Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the “Respect for Marriage Act,” the tension between politics, state’s rights, and the church, religious liberty updates, and whether Christians should try to legislate morality. 

 

Show notes: 

 

First, they discuss the recently passed, so-called, “Respect For Marriage Act,” and its connection to Obergefell, Congress, and the Supreme Court (6:46). They then consider the cultural events that led up to our present time and why we strayed from biblical marriage (12:00). Dr. Denison explains Constitutional law, and why it’s relevant to the conversation of religious liberty, State’s rights, and whether Christians should defend biblical marriage in the legal arena (20:00). They hone in on the separation of the Church and State, and what the Bible says about Christian’s involvement in politics in the New Testament (33:00). They then discuss whether the Respect For Marriage Act impedes religious liberty (48:00). Dr. Denison closes by explaining the difference between the civil rights protecting LBGTQ people and the civil rights of ethnic minorities, and why we can’t make the legal comparison (56:05)

 

Resources and further reading:

 

• “Does the so-called “Respect For Marriage Act” threaten our religious liberty?” - Dr. Jim Denison
• “Why the Equality Act is the greatest threat to religious liberty today” - Dr. Jim Denison and Greg Baylor
• “Respect For Marriage Act: An Imprudent Compromise” - David French 
• “The Equality Act: What Christians need to know” - Dr. Jim Denison
• “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” - Dr. Jim Denison
• “What does the Bible say about abortion?” - Dr. Jim Denison 

  About the hosts 

Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. 

Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.