The Next Redefinition of Marriage?

     One of the signs of that we are in the end times is that same-sex "marriage" has been made legal in numerous countries. The first country to do this was the very liberal Netherlands in 2001. Up to 2010, just six other countries (Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway and Sweden) followed suit. But in the 2010s, the floodgates opened and now same-sex "marriage" is legal in pretty much the entire Western world and a few other countries as well. (New Zealand passed its own Marriage Equality Act in April 2013, and it came into force on 19 August 2013.) Throughout the course of human history, the world, as wicked as it is, had broadly accepted God's definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Only in the 21st Century has the sin of homosexuality been elevated to such high esteem that it has been given official approval in the laws of many lands, including the right of same-sex couples to "marry". This is one of several signs that man's rebellion against God is reaching extreme levels. The deeper into depravity a society sinks, like Sodom and Gomorrah, and also the land of Canaan did in the Old Testament, the closer to judgment and destruction it gets. The world as a whole is getting so incredibly evil that it is ripe for the arrival on the scene of the Antichrist and all the terrible judgments of the Tribulation.

    Those who opposed same-sex "marriage" pointed out that it would create a slippery slope, because if marriage can be redefined in one way, why not in others? Supporters of this wickedness scoffed at such a notion. Well as yet there is no major move to another significant redefinition of marriage. However, a couple in New York is attempting to shake up the marriage laws again (if only of their state). What makes this particular couple different is that they are a parent and child. A biological parent and child. That's right. This couple wants to legalise incestuous marriage. If they succeed, it would be another extraordinary redefinition of marriage.

    According to a report published by the conservative New York Post last week, and reported by Newshub here, the couple, who are of an unknown gender, are "unable to procreate", thereby ruling out one of the biggest risks posed by incest: congenital deformities. The parent is the one who filed the request. According to the Newshub article: "They argue being unable to procreate shouldn't prevent them from aspiring 'to the transcendent purposes of marriage and seek fulfillment in its highest meaning', and the present law banning incestuous marriage is unconstituational [sic]." Advocates of same-sex "marriage" in the United States also claimed that it was "unconstitutional" not to let same-sex couples "marry". Of course, homosexual couples can't procreate either (because, biology). The couple goes on to argue, "Through the enduring bond of marriage, two persons, whatever relationship they might otherwise have with one another, can find a greater level of expression, intimacy and spirituality." They are absolutely serious about this. So serious that they say not being allowed to marry would "diminish their humanity"!

    At this point in time, it seems highly unlikely that their application will be successful. As one family law expert noted (again I quote from the article), "The closest you can come is Woody Allen, and that wasn’t his daughter, it was an adopted child whom he never adopted and it still turns people's stomachs." (My emphasis) The Bible describes incest as a form of fornication "not so much as named among the Gentiles", meaning that even unbelievers who may be into all kinds of sexual depravity (homosexuality was commonplace in Greece, where Corinth was) find incest repugnant. The full verse on that is as follows: "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." (1 Corinthians 5:1) Note the emphasis on the adulterous aspect of this relationship. Also, just as people were repulsed by incest then, they remain repulsed by it today. It is still "such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles". But how much longer will that be the case, in view of how wicked the world is getting? In ancient Canaan, they were enthusiastic practitioners of this sin. Leviticus 18 contains God's prohibitions against various forms of incest. The same chapter also expressly condemns adultery, human sacrifice (specifically of children), homosexuality and bestiality. Then God says this to the children of Israel: "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants." (Leviticus 18:24-25) See that? Canaan, which is specifically mentioned in Leviticus 18:3, was deep into incest, adultery, the sacrifice of children to the god Molech (the spiritual roots of the modern abortion movement), homosexuality and bestiality. The Western world in particular is rapidly becoming like ancient Canaan all over again. However, it is not quite as far gone as Canaan was. But it's getting to that point fast.

    Even now, there are "incest advocates" in the world who are offering their support to the parent-child couple, as reported by Newshub here (they are referring to a follow-up report by the New York Post). They say that marriage between biological relatives would be "true marriage equality". Right now, such people are in the minority. On the fringes of society, you might even say. But once upon a time, people who advocated for homosexual rights were also in a minority. There was a time, only 50 or so years ago, when anyone suggesting such things as same-sex "marriage" would be met with an outpouring of horror and revulsion. Yet now, not only is homosexuality considered mainstream and same-sex "marriage" almost normal, but to speak against it is enough to make you an outcast who is deemed Unfit for Polite Society.

    So could the same thing one day happen with incestuous "marriage"? The more like ancient Canaan the world becomes, the more it actually seems possible, though still remote at this stage. But after all, the same arguments for same-sex "marriage" could be made for incestuous "marriage" too. They're "consenting adults", they "love each other", they're "not hurting anyone", it's "their private business", maybe they were "born that way", and as such they deserve their "civil rights" like anyone else. Besides, we "shouldn't judge people", you know. 

    Speaking of judging, it does make me kind of laugh how many self-professed liberals declare that it's wrong to judge homosexuality (or anything much, really), yet will turn around and express strong condemnation of incest when they hear of a case like this. If they can judge incest - which I would agree with them on - then why can't I judge homosexuality? One problem with such people is that their judgments rely on their feelings. They feel disgust at incest, so they judge it based on that. I on the other hand don't base my judgment of either homosexuality or incest solely on my feelings, but on the Word of God. The Bible unequivocally and unambiguously declares both these things to be serious sin. Now God does not declare things to be sin arbitrarily. God, who created us, knows what is best for us, and every law He makes is for our good. He prohibits incest not only because of the birth defect risk, but also because it often involves adultery and/or coercion. He forbids homosexuality because it is biologically unnatural, causes gender confusion (because one person in a homosexual pairing has to adopt a role they weren't made for) and often leads to all manner of terrible diseases. There are other reasons besides for these respective prohibitions, but these are some of the major ones.

    In the days when people mostly condemned homosexuality, some may have cited the Bible, but many others relied on their feelings. Homosexuality made them feel disgusted, so they concluded that it must be wrong. What made these people change their minds? Well aside from ongoing rejection of God and His ways, a campaign of sustained propaganda by the mainstream media, the entertainment industry and liberal politicians was a major catalyst. It started slowly, with a few news stories here, a few gay characters in sitcoms there, and then gradually escalated. Over time, people were conditioned to change their minds, and their feelings, about homosexuality. Once they no longer felt antipathy towards it, they no longer had a reason to oppose it - unless their foundation was the Word of God (which was not the case for most). And if it happened with homosexuality, it could happen with incest too. Or polygamy. Or ... I don't even want to think about it. 

    Every now and then, I have noticed that the media like to run a story like this. They are particularly fond of stories about so-called Genetic Sexual Attraction, where biological relatives who didn't grow up together (because of adoption) meet as adults and end up having a sexual relationship (in other words, they fornicate together). Sometimes they know they're related, at other times they don't. Storylines have occasionally been slipped into popular programmes (Shortland Street once had a storyline about a biological brother and sister unwittingly sleeping together). What is the purpose of this? Quite simply, to test the waters. See whether people are softening their positions at all - whether their feelings are changing. There is also a "frog in the pot" approach - just "warm the water up" a little at a time. So far at least, there has tended to be a visceral public response. Incest is still the fornication not so much as named among the Gentiles. But the media and entertainment industry didn't give up with homosexuality, and they won't give up with this either. Again, this particular couple will probably fail. They will just have to be satisfied with living together. But it won't be long before others like them are making similar headlines. We will start to see street marches, and political campaigns, and perhaps even law changes as man in his foolish pride seeks to redefine marriage once again. I would be only too happy to be wrong in this conjecture, but the more rebellious and depraved mankind becomes, the more likely it is that even the sins which still disgust people today will become normalised and even praised tomorrow. As with homosexuality, they will go from disgust to reluctant tolerance to indifference and then on to endorsement and finally open celebration. If the world gets to that point (and it has now become conceivable that it could), the Tribulation and final judgments of God will surely not be far off. The hour truly is getting late.