This week the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that states could not stop same sex couples from marrying. This set off a reaction from all kinds of sides. Of course there was the expected reactions from conservative Christians and liberal secularists. As usual, they did not see eye to eye on this matter. There have also been reactions liberal Christians, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, conservative Jews, liberal Jews, conservative Muslims, liberal Muslims and so on and so on and so on and so on and so on and so on.
So I sit here and I wonder how I should react to same-sex marriage as a Christian. I do not consider myself conservative or liberal when it comes to my faith. There are plenty of examples of Jesus being very conservative and of Him being very liberal. That tells me that He does not fall into either camp and that neither camp has a lock on practicing His commands at all times. Yet they both get it right at times. Politically, I am closely aligned to the libertarian school of thought. So needless to say, I am all over the board with this ruling.
Let's get the political side out of the way first. I have heard people say that the Court was legislating from the bench. That they had made a new law. I could be wrong but it seems to me that they struck down parts of state laws. I would think that there is less law now. The other argument that I hear is that they took away the democratic process from the people. A couple of things concerning that note. One, I have heard conservatives for years to rightly point out that we are not a democracy. The other is that if we allowed the people to always choose how the government governed then we would be susceptible to tyranny of the majority.
I would also encourage people to read the transcripts from the oral arguments. Those who were representing the states (traditional marriage) made arguments that marriage was about raising children. Those representing the plaintiffs (same-sex marriage) made arguments that one had the right to choose whom they married. That gay people were a distinct group of people and had 14th Amendment rights. I am no constitutional scholar, so I cannot for sure say if that argument is correct or not. I do know that from reading it, those representing the states had problems defending their position from a legal standpoint. I do know this, had the states won this case, there may have been precedent for a state to exclude people from marrying if they could not or had no intention of having children one day.
But to the part that is more important to me, how should I act as a Christian when it comes to this subject? Let me first say that many Christians would say that I should not be married. I am divorced and remarried. And I promise you that I did not come to the decision to remarry lightly. Before my divorce, I was arrogant. I knew that I did not need anyone else. I knew that I could take on life alone. After going through a divorce, I learned that I was weak. I was broken. When I began thinking about getting married again, I researched the subject. I did not just feel that it was OK to marry again. I read arguments for and against it. I came to a spot where I had good reason to believe that it was OK to marry again. I say all of that to say this. Recently, I have read and read on same-sex relationships and what the Bible says. One could only guess that I have found good solid arguments for both sides of the issue. And people from both sides have a deep faith and seem to love Christ just as much as the other side. I have to say that I still believe that homosexuality is a sin. Yet at the same time, I do not have those feelings. I have never walked in those shoes. I also have to concede that I could be wrong and that the other side could be right.
While so many are worried about what the government says about marriage, I am much more bothered by our putting our nation ahead of our Savior. I have also noticed that as Christians in America, we have attached our faith too much to our nation. I hear people say, "I wish it was like the old days." "America is turning from God." I would like for someone to tell me which old days they would like to go back to in America. Slavery is legal time? Women have no right to vote time? Segregation time? When was America turn towards God? When beating slaves was OK? When gaining more and more possessions was OK? When starting wars without just cause was OK? We are the point where the Confederate battle flag is raised and put on social media just to spit in the face of our fellow brothers and sisters. Just to show that nobody is going to tell me what I can or cannot do.
Here is how I am going to react to this subject and to all others in my life. I am going to love people. I don't mean that I am going to have this mushy feeling. That is not Biblical love. You see, in 1 Corinthians, we are told that three things remain. Those are faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love. I mean, I read that and I think how it is taught that faith is so important. I agree that it is very important. Yet, the thing that is greater is love. Earlier in that chapter, we are taught what love is and is not. For one, it is not a record keeper. That tells me that love is not constantly telling someone where I believe they are messing up in life. I do believe that we have an obligation to point out to each other when we are sinning but that is different than yelling and protesting. Love also does not envy or boast. I think this is one area where the church has failed so much when it comes to the gay community. We have said that, "well, I have sin in my life but it is not so bad as to be homosexual sin." Love is not easily angered yet how often do we as Christians jump right to anger when this subject is brought up. Look at posts from the last couple of days.
I am going to love. I am going to put myself behind others. Even when I do not agree with them. They are going to answer one day for their lives and I will answer for mine. The great thing will be that if we are both in Christ then we will both experience grace like never felt before. I am not going to let society sway the way that I love no matter what.
