Miss USA – A Second Place Winner

It is a flash point in American politics. But few expected it to be an issue in the Miss USA pageant.

The field had been narrowed down to just a few. Only the final question and answer segment was left for the judges to consider. It was then that Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was handed an explosive, and perhaps an unfair, question by a pageant judge who may well have been following his own agenda. The finalist was asked in front of millions of viewers for her personal view on gay marriage. Sticking to her convictions, Prejean stated, "I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman,"

Miss California said she felt she was being tested by God and that her stand for her beliefs likely cost her the title. Perhaps it did since Judge Hilton told ABC News: "She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that." Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, stated, "As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman."

In an increasingly secularized and non-religious culture, living by one’s moral convictions and biblical beliefs is not seen as a positive thing. To the contrary, it is viewed as being narrow-minded, unloving, and judgmental. To inflict any personal views on the moral behavior of others is seen as a sin in and of itself. And to even suggest that certain activities and actions might be unwise or ungodly is considered more dangerous than the questionable behavior itself.

People are indeed free to believe however they wish. But they are not free from the potential consequences of certain behavior. But those who feel that the gay lifestyle and gay marriage is acceptable should at least be honest and admit that their views are at odds with the God of the Bible. With that said, Scripture has not singled out gays as a special category of sinners who are worse than all others. But to say theirs is an acceptable biblical behavior flies in the face of passages like 1 Corinthians. 6:9-11. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Then in Romans one, Paul reveals a lengthy list of sins with verses 26-27 including precise words that speak to very specific forms of shameful behavior. “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Then after adding a variety of wrong and immoral activities, the Apostle concludes by condemning those who even approve and promote such things in verse 32. “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

There are some who claim that the gay lifestyle is no big deal since Jesus Himself never specifically condemned homosexual activity in the Bible. But that argument has one fatal flaw. Colossians chapter one clearly identifies Christ as God in the flesh, beginning with verse 15. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” When that is coupled with, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”, in 2 Timothy 3:16, every word from Genesis to Revelation is consistent with the mind of Christ. As the second person of the Trinity, His divine guidance and approval is stamped on every verse in Scripture!

To a holy God, sin is sin. He is the final authority on right and wrong. It matters not how culture defines as legal rights or what is seen as right. It matters not how judges rule, how politicians vote, or how standards change. And it certainly does not matter what a pageant judge or co-director think. In addition, homosexual marriage does not justify an activity if it is considered wrong in God’s eyes. But when a man and woman who are having sinful pre-marital relations do marry, things are made right since God invented and sanctioned marriage on that level.

What matters to God is that His followers obey Him when confronted with unbiblical ideas or actions. Ephesians 5:11-12 is rather explicit on the subject when declaring, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.”

But it also matters to God that believers accept their calling as outlined 2 Corinthians chapter five. The passage makes them aware of their God-given duty and position. It orders them to share their Savior’s love and His great salvation to those who are lost, misled, and under the domination of sin – any sin. Verse 20 reads, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”

If Carrie Prejean’s stand, and subsequent loss, was based on her understanding of Scripture and a personal relationship to the Savior who authored it, she has done well. And she can now rest fully in the words of comfort presented in Romans 10:11. “For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Bill Breckenridge