Try this out… Take every thing you believe about Gay Marriage and everything you’ve read and insert the word “Black” wherever you see the word “Gay.”
Are we still so far behind as a culture and as a society that we will make the same mistake again? We did it shamefully with People of Color. We did it shamefully with Women. We do it again now with Gay Americans. To what purpose? Why?
Are we so afraid that allowing Gay Marriage will cause our own children to become Gay? As if it’s a four letter word and by definition implies something less? Are we really saying, “If my daughter’s Gay then it’s because those people over there influenced her.” Wouldn’t that belittle God’s influence on a believer?
Or is it that we are really that righteous about Marriage? Marriage ends in divorce. It’s true. There’s nothing to argue about that point. Christian marriages end in divorce as often as non-christian marriages. How’s that for righteous? Where’s the sanctity that seems to drive so many Christians to argue against Gay Marriage?
Gay Marriage is a hot topic right now. Recently Chick Fil A came under fire due to their Christian business stance. I’m sorry, but I don’t see their practice as Christian. But it’s not simply a Chick Fil A problem, because treating people as second class and denying them rights afforded to all other citizens should be everyone’s problem.
A few years ago when Prop 8 was a hot topic in California, I was playing golf with a buddy of mine and we somehow got on the topic of “What Would Jesus Do?” His answer was simple. ”Jesus would love them.” I agree. Jesus loves everybody. And thank God he does because for some reason we all have difficulty doing that ourselves, which is of course the point of Jesus. He loves us all, all the time, no matter what. This is a belief I hold. If that belief is to hold true, then how can I in good conscience treat a group of people as second class citizens and vote to deny them rights granted to all other people. People who often as not do not hold fast to the Bible or a belief in God. Yet My Christian friends will argue that the Bible says marriage is for a Man and a Woman. And it’s true, the Bible does say that. It also says, “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” In essence, Love is God. Love is Jesus. So how then can we be so quick to judge and do so under the pretense of sanctity?
Should we look to the Bible for an answer? Hmmm… how about The Pharisees. They were legalists who were often full of pretense and more concerned about keeping tradition than in following God’s law. Well God’s greatest law is to Love God and Love your neighbor. Matthew 22:36-40. If we are to Love everyone, that means those who don’t share our beliefs or our view of the world as much as it does those who think just like we do. We can pretend to follow the law but if we are not following God’s number one commandment by doing so, we will end up condemning ourselves, getting caught up in the minutia of the law. And at the end of the day, for the United States, that’s what we’re talking about. A single law. The right to be married.
I voted for Prop 8 the first time around. As a Christian I truly believed that the sanctity of marriage was for a man and a woman, and not for members of the same sex. What’s more, I did not equate that belief as contrarian to my belief that God calls us to Love Him and our Neighbor. ”I have nothing against Gays,” I would say. ”I even know and like a lot of them. I just believe that Marriage is not intended for them.” I made a mistake in thinking that way. I made a mistake when I voted. But, thank God for our constitution and the way it is set up so that mistakes can be corrected.
It’s not about the sanctity of marriage. It truly isn’t. To my Christian friends, I say to you with great conviction that your marriage is as sacred as you make it yourselves, together, with God. Acknowledging a Gay couples right to marry does not change that.
I have no doubt that by posting this I will offend some of you… the truth is, I hope I do. If you’re offended then maybe, just maybe, you will consider like I did what you truly believe and why your beliefs are threatened by Gay Marriage or anything else for that matter. God Bless.
