I did lose a follower, but like I said, I expected that too.
I'm going to make a follow-up post about this, because it is something I feel strongly about. A couple of you commented and don't have your reply-to email set! *gasp* I urge all of you to do this, because I often find myself wanting to hit "reply" when I receive your comments via email. When I realize I can't, it makes me a little sad. So, go visit JG's blog and set that up!
Now, on with the post.
I feel like God put this on my heart for a reason. The controversial responses I got were that "A homsexual couple getting married doesn't effect me in anyway," and "When it comes to the issue of homosexuality, I don't think it's necessary to take a side. It's not our role as Christians to cast God's judgement on anyone." Along with a little bit of the separation of church and state issue and "Whether or not homosexuals can legally marry won't affect God's control of all things."
First, a homosexual couple getting married does effect us. The purpose of marriage between a man and woman is to reflect the love that Christ has for His church. My husband is called to love me unconditionally, provide for me, protect me and make sacrifices for me when necessary. As his wife, I am called to be submissive to him, to love and respect him - just as the church is called to do. So, what happens when all of a sudden the state says that my marriage - which reflects Christ's love for the church - is equal to the marriage of a homosexual couple? It has to diminish the way the world views my marriage. It's one of many ways that I am identified as a Christian. What happens when my children learn in church that heterosexual marriage reflects the love of Christ for the church, but learn in school that homosexual marriage is equal to their mommy and daddy's?
Now, the "taking sides and judging" issue. It is absolutely our calling to take sides. As Christians, we are called to love the sinner, but not the sin. Jesus did that - does that. He loves all people, but he hatest sin. We, as Christians, cannot say to the world that it is acceptable to sin! We can absolutely love the sinner and have a relationship with them, but we do NOT have to love the sin. If we love homosexual sin, we might as well tell the world that it's ok to murder, lie, steal, cheat, commit adultery, etc. Really. All sin is equal in God's eyes, so if we accept one we might as well accept all of them! God has already done the judging on this issue - it's wrong. As Christians, we are called to spread the gospel - the truth. We are called to be His messengers of the truth. I make no apologies for that.
Does the legalization of homosexual marriage effect God's control on all things? Of course not. I never said that it would.
Oh, separation of church and state... I love this issue... As a historian, I really do love it when people bring up this issue. I could talk for hours about it! Separation of church and state says {my paraphrased version, that is} that the church and state are to function separately. What does that mean? Basically that no one can be forced to practice a certain religion - no specific religions are "outlawed" or illegal. Does this mean that religion isn't allowed to impact someone's vote? No. Does it say that religion isn't allowed to impact a bill? No. Our forefathers set it up this way so that no one would be forced to practice one religion like they'd been forced to do for so long in England. No one ever said that a person's beliefs weren't allowed to impact the way they vote - including elected officials.
*EDIT: Thanks to JG for adding something to this issue in a comment. I'm posting it here to make sure you get to read it. The state legalizing gay marriage is, in fact, a violation of the separation of the establishment clause (first amendment, separation of church and state, however you want to call it.) Because marriage didn't originate in politics or government. It is, at least, a religious rite, and according to the Bible, like you say, what we are to present to the world as a picture of our relationship with God. Therefore, for the STATE to determine how this RELIGIOUS ritual is to be practiced is, in fact, unconstitutional. *
I love this quote from Ronald Reagan:
"Politics and morality are inseparable. And as morality's foundation is religion, religion and politics are necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We need it because we are imperfect, and our government needs the church, because only those humble enough to admit they're sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in order to survive."
I couldn't agree with him more.
You may disagree with me on this issue, and that's your prerogative. But, I am speaking what God laid on my heart and what He says is truth. I do not - and will not - apologize for this.
*EDIT #2: Leviticus 18:22 (God asks Moses to speak to His people on His behalf about Unlawful Sexual Relations) Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. Leviticus 18:24-25 Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Just to tack on - the state legalizing gay marriage is, in fact, a violation of the separation of the establishment clause (first amendment, separation of church and state, however you want to call it.) Because marriage didn't originate in politics or government. It is, at least, a religious rite, and according to the Bible, like you say, what we are to present to the world as a picture of our relationship with God. Therefore, for the STATE to determine how this RELIGIOUS ritual is to be practiced is, in fact, unconstitutional.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification. It was pretty obvious that there were those who didn't read what you wrote, but rather saw what they wanted to see. As is usually the case.
If God feels strongly enough about something to speak out either for it or against it, why do we think we shouldn't as well?
You shouldn't have to apologize.
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree.
I am the one who teaches my children. If they come home to me with questions about why their friend has 2 moms or 2 dads... I will explain to my kids how I feel about that.
Marriage is a completely religious ritual, but federal and state and jobs allow for benefits because of marital status. That part of it is what homosexuals are wanting, not the spiritual significance.
Eh. I'm not here to argue. I am just going to leave this at an agree to disagree thing. NOT ENTIRELY because I completely agree about it being a sin, I completely agree about it not being natural, and I completely agree about it being something that as a Christian, you should abstain from.
I stand by everything I said in my initial response.
-Amy
I have featured you and your posts on my blog!
ReplyDeletehttp://jmmcnair.blogspot.com/2010/07/amen.html
JG made a great point, I never thought of that before!!
ReplyDeleteYou're probably ready to let this go, but I saw this article and thought of you: http://www.gaypatriot.net/2010/07/08/yes-virginia-gay-marriage-is-legal-in-all-50-states/
ReplyDelete"it's about privileges, not about rights."
So wonderfully put! And great input from JG!
ReplyDelete"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind..."
ReplyDeleteMost of the men and women that are bisexual, lesbians, or gay that I know are not people of God because of the way that you would treat them. We should take people and love them and show them how Christians (or whatever denomination you are) are... If people were to see the light of God through you and not the judgment then maybe there would be a bigger impact upon them. I understand what the bible says but I also think that we were given the ability to make our own decisions which is a double edged sword. Even though they may not comply with what you think it doesn't mean that they are any less than you. They just love someone different from you.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible says nothing about the concept of sexual orientation for the same reason as it does not mention television sets and airplanes. All were unknown in biblical times. The concept of orientation dates only from the late 19th century and only began to be seriously investigated in the middle of the 20th century.
Bible translators must be aware of the errors that have been made in previous versions of the Bible; they are widely discussed in theological literature. But it would probably not be economically possible at this time to produce a translation of the Bible that was accurate. People are so used to expecting homophobic references in a half-dozen locations in scripture that they probably would not buy a Bible that was accurate to the original text, or which admitted that the meanings of certain words are unknown.
bullet Most religious liberals agree with the main mental health associations. Sexual orientation is determined before school age, and is perhaps determined genetically at conception. It cannot be changed through prayer, religious conversion, reparative therapy, aversion therapy or counseling, any more than a person can change their race or gender.