Yesterday I talked about how legalizing same sex marriage could affect churches and Christian organizations. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of so-called “gay marriage” would have a negative impact on the religious liberty of these organizations and on Christians in general. It would also redefine marriage.

Justice Samuel Alito asked the lead counsel in the case whether granting two people of the same sex the right to marry would lead to other marital arrangements. Here is how he put the question: “Suppose we rule in your favor in this case and then after that, a group consisting of two men and two women apply for a marriage license. Would there be any grounds for denying them a license?”

The lead counsel argued that the only reason to deny these four people a license is because marriage is between two people. Of course, the traditional marriage definition was that it was between two people of the opposite sex who are of marriageable age.

Justice Alito didn’t let up. He pointed out that four people in a polygamous relationship could have a marriage. He noted that: “polygamous marriages [have] existed in other societies and still exist in some societies today. And let’s say they’re all consenting adults, highly educated. They’re all lawyers. What would be the ground under the logic of the decision you would like us to hand down in this case? What would be the logic of denying them the same right?”

He is asking an important question. I have said many times on my radio program that every argument for same sex marriage could also be used as an argument for polygamy and even polyamory (romantic love that involves many people). And before you respond that such an argument would never be made, just consider that lawyers before the Supreme Court are talking about legalizing same sex marriage in all 50 states only a decade after the state of Massachusetts first legalized same sex marriage.

Justice Alito was right in asking what will happen once we redefine marriage. Others are certain to come along and change it again so that four consenting lawyers could all join together in marriage.