Transcending Trash Talk On Marriage – Part 1

“Why is Tony Abbott stopping Australia becoming a more modern nation and why doesn’t he trust his own members of his own team to exercise a conscience vote?”
Bill Shorten, Federal Labor Party Leader regarding Tony Abbott’s support of natural marriage, 2015.

“I have this to say to Tony Abbott, the problem with you mate isn’t that you’re stuck in the past, it’s that you want the rest of Australia to go back and keep you company.”
Anthony Albanese.

“Australia is now the only developed, English-speaking country that doesn’t allow same-sex couples to marry.”
“If there was any doubt that marriage equality was inevitable in Australia, the Irish vote has removed it. The question is not if but when … Australia’s political leaders have no more excuses for dragging the chain.”
Rodney Croome, Australian Marriage Equality National Convenor.

“Why Australia is so far behind the times on same-sex marriage?”
“More than 20 countries have now legalised same-sex marriage. Ireland’s recent constitutional referendum vote in favour makes Australia look particularly backward in comparison with most other developed, English-speaking countries. Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom…”
Carol Johnson, Professor of Politics, University of Adelaide.

As they loudly, proudly and intolerantly bully down any discussion about the importance of sex and marriage, never forget that it is all trash talk. Trash talk is “insulting or boastful speech intended to demoralize or humiliate a sporting opponent.”
But it is just that, talk. There is no substance behind it, nor is it new or original. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find the template and solution for it in the Bible. After all, there is nothing new under the sun.

A Time Of Distress

Trapped within their own city, it was a distressing time for the citizens of Jerusalem. Sennacherib had laid siege to their city. Proclaiming himself to be the King of the Universe and Assyria, he was a force to be reckoned with. Having waged war with Arabs in the northern Arabian deserts , the kingdoms of Anatolia and the Babylonians, he was even responsible for the destruction of Babylon in 689 BC. Now he was devouring the Kingdom of Judah.

He had destroyed 46 fortified cities in Judah, the last being Lachish, their second most important city in 701 BC. Accounts of its inhabitants being thrown over the ramparts, impaled, having their throats cut, being skinned alive or led away captive undoubtedly plagued the minds of those in Jerusalem – “We are now surrounded, trapped and threaten by those who did that.”

The following challenge issued to their king, Hezekiah would have been particularly chilling…

The Template

“Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?”
Isaiah 37:10-13

So there’s the template and in this case, it runs like this…

“Thus shall ye speak to your leaders who ask you to lean on God, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Our country and culture shall not be given into the hand of Marriage redefinition. Behold, thou hast heard what Marriage redefinition has done to all lands by destroying marriage and freedoms; and shalt thou be delivered? Have the governments of the nations delivered them which Marriage redefinition have destroyed? Where is the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Brazil, France, Uruguay, New Zealand, Luxembourg, the United States, Ireland, Columbia and Finland?”

The Situation (So What?)

Unlike other parts of the world, we in Australia haven’t suffered physical violence on par with what Sennacherib dished out. However, there has nonetheless been physical violence. The threats of which have forced supporters of natural marriage to meet in secret, to a commercial printer wanting to avoid any potential threats by refusing to print a book on the topic through to actual violence with the destruction of property. All that growing out from a bed of lies about sexual orientation and gender identity to produce a stifling atmosphere which oppresses free speech through legal threats, media censorship and the brainwashing of children without the adequate consent of their parents.

This is far more than a debate about a private living arrangement. Far more than a legal definition.
It is about the very fabric of society and our freedom to say and do what we ought. It is about the choices we make now which produce the future we give to our children.

The Solution

As usual, the solution is in the Bible. Take heart, light shines brightest in the darkest time.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Jesus to us in John 16:33

More on this in Transending Trash Talk On Marriage – Part 2.

Image of Lachish Relief as displayed in the British Museum, London.