In an interview with an internet publication on Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio stated that while he personally opposes same-sex “marriage,” he would attend the ceremony of a friend or family member if asked.
“If it’s somebody in my life that I care for, of course I would,” he told Fusion’s Jorge Ramos.
Rubio, 43, who identifies as a Roman Catholic, said that he would not want to hurt his loved ones by not attending.
“I’m not going to hurt them simply because I disagree with a choice they’ve made or because I disagree with a decision they’ve made, or whatever it may be,” he explained. “Ultimately, if someone that you care for and is part of your family has decided to move in one direction or another or feels that way because of who they love, you respect that because you love them.”
Rubio compared the matter to his beliefs about divorce, stating that just because he opposes divorce, he would not pull away from someone who did so.
“As I said, I’m a member of the Catholic faith that teaches, for example, that divorce is wrong,” Rubio said. “But if someone gets divorced, I’m not going to stop loving them or having them a part of our lives.”
Rubio also opined that he doesn’t believe that the issue of same-sex “marriage” should be decided by the judicial branch of government, but should rather be handled at a state level.
“I would point out that we live in a free society,” Rubio said. “If people want to change the definition of marriage, they should petition their state legislature, and they can have that debate in the political arena. Who I don’t think should be redefining marriage is the court system.”
But others believe that if followers of Christ really love their friends and family, they would not attend the ceremony as it would appear as a gesture of affirmation of their sin, which separates them from God.
“[B]y attending a same-sex wedding, I tacitly endorse this particular union and also endorse the notion that two women (or men) actually can get married,” wrote Lisa Severine Nolland for Christianity Today. “I cannot in good conscience go, because I cannot endorse same-sex marriage.”
“I cannot in good conscience attend a same-sex wedding precisely because I love my gay friends and want their best,” she continued. “I believe all sin damages. My sin damages me as their sin damages them. How can I celebrate what I believe harms them? I would respect their friendship, but would pray they realize that marriage is not what they are after or what they actually want.”
Peter Ould, a former homosexual who now serves as a minister for the Church of England, made similar comments.
“Marriage is a God-given ordinance that speaks to more than just the love between two people. Biblical teaching on marriage shows us that the union of a man and woman is the icon of the union of Christ and His Church,” he said. “The Book of Revelation envisions the great wedding feast at the end of time, the union of the Bridegroom and his bride.”
“So doing marriage incorrectly is an act of idolatry. It’s a rejection of both the ordinance God has given and the meaning of that ordinance,” he continued. “Since the gender of the participants in marriage is important, mixing those sexes up destroys the point marriage was meant to represent. How can a Christian be involved in such a thing?”
Become a Christian News Network Supporter...
Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God's word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!
