Jesus, please help me to legislate rightousness. Amen.
Today I decided to get something off my chest. So here is my disclaimer. I am a flawed man just like everyone else and I do NOT mean to come across as self righteous. so here I go…
Why do Christians have such hate for homosexuals? I know what your thinking. Not me, hate the sin, love the sinner…Not in my church we understand that homosexuality is a sin… I don’t hate anyone. Okay realistically I’m talking about those christians who want a ban on same-sex marraige. And maybe hate is a strong word, but you do kind of hate them. Maybe you won’t admit it but you do. We stare when a very feminine man walks by. You think gross, when a butch lebian walks by. We even have made common place of calling uncool things “gay’. And if you would vote for a ban you are trying to get people to believe what you believe and act like you act throught means of legislation, and you think that God will be happy about this. I am sure it brings Him no pleasure.
Lets say you have your way . A federal ban on same sex marraige is passed. What have you accomplished? Homosexuals still have intimate relations with each other. They still live together, they still have children artificially or through adoption. They dont go away. They won’t disappear. And guess what, they still don’t know Jesus.Sadly they would feel oppressed and persecuted. They would hate us and they would hate Jesus because we would still claim to represent Him. I doubt Jesus would be glorified in that.
And where does it end. We don’t agree with divorce, maybe we should ban it. We don’t agree with using the Lords name in vain, maybe we should outlaw it. And then we should round up all of those unmarried people adults and teens who participate in premarital sex, make an example out of them. I once heard a Catholic say, “We dont beleive in divorce, but we dont try to outlaw it, we just dont get divorced. (She was a real practicing catholic not just the son or daughter of a catholic generations ago).
It is not the governments job to police peoples action when they are of no harm to others. Same-sex marraige doesn’t harm society any more than Same-sex couple who raise children. And probably the most unrealistic suggestion I have… God created marraige. Marraige is between three parties. A man, a woman, and God. But the governement doesn’t recognize God. Looks to me like the definition of marraige is defferent depending on who you ask. Why Christians do not see the stupidity in a man made government regulating an instatution of God is beyond me. Why Christians don’t seem to understand that because God is in their marraige and not in Same-sex marraiges and so don’t need to feel threatened seems fairly elementary as well. The Government shouldn’t issue linceses (permission) regarding marraige at all. Someone representing God should. I have said my piece, now comment…
By the way I have a girlfriend of three years so don’t be worry about offending me. I want to know what you all think.
June 15th, 2006 at 3:36 am
Well put, Jim. As much as Christians believe that homosexuality is a sin, the values of The United States are drastically different from the Word of God. And bringing up the whole ‘this country was founded on Christian principles’ argument is no longer relevant. We aren’t the America that some of those forefathers wanted it to be. Of course it would be great if everyone would sincerely adhere to the moral and spiritual rules (there would be no sin!), but because we want to force Truth into legislation, we represent ourselves and the Word as a bunch of bigots who want to force an agenda. The government is not the morality police.
One could argue that when Jesus Christ walked this earth, he did not tolerate the open sinfulness of groups; from rebuking the Pharisees to overturning the moneychangers. At the same time though, the Pharisees were the enforcers; leaders who were supposed to be examples of godly men. And the moneychangers were operating a selfish business in a temple of God. These circumstances all occurred as part of the body of Christ. Outside the temples and men of holy status, Jesus loved the sinners unconditionally. He did not rebuke at every twist and turn, instead loving people in a way that made people want to be like him. It was through compassion and unconditional acceptance that they came to know him, that they came to realize their sins, and that they came to repentance and rebirth.
Still, this whole thing is a sketchy subject because Christians are split almost down the middle. And from where I stand, I don’t want to force an agenda of either side. I can’t force anyone to love or hate. My decision is to just attempt to love others in a way that Jesus did. And yes, loving others does include rebuking them when they are clearly wrong on a moral stance, but rebuking in a way that shows your compassion, not your holier-than-thou visage. Love and intolerance are drastic opposites, but a loving intolerance fits into compassion. We don’t want the sinful to burn, we don’t want sinners sinning, and we don’t want sinners to think that we are hateful.
I am a sinner. So are you, and so is everyone else. Instead of further beating a dead horse, I’ll just end with this:
Love and hate should not and in veracity cannot be synonymous.
June 15th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
What I think…hum…well I grew up in a hell, fire, and brimstone church yet by the time I was 10 I knew I was a lesbian. I was so afraid someone would find out that I stuffed my feelings under olive oil and prayer.
Everyone else was just as afraid as I was. Homosexuality, although has been around since shortly after creation, is something no one wanted to talk about. When people don’t know how to deal with something they persecute it.
Honestly there are no real legislative solutions for homosexual. Denying homosexuals certain rights may be unconstitutional. Yet honoring homosexual marriages is an abomination. For those trying to maintain some national Christian identification this is very dangerous. I hope you understand why the Christians are fighting this. I’m DEFINITELY NOT a conservative but as a believer I have to be careful.
This is coming from a person who has been completely in love with another woman. I understand what it is to be more than attracted to someone of the same sex. Listen don’t worry. God knew how to find me, love me, heal me, and ultimately change mine and the woman I loved life.
The church’s ability to forget their own sins may give them favor in God’s eyes. We don’t have a priest who can not be touched by our infirmities. Any homosexual or sinner for that matter, if they are seeking God they will find Him. He will cleanse them and bring them to His side by the washing of the water of the word. Then nothing will separate them from Christ love. You just be honest, open, and understanding of any sinner you met. As always remember yourself unless you fall.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Thanks for the response guys. Devisser sometimes I think you woulfd make a good politician. Ta’mar that was powerful thanks for the response.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
i am fascinated that you can write about being run over by a golf cart one day and then all of this…
i just want to agree with Ta’Mar that God is able to overcome the failures of the Church because the mission of the Church and the love of God cannot be stopped by human sin. also, it is amazing that here online we can dialoge with someone as open as she is.
i can read all the books i want (and have to read) regarding theology but it’s all for naught if I can’t love God and love others as Christ loves them when it’s all said and done.
there is never an excuse to be hateful if we call ourselves children of God.
[Jonathan, where is this all coming from?!?! I guess I really don’t know you very well…I have to say that voxtropolis has opened up a whole other side of you that I really appreciate and want to get to know a lot better.]
will reply more post-research paper.
looking forward to reading other comments…
June 16th, 2006 at 3:46 am
Jonbear is a theological thought shark, Tobee. He’s also very observant of our church as well as church institution in general and probably more quick than others to notice when something smells rotten.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:40 am
Oh yeah, and there is a line from a Thrice song that I think sums up something that everyone should already understand. It’s a simple statement, but very powerful…and honestly, I don’t think any part of any song ever written has ever sent chills down my spine as this one has. Maybe you’d have to listen to it to feel the full effect of it’s meaning, but read on, and think about it.
“Don’t we all know?
Life is sacred.
Don’t we all know?
We bleed the same red blood.”
August 11th, 2006 at 12:53 am
hi jon,
i haven’t been “voxing” lately, as I see you have not either…but I thought I’d share with you that for some reason, one of my vox’s about how I cleaned out my closet got 386 views so far. weird.
BTW, did you EVER get your vox t-shirt from Alyssa?!?!
October 3rd, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Hey,
I’m finding myself more and more at odds with politics. At one point I was a very conservative republican. However, as I get older (possibly) or as I begin to wrestle with ideas like you’ve brought up (maybe), I find that no party represents me. And, I’m o.k. with that. It lets me know that I’m thinking and not just following a particular group. I will say that most laws/legislation have some moral basis to them and many were based on biblical principals. We cannot deny the Christian influence of our Country’s beginnings. Our money states it, even the state of Ohio’s seal says, “With God all things are possible”. So, do we go back and erase everything in our country’s history that references God/biblical values? I hope not.
Greg