By Sam Eyoboka and Olayinka Latona with Agency reports

AS Christian leaders in the United States are divided over the recent Supreme Court ruling that same-sex marriage has become legal in all 50 the states despite Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito minority ruling Christians in Nigeria are expressing their disgust for the move.

The landmark ruling last Friday has attracted widespread celebrations by supporters of same-sex marriage and some couples were issued marriage licenses as soon as the new development was announced.

Responding to the development, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the North Eastern geo-political zone, Rev. Shuaibu M. Byal wondered why the U.S. who’s national motto is; “In God we trust”, can descend so low to disregard the injunctions instituted by the same God is to say the least, appalling.

The CAN chairman said: “the issue of same sex marriage makes us to regret the position of America that says ‘In God we trust’, and today they are going against what God had instituted since creation.

“If this is the type of things we are experiencing in our world today, then we will not be far away from the calamity that befell Sodom and Gomorrah. You will recall that that was God hated that brought about the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“The ideal issue here is that if America that is close to none in power and position of leadership in comparison to other developed nations is doing what can be described as unholy in the eyes of both God and man then it means because of their moral bankruptcy, we have to see the hand writing on the wall,” he said.

Diocesan bishop of Lagos West, (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. James Odedeji also described as unfortunate reports that the US Supreme Court voted to legalize same sex marriage in a country that prides itself as God’s own country.

He maintained that the Anglican Church in Nigeria will not be party to the un-Godly practice even as he urged the Nigerian government to maintain its stand against gay marriage which he described as “barbaric, un-Christian and not of God.” In his words: “Whoever approves gay marriage is a man or woman of darkness. What we are saying is that if gay marriage is approved somewhere else, it cannot be approved here because we know it is not true and the bible made it known that you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.

“We in the Anglican Church in Nigeria, have disassociated ourselves from gay marriage and we frown at it. It is a wrong practice and we pray that God will not allow it to happen in Nigeria,” he said.

Before last Friday Supreme Court ruling, many observers have expressed worry about the position of Christian leaders in the God’s Own Country, especially after Tony Campolo, one of America’s best-known evangelicals revised his initial stand on gay marriage claiming that his wife has been pushing for “full acceptance” of LGBT persons, as has the organization he founded, Red Letter Christians.

A former editor of Christianity Today (America’s leading evangelical magazine, founded by Billy Graham) praised Campolo’s move. David Neff stated, “I think the ethically responsible thing for gay and lesbian Christians to do is to form lasting, covenanted partnerships. I also believe that the church should help them in those partnerships in the same way the church should fortify traditional marriages.”

Another commentator applauded Campolo’s announcement and claimed that “a new day is dawning in Christianity” as God’s Spirit is “calling us to see a more expansive and inclusive vision of Christ’s Church.” He says that he prays for other leaders to “follow the Spirit’s leading and to become advocates for inclusion and acceptance of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Is acceptance of gay marriage really a “new day” for the church, one led by the Spirit? Not at all. Mark Galli, the current editor of Christianity Today: “Churches that ascribe to a more liberal sexual ethic continue to wither.   Meanwhile, poll Christians in Africa, Asia, and practically anywhere in the world, and you’ll hear a resounding ‘no’ to gay marriage. Scan the history of the church for 2,000 years and you’ll have a hard time turning up any Christian who would support same-sex marriage. The church has been and remains overwhelmingly united. It’s undergoing stress, certainly. But the evidence doesn’t support a narrative of division and collapse on this point.”

There is not a single positive reference to homosexual behavior in God’s word. To the contrary, every time Scripture addresses such behavior, it prohibits it. Gay marriage was practiced in first-century Rome, yet Paul not only did not endorse it, he specifically forbade same-sex relations. Rejecting gay marriage is not akin to racial prejudice (which the Bible abundantly rejects). Affirming biblical marriage does not reject gay people—it offers them biblical truth in the knowledge that God’s will is always “perfect” (Romans 12:2).

On this and any other issue, it is more important to be biblical than to be popular. All we have comes from God. Even the ability to work comes from the One who gave us such ability. His word cautions us, “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’   You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

It is no small matter to violate the word and will of the One who is the source of life and life eternal. Our Father deals with his children as gently as he can or as harshly as he must. On gay marriage, take the stand God can bless.