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Legalizing Same Sex Marriage: My second View

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 Source: Afrifa, Kwadwo Owusu

I was overwhelmingly amazed, if not enthused at the comments my article on legalizing homosexuality in Ghana on this site the previous week attracted; not only was I happy because my article generated lots of compliments and criticisms, but I was also in particular, concerned with the trend of comments that were pouring in split seconds.

To everybody that gave his stern support for my concern and to all who had either harsh or split views of the issue of how dastardly and spiritually and morally abominable homosexuality among a people is, I very much appreciate your every effort in making the rest of the general public aware of how emotionally and sometimes personally sensitive the subject is to us all.

To begin with, let me try reflecting on a few notable concerns of reading my article. There were some persons (names not very necessary at this moment) who tried to comment by wishing I rather wrote as a secular man in a secular nation as Ghana. Yet, others would only have had fair comments if and only if religion, in this case reference to the HOLY BIBLE, was not of relevance in arguing logically or reasonably on annexing homosexuality in Ghana. The least I can say to such calls would be to fathom how I can confess a positive faith in the Bible against homosexuality and write or move against its legalization by presenting my case as if I had no basis, not to talk of counting myself a secular citizen. And to those who considered my article as an argument against legalizing homosexuality, pardon me, but I was emphatically stating my stand on the subject. To consider Ghana as secular nation and therefore anyone raising a motion partly or fully reflective of that person’s religious inclination as a fundamental to his view should be a second thing amuses me to the core. It is known in Ghana how multicultural and hyper-religious its people are, but the Constitution of the land recognizes (3) religious forms; namely Christianity, Islam and African Traditional faith. Would it be reasonable or logical for any person for instance, to say that:

Polygene or polygamy should not be a worrisome problem to the Christian because Islam upholds it Eater celebrations to mark the gruesome but worthy crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ should of a necessity be upheld by the Muslim or the Traditionalist because it is entrenched in the Christians’ (even though really some) Bible The stern belief in the ancestors as being relevant in solutions to societal problems necessarily are believed by all without any hurt to any conscience because it is a norm in the Traditional belief system?

I challenge all and sundry to imagine how chaotic and intolerable this nation would have been for us all were the aforementioned and whole lots not mentioned legally enforceable in this nation. I guess most people would affirm my positive answer to the rhetorical question above. In as much I acknowledge and respect all people in Ghana my beloved country of their varied religious inclination, I will always make my stand with respect to the Bible clear without any slightest ambiguity, so long as I live pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. So I’ll urge all those who would consider Ghana as a secular nation and therefore baseless for any person to express his opinion with reference to his religious affiliation to take the extra effort in addressing, but not countering, their concerns on matters of public concerns but of religious underpinnings since, to borrow Karl Marx’s words, religion is the opium of the masses, and stop writing all those scrabble English.

The recent public sentiments on whether or not to legalize and or recognize homosexuality in Ghana whets my desire to share my view and uphold the views of all those with similar concerns as mine. I started by making reference to book of Leviticus 18:22-30 in the Holy Bible and went further to express my heartfelt desire to anyone who reads the whole of the chapter 18 and many were happy with it; others helped me with more Bible verses in support. Yet others disagreed totally with that Bible reference by describing it as part of a larger collection of the Whiteman’s fairy tales. Even though the verse above is not the only verse concerning abominable sexual acts, it is emphatic on the stern consequences on those who engaged and may engage in such acts. This is the more reason why it was my first reference point. Let’s quickly read what 1 Corinthians 11: 3 says “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God”. The Bible makes a clear organogram in life and for that matter society. Are we therefore rooting for homosexuality by reversing God’s institution to mean the man as the head of another man or the woman as the head of another woman, thereby blaspheming? God forbid! Now what does Genesis 1: 26- 28 say? Quoting quickly “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. Is this verse not very soothing to the soul of the intent of God in creating man and the manifold authority He gave him? How blessed would man be if and only if he knew or know of the Creator’s good intentions for him and purpose of his creation. Let all those who favour homosexuality for the mere unguarded reason that man was born homosexual and that homosexuality is a way of life and therefore must be respected ask themselves if the Bible verse immediately above affirms their misleading confession. God in His own wisdom, consulting the Son, created man in His own image, male and female created He them, and defined each one’s role and head.

Why then would we mislead the public with our abominable and blasphemous acts? What roles and admonitions are prescribed in the book of 1 Peter 3: 1-2; 4-7? Can we read from this verse anything about the female submitting herself to and loving her fellow female or the male loving his fellow man, as of a weaker vessel? If homosexuals so much entrench their misleading stance that their acts are a way of life of a group of people such as them, then do they in effect cause us to believe that this is how God intended it to be in the beginning? If so, can anyone of them give us any scriptural or documentary evidence?

Good people of Ghana and the world, we were created by our maker in His divine image after His divine self and would be reconciled to Him, which is every creation on the surface of the earth, on the awesome second appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, but it is a Biblical truth, prophetically attested to since time immemorial. Revelation 22: 7; 12-15 has something to tell us all. Again, 1John 5:11 bears record of our life eternal in Christ Jesus hence the positive confession of our faith.

Will I ever be happy after knowing this truth, and yet be misleadingly bold to the world that I can have life in Christ Jesus and fancy the very acts that are so abominable to Him? Never! The prophet Isaiah wrote “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee (Isaiah 61:5). Can we read from the prophet how God becomes happy for married young men to their young women? See how beautifully God’s happiness over man is likened to marrying young men? There’s beauty in marriage before God so please good people let’s get our standards right. Least I forget, may all those who are still confused as to the meaning of bride and bridegroom refer to their good dictionaries for further explanation. After they are satisfied with what their various dictionaries give them, I entreat them to join me in asking Moses whether he did not know what he meant by Leviticus 18:23 that it is confusing to engage in the acts mentioned therein?

Beloved in Christ, I don’t intend to be mean to homosexuals but rather to help bring to their knowledge truths that have not be properly researched into and interpreted to them. I am not God to judge; for I would be judged myself on that great day of the Lord. If for nothing at all, a plethora of world occurrences and a scriptural insight into them would prove that, God is indeed hateful of our abominable acts. I may be sounding superstitious to some ears moving further on this but please draw nearer to your religious leader for further insights. As my ever cherished Alma Mater’s ode sing “…others have laboured and we share their glory. Ours is to do exploits and add to their gain”, let us enjoy the labour of the ancient patriarchs Moses and Aaron for preparing the grounds for ushering in the New Testament under which we have not received again the spirit to bondage to fear but of adoption, as of sons, whereby we cry Abba Father. We should not be quick to forget that it is the blood of covenant of Christ Jesus under the New Testament (Covenant) that has given us the grace not to be instantly punished for our iniquities but rather strive in earnest to do exploits and add to the gain of Christ Jesus. We shall be blessed so doing.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and there be any praise, think on these things. God bless us all in our quest to knowing Him and nearing His manifest presence daily in our lives.

I therefore invite all good people to educate us all further on areas of good and worthy report on this forum and beyond.

Kwadwo Owusu Afrifa
MBC Ltd, Obuasi, Ghana


Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.

Columnist: Afrifa, Kwadwo Owusu