www.pray4marriage.org
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. —Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV)
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. —James 5:16 (NKJV)
Dr. Richard G. Lee is the president and voice of There’s Hope America broadcasting media in Atlanta, Georgia, and the founding pastor of First Redeemer Church in the Atlanta area. Dr. Lee is the author of twenty books and the general editor of The American Patriot’s Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers).1 2
One of Dr. Lee’s books is titled In God We Still Trust: A 365-Day Devotional (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010). In this publication, the entry for October 15 is titled “The Biblical Basis of Marriage.” Dr. Lee begins this important reading by upholding the clarity of the Bible concerning marriage in both the Old and New Testaments. He quotes Genesis 2:24, which in the New King James Version reads, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” At the dawn of civilization, says Lee, God ordained marriage—which consists of one man and one woman—to be the foundation of civilization. Then he affirms that Jesus “also taught that marriage is an institution established by God and designed as a lifelong covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:1-6).”
Lee continues. Because of the way God had designed the man and the woman, the command He gave Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28) actually required them to come together. It’s true the ideal does not occur in every situation, but it still should be upheld. God’s ideal is that every child would be born to a mother and a father who are committed to each other in a marriage, and that married parents would bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
Concluding, Lee writes, “Preserving the traditional family is vital to America’s future. We must join together to maintain the God-ordained truth that marriage is one man and one woman committed to each other for life. Beyond being a basic unit of society, the family is a sacred institution.”3
Today, the institution of marriage as designed by God is hanging by a thread. Soon the Supreme Court will consider a case that could result in the redefinition of marriage nationwide. Unfortunately, even many who hope marriage will be preserved do not realize just how ominous the implications will be if the court imposes same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Several Christian leaders are laying the groundwork for some very bold action—including non-violent confrontation and peaceful civil disobedience if necessary—in the aftermath of a ruling striking down all the states’ marriage protection laws.4 5 Can God’s judgment against such a wayward nation be far behind?6
Right now, however, there is perhaps no more important or effective way for ordinary citizens to contend for natural marriage than to pray that the God-ordained definition of marriage will be preserved. Accordingly, a group of concerned citizens is calling the nation to 40 Days of Prayer for Marriage: March 19–April 27, 2015. The website for this effort, www.pray4marriage.org, informs readers that the 40-day period leads up to “April 28, the day the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the constitutionality of marriage laws in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.” Because the ruling in this case has the potential to redefine marriage for the entire nation, “it is critical for the Body of Christ to stand in the gap and pray for God’s design for marriage to be upheld in our courts. Also, you can join us on Facebook for daily prayer updates and suggestions.”
I encourage you to participate in this prayer effort and to encourage others to pray as well. Browse the website. Download the marriage prayer guide, share it with others, and pray fervently! The question of the king of Nineveh in Jonah’s day echoes down through history to apply to us: “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (Jonah 3:9, NKJV).
Notes
1http://thereshope.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=54
2http://moodyaudio.com/person/61919/dr-richard-lee
3Richard G. Lee, In God We Still Trust: A 365-Day Devotional, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010), 298.
4http://www.wnd.com/2015/03/top-christians-prep-civil-disobedience-over-marriage/
5http://skyangelsradio.com/religious-broadcaster-warns-christians-to-prepare-for-martyrdom-if-supreme/
6http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/franklin-graham-gay-marriage-god-will-judge-nation
March 26, 2015
Copyright © 2015 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All Rights Reserved.
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