In 2004 the issue of gay marriage became the focus of national attention when, in an act of civil disobedience, the mayor of San Francisco ordered clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The incident in San Francisco prompted city officials in several counties and states to follow suit. These events triggered numerous lawsuits challenging marriage laws around the country.

Once such lawsuit worked its way through the appeals process to the California Supreme Court. Earlier this month the court decided that limiting the definition of marriage to a union "between a man and a woman" is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The California law that prohibits same-sex marriages, which was passed by voters in 2000, has therefore been struck down. The case will no doubt set a precedent that could have an impact on other states.

The state of California could start issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples within the next month. However conservatives have asked the court to hold off on issuing marriage licenses until after November's election. This fall California voters will most likely be given the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. Those in favor of the ban hope that if the amendment is adopted the issue of same-sex marriages will finally be put to rest. If the amendment doesn't make it on the ballot, or if it is rejected by voters, California will become the second state in the union to recognize gay marriages.

For years conservative lawmakers on the national level have pushed for the adoption of a Federal Marriage Amendment that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. However in order for a constitutional amendment to become law it needs to be approved by two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It must also be ratified by three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures. The US Constitution has been amended only 17 times in 215 years, most recently in 1992. Members of congress often propose constitutional amendments – on everything from balanced budgets to the Pledge of Allegiance – but it is rare for Congress to get serious about a constitutional amendment without intense public pressure. So far support for a constitutional amendment regarding marriage has not been overwhelming.

At present, same-sex marriages are only recognized in Belgium, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands and South Africa. In the US, same-sex marriages are only legal in the state of Massachusetts. However California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Oregon, Washington state and Washington D.C. all allow either civil unions, domestic partnerships, or some other type of registered partnership that offer some or all of the benefits of marriage. Meanwhile, twenty-six states have amended their constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

The legalizing of homosexual marriage could have disastrous repercussions for our nation. In some countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, where gay marriage has been legalized, nearly half of all children are born into broken homes. If same-sex marriages are legalized in the US, other countries will follow our example. If gay marriage becomes law, public schools will be required to teach homosexual relationships as an acceptable alternative on equal footing with traditional marriage.

Popular culture and society may chance, but the Word of God does not change: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)."

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THE BOOK OF JUDE -

This smallest book of the New Testament is also, in many ways, the most provocative.

The Epistle of Jude is a tiny book, tragically neglected by students, yet overflowing with fascinating Old Testament references and allusions: lessons from Israel in the Wilderness, the angels that sinned, the strange events in Sodom and Gomorrah, Michael and Satan's contention over the body of Moses, and other insights from Cain, Balaam, Korah, as well as the mysterious person known as Enoch.

It is surprising to learn of allusions to events in the Old Testament that are only found in the New Testament: the Second Coming prophecy of Enoch, that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, the names of the two magicians in Egypt, that Elijah prayed to stop rain for 3 1/2 years, and that the Pharaoh of the Exodus was not Egyptian.

Why study the book of Jude? Because it is written for us today. It is written for the end times, for the end of the Church Age. The beginning of the Church Age was, of course, the Acts of the Apostles. However, the end of the Church Age might be called the Acts of the Apostates. Jude is the only book devoted entirely to the great apostasy. "Shall the Son of Man find faith on the Earth?"

Jude is the "vestibule" to the book of Revelation. It includes the oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet: of the Second Coming of Christ, declared before the flood of Noah! There are four facts emphasized:

1) We know the Lord's coming is sure;
2) We know who will accompany the Lord;
3) We know the purpose of His coming;
4) We know the result of the Lord's coming.

This letter was written by the "brother of James," one of four brothers of Jesus. (James was the head of the church in Jerusalem; neither James nor Jude were among The Twelve; they didn't believe at first.)

Why did Jude write this letter? James' epistle deals with good works as evidence of saving faith; Jude's letter deals with evil works as evidence of apostasy. Why must we contend for the faith? Because there are tares among the wheat, false brethren have stolen into the church, and the saints are in peril, all due to the "doctrines of demons."

It was an 11-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea, yet it took Israel 38 years! Over a million left Egypt, but only two Israelites (over 20 years of age) who left Egypt ever reached Canaan! Why? (Despite the common reckoning, Canaan is not representative of heaven; the Jordan is not representative of death. We are to leave behind the wilderness of doubt, defeat, and failures, and enter victory!) We live in exciting and challenging times, and there is much we can learn from this little book that can be applied to our lives today.

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