Does a statement on marriage belong in a doctrinal statement?

Does a statement on marriage belong in a doctrinal statement?

I just came across a post on Christianity Today's website titled Iowa Churches: We Need to Be Clear on Same-Sex Marriage. Being a pastor in Iowa the article caught my attention. In the piece Richard Van Heukelum, senior pastor of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Waterloo is quoted as saying, "Years ago we put in our doctrinal statement a strong statement of biblically defined marriage."

By definition doctrine is simply a statement, set of statements or system of teaching that defines what one believes to be true about a certain subject. Christian doctrine then would simply be a statement of what one believes to be true and teaches regarding the "fundamentals" of the Christian faith.

So again I ask the question, does a statement on marriage belong in a doctrinal statement? What is the purpose of having a doctrinal statement or statement of faith? Christians hold all kinds of positions on a variety of subjects. How do we determine what does and what does not belong in such a statement?

Your thoughts?

Abandonment of Reason

Image via Wikipedia

Matthew J. Franck in his article Law, Feelings, and Religion at the Bar in Iowa says that "The Supreme Court of Iowa’s decision to redefine marriage abandons reason and replaces it with feelings as the standard of public consensus."

You can read the whole article here but here's a quote that stood out to me:

"Nothing in what passes for reasoning in Justice Cady’s opinion can stand against the next claimant—perhaps the polygamist—who presents himself as needing affirmation for his relationships. This is not a slippery slope we have before us. It is the sight of a levee breaking in a spring flood."

HT: Justin Taylor

When the Rubber Meets the Road

The storms that ripped through here last night were awful. I should be grateful; all we lost was a tree and a few shingles. Tornadoes actually touched down in other parts of Iowa.

The storms were pounding, my weather radio was beside my bed, I had a flashlight ready, and we were ready to grab the kids out of bed and head to the basement if the news came. The whole time I was praying with a slight tone of panic in my head. Fear is a strange thing. It's easy to know God is in control intellectually, but when the rubber meets the road you find yourself saying, "Ok God, this is your show now. Just keep us safe."

Eventually we drifted off to sleep, and when we woke up this morning it was a new day--wet, but new.

Anyway, that's what happened. Oh, I and cut that tree down all by myself today.

The traffic looks good today...and every day

As I was driving home yesterday I switched on the radio in my car. I was tuning in to catch the Cubs post game show (why after yesterday's lost I don't know). The local affiliate broadcasts the games but then switches programing one the game is over. It was a nice clear day so I was able to tune in AM 720 WGN out of Chicago. I had to chuckle when they broke for a traffic update. Something about a tanker truck rolling over on an exit ramp and bursting into flames. Now that in itself isn't funny. What is a bit funny was thinking about all those years living in Chicago when I would listen carefully to the traffic report, but now, as I'm listening with no other vehicle on the road, cows on one side and fields as far as the eye can see. Some days I miss Chicago, but I sure don't miss the traffic.