Anti-gay activists have been reeling ever since the Supreme Court issued its ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide. In response, David Barton and Rick Green interviewed Dr. Everett Piper of Oklahoma Wesleyan University on "WallBuilders Live" today, seeking his advice about how Christians should now go about arguing against gay marriage in the face growing support for marriage equality..
Piper, Green and Barton were all convinced that they have truth and logic on their side when, in reality, their arguments were little more than straw men that are capable of convincing only people who already shared their convictions.
For instance, all three men were all extremely impressed with their argument that sex does not equal love, which is the sort of thing that only works on people who refuse to realize that gay couples can actually love one another.
Piper explained that the best way to combat the "love wins" argument is simply to point out that "sex and love aren't the same thing."
"This isn't about love, it's about sex," he said, "so call a spade a spade. Define your terms. The debate in the culture right now is a debate of what sexual acts is acceptable, it's not a debate about love, so distinguish between the two. There are lots of people I love that I don't have sex with, nor should I have sex with. Love and sex are not synonymous, period!"
Gay sex, of course, was decriminalized over a decade ago, so obviously the marriage movement was not about seeking permission to have sex, but rather about committed couples wanting to express their love and have their families recognized and protected by the law.
But despite the obvious absurdity of Piper's argument, Green was convinced.
"That's good," he cooed. "You're spot-on, brother."
Barton was equally impressed.
"That's a great point. Love and sex are not the same thing," he said. "You don't have sex with everyone you love and because you have sex with someone doesn't mean you love them and so we've given away that argument. Sex equals love? No, it does not. It never has. It doesn't with prostitution ... That's a great point."
The fact that these men cannot even comprehend the possibility that gay couples might be having sex because they are in love does not bode particularly well for their efforts to win the battle against the idea that "love wins."
