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.
