The Gay Marriage battle from THIS Christian's perspective

Quoted from a local paper discussion forum:


“In the video there is a man who says that Thomas Jefferson told him that he has certain inalienable rights. While all the rest of us decedents do as well, we have again another association of an American forefather into an lifestyle in which Thomas Jefferson obviously never meant. Certain inalienable rights are based on Scripture, and with those rights also comes responsibility. We are not responsible for what gender we are born, but we are responsible for how we use it. For example, God's word doesn't show anyone having the inalienable right to commit adultery, although one can choose. So does this mean that He gives an inalienable right to choose?”



This is where it becomes difficult; reasoning with a devout Christian and/or a theological thinker.
In another post, you said "We are responsible for how we use it [gender]" Aside from being an incredibly vague statement; you make the assumption that God is calling upon the world. This is not accurate; God calls upon His church, not the world. He calls upon His Church to spread the Gospel; not to demand that the world live by these rules. We are not of this world, we are of God and God is in us; but those of the World and not of God do not live by His word. In fact, most of them do not share our views or beliefs at all as far as God is concerned; much less the instructions He instructs us to live by.
The Bible does not tell us that we are to dictate how others should lead their lives. The simple fact of the matter is this: not everyone is a Christian. Not everyone believes what we believe. Our job as Christians is to love these people as God loves them; to share with them the Gospel and then let them choose for themselves how they might live; this is the Will of God. If they decide to live in sin; it is their decision and their decision ALONE. There is no threat to our beliefs, no threat to the ‘institution of marriage’, but nothing more than something that makes people nervous or uneasy. We as Christians understand that; by our standards and what we are taught; this is wrong. However, it is not our place to dictate how an unbeliever should lead their lives. Our job is to share the Gospel with those who would listen; not to demand that the world live by our rules simply because we feel it is the one true way to God. Is this making sense so far?

We could spend hours; even days; getting lost in a theological debate about how our country was founded and how the founding fathers meant for us to live based on the scripture. But the fact of the matter is our ancestors fled England to be free of religious tyranny and persecution. Our country was founded on Freedom of Speech AND; get this; Freedom of and from RELIGION. Regardless of how our faith dictates how we should live OUR lives; we cannot force our beliefs on an unbeliever. Nowhere in Corinthians (the book that talks about immorality and sinful nature) does it talk about dictating how unbelievers should lead their lives; simply that we should not give into immorality ourselves; that we should conduct ourselves as Christ would have, for our bodies are a God’s Temple. The World will do as it sees fit; no matter how immoral or sinful in God's eyes.


We have no right to tell another man (or woman) how to live their lives; this is not they way we should be presenting ourselves. We can express our beliefs without demanding that others live by them as well. Who enjoys being told that they MUST do something? No one. And the whole argument that "allowing them to marry" would somehow make traditional marriages less sacred. I have yet to figure out how that works. That is an example of unsound logic. Gay marriage will in NO WAY devalue or undermine the marriage of a man and a woman. I would; however; love to see someone try and debate that. How can anyone think of that as sound logic? Under the separation of church and state, no clergy man or woman would be made to perform a gay wedding. (I am aware that Separation of Church and state is not law; but instead more or less guidelines of how would should address them.) As it stands, the State cannot tell the church what they can and can't do; what they can and can't say or believe. In the same right; then; we should not use our "religion" (I hate the word) to effect how the State is run or passes laws. Religion is not necessary to set moral guidelines. Humanity itself is instilled with a sense of moral decency; some simply turn from it. (in no way am I saying homosexuality is morally wrong; please do not misconstrue the point I am trying to make.) There are other venues for which gay men and women can say their vows; other ordained ministers. And again, just because we know it to be wrong in God’s eyes, does not mean we can make them live by His standards. Not believing in Him is their God given right; He gave us Free Will. We can share our belief with them without demanding they live by His standards. “The wicked shall rule over the earth.” Sounds familiar, right? (If you are gay and are reading this, please to not take offense. Trying to make a point to another Christian about how accepting something that we consider to be immoral is an incredibly arduous task indeed.) What the Bible teaches us; if you do not believe; should have no immediate effect to your rights put forth by our Constitution more that 200 years ago. God tells us not to live in immorality or depravity, and in His book He does tell us to not give into sins of the flesh; which specifically mentions homosexuality. Ultimately; however; we have to remember that everyone must choose for themselves whether or not to put their faith in God.

The Lord calls us to love our neighbors as we would love ourselves; to share the Gospel in love and in truth; He does not demand that this be law for all the world; in fact, He calls His children to be not of the world but of Him, and by children I mean his Church. While we believe that all people are His children, not all people believe that He is God, so while we live by His word, others have the right to live any way that they see fit. It is a complicated yet simple concept.
So how other people live their lives is their business. We can tell them we believe it to be wrong and that God calls us to live without sin, but we cannot force them to live something they do not believe. God gave us all Free Will; to make decisions for ourselves based on reasoning. Some Christians, for whatever reason, have become more like hateful bigots than God's loving children. They have missed the true teachings of Christ. Please do not let those loudmouthed few taint the world's opinion of Christian's as a whole.

I think another misinterpretation is most Christians automatically associate homosexuals with being bad people. This is simply not so. There are good and bad people in every walk of life; such is apparent throughout history. It has nothing to do with their sexual orientation.

The fact of the matter is; while we know for ourselves that God calls us to cast out immorality and that he views homosexuality as a sin; the Bible clearly states that we should not conform to the ways of the World(or the unbeliever). That should not be misconstrued to mean that we have the right or duty to tell them what is right and wrong or how they should live their lives. We can tell them how they should live, but not how they must.

Jesus teaches us in Mark 12:28-31
28. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29. "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[f] 31. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[g]There is no commandment greater than these."

God calls us to stay true to our faith, to rebuke immorality from ourselves. He also calls us to love. I am reminded of the story in Luke 7:36-50 where Mary Magdalene wept over Jesus’ feet and bathed them in perfume. In this example, through his love AND through example to Simon, Mary was forgiven and turned from her ways. By his love and kindness; ultimately by his example of accepting her as she was; did she truly seek forgiveness.

"Actions speak louder than words." Now; this is not a passage of scripture; but instead a simple fact. Unfortunately, hateful words and unconstitutional legislation are speaking louder than the voice of reason at this point, and Christians are at the helm. As Christian people, surely God calls us to live by example. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." He tells us to not judge others, but what are we doing? Judging. God has charged us with sharing His word with the world, but we cannot do this effectively by demanding that they live by our standards. I could go on with scripture all day long. What we have to remember is we are not to live as the world lives, but we are also not to force our ways on the world. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." The same can be said for the world. We can share scripture and God's teachings with others until we're blue in the face, but they will not thirst for it simply because we give it to them. The same basic theory should be applied to how we share the gospel. Plant the seed and God will cultivate it in his time. Our goal should be to share the gospel in a loving manner; for we are ultimately the Lord's beacon in dark times.

Christians across the world are up in arms; shouting out that this is a blasphemous act against their faith. Shame on them! The true meaning of what God has taught us has been forgotten. We have taken his Word and twisted and distorted it to dictate how others should live their lives. The Bible is our moral story book. The lessons that we take away are what is important. The thought that Gay marriage will completely undermine the sanctity of the marriage between a man and a woman is just silly. Many say this, but cannot give a valid reason as to why they feel this way. I understand that most feel threatened, but a truly devout Christian has no reason to fear. Raise your children in the ways of the Lord, teach them the scriptures, teach them tolerance and the love and compassion that Christ shared with all his children. This world will come to an end and all shall seek the Kingdom of God; but it is the righteous who will inherit it. Sharing the gospel does not mean dictating to unbelievers that 'Our word is Law'. The World's ways are not our own, to expect them to live according to our beliefs would be absurd and counterproductive to God's calling for His people.

"They will know we are Christians by our Love" Not our bitter, hateful discord. This is a call to all Christians against the legalization of Gay Marriage. Who has the right to deny another man (or woman) his/her right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? I daresay; no one.

In closing, there can be no argument as to what Thomas Jefferson meant by each and every person has certain inalienable rights.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
Nowhere in the document does it say that only heterosexuals have these rights. Even though they may argue that they don't believe in God or denounce Him as their Creator; we as Christians know that God is the Creator of ALL things. So it could be said that; in knowing He is the creator of all things; we know that homosexuals are entitled to those same rights; period.

Prop 8 was unconstitutional and should not have been allowed to pass. As Christians, we have painted ourselves as bigots. We are the light of God, the world is supposed to see Him through us. Their view of him now is of a bigoted, hateful, uncaring deity; which we know to be untrue. We need to do as Jesus did; Love everyone. Speaking out in hate is not what God wants us to do. Christians need to get back to what Jesus taught us. We should be less worried about the world and more worried that we; as a Christian people; have drifted from God. Let the law govern as it will (which California decreed that it be legalized, until someone took up Prop 8 and ran with it.) We have no right to tell another man or woman who they should and shouldn’t marry. If you feel convicted to stay within the traditional values, so be it. But do not force someone into believing what you believe is right. When; throughout history; has that ever shown to be right? Never.