Government and Marriage

In the current issue of Christian Chronicle there is an article “Judge Admonished for voicing concern on gay marriages.” As usual, an unidentified source leaked Tabor's concerns to the media and the story went statewide. Gary Tabor ---a superior court judge and Church of Christ elder was formally admonished for voicing his preference not to perform same-sex marriages. He has voluntarily stopped performing all marriages so he can avoid gay ones. 

 

All I want from a Christian in government is honesty, integrity and ethics. I do not care what their religious beliefs are. I do not want a Muslim judge basing his decision on the Koran. Gay marriage is the law in district of Tabor’s jurisdiction and I expect Tabor to follow the law. “Performing” or “officiating” the marriage does not mean he agrees or disagrees. If my taxes are paying his salary he follows the law.

 

The bigger question is why is Government involved?

What interest does government have in "marriage?" And why is it that a person who "performs" or "officiates" the "ceremony" has to be licensed by the state?  Some five hundred or so years ago a "Marriage Ordinance" was created requiring "state registration" and "church consecration." God created the concept of the family and man inserted government involvement. What government permits government can prohibit. Marriage is not a Constitutional issue. 

Why does anyone care who commits their life to another? It is the benefits provided by our government. What we need is for governments to eliminate all perks for the married. Then no one will care one way or the other.

Allowing that moral issues are involved they are best addressed by Jesus and we should let him. Of course that will require that Christians do something other than protest and I doubt if that will happen.