because they can't make children of their own. I learned from this audio CD that's it's already happening across the country.

In addition, same sex women are just trying to show that they don't need a man and that is patently false. Women need authoritative men, and I am so blessed to have a woman in my life who knows her place as an uneducated housewife. Ain't no gays gonna take her or my boy Junior away from me.