By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
A national legal defense organization announced this week that when it comes to marriage, it’s time for an appeal — not to a judge, a court or even a legislature, but to the Author and Creator of this sacred institution.
“Will you join in a nationwide day of unified, focused prayer for Marriage in America?” the Alliance Defense Fund asks in a five-part tip sheet that believers can use to guide their prayer time this Sunday.
The Rev. Rocky Carpenter, Chairman of the Vote FOR Marriage NC prayer campaign, said the National Day of Prayer for Marriage couldn’t have come at a better time for the Tar Heel state, which is much in need of God’s guidance for the upcoming May referendum when voters will decide whether to protect traditional marriage in the state’s Constitution.
“The battle will be won in prayer,” said Carpenter, the pastor of Harmony Community Church in Peachland citing Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
“Even if your church is not corporately involved in the Marriage Amendment, you can still pray,” he added. “Pray this Sunday for the sanctity of marriage to be honored in our nation and pray every Friday for the sanctity of marriage to be honored in our state.”
The Rev. Carpenter has been calling on pastors and their congregations to ask the Lord for a number of specific outcomes including the salvation of those in the homosexual lifestyle, strength for Vote FOR Marriage coalition leaders, financial provision for the referendum campaign and most of all that God would be glorified in the effort.
Similarly, the ADF is asking believers to make their requests known to the Lord, beginning with praise and thanksgiving for the impact of marriage and all that it does to create stable community for the birth and nurture of children. The ADF’s “National Day of Prayer for Marriage” priority list also reminds participants to solicit God’s grace for the marriages in their community, asking for healing and restoration where needed and that couples remain faithful and stand firm on Biblical truths.
“Pray for the nation to uphold the truth that marriage between one man and one woman is the foundation of society and the best environment for raising children,” the ADF urges. “Pray for God’s design for sex and sexuality in marriage.”
The ADF also suggests that Americans pray for protection against lawsuits and legislation that threaten to undermine marriage.
“No court should presume to redefine marriage,” ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum said in a press release, “or undercut the democratic process by taking the power to preserve marriage out of the hands of the people.”
He said that 63 million Americans in 31 state elections have voted on marriage, and 63 percent voted to preserve marriage as the “timeless, universal, unique union between husband and wife.”
The Family Research Council is joining ADF and others in Sunday’s national prayer effort.
“Even the most powerful politicians in the world are no match for the Author and Creator of marriage. As the Left pushes Americans to go weak in the knees, we should be driven to them — in prayer,” reads the FRC’s Washington Update. “… As we speak, at least eight states (Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington and West Virginia) are moving quickly to either strengthen marriage or abolish it.”
The Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, has been addressing congregations throughout the state on North Carolina’s marriage referendum. He said Christians who are not already praying for our state’s future should set aside time on Sunday to do so.
The Rev. Carpenter suggested that pastors distribute the ADF prayer guide to their congregations.
To find out more about the National Day of Prayer for Marriage and access the ADF guide, go to http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/ and click on “Pray for Marriage.”
