Beliefs, Agendas, and Tolerance: Modern-Day FUN!

I've been thinking about this post for a long time. I never knew quite where to start while formulating it in my mind, and I finally decided to just sit down and write it as it came into my head. This is something very serious, very hotly debated, and very clear-cut in my eyes.

Gay/Homosexual Rights.

To start, I am a Christian. I believe that marrige should be between a man and a woman, that they are bound by God for life and beyond, and that the legal part of the process (marriage certificate, etc.) is really just a formality, because a piece of paper isn't what makes a marriage; God, the man, and the woman do that. Those are my beliefs, and I choose to abide by them. Anyone else claiming to be a Christian and to follow those same ideals, I hold to those standards.

My religious beliefs also say that homosexuality is unnatural and a sin, and those who engage in it are damned. No one is beyond saving, however, and a true Christian should love all sinners, and treat them with the same loving kindness as Jesus did. There is no better way to lead someone to the love of God, and to salvation, than by loving them unconditionally and refraining from harsh judgements. No sin is greater than any other, and even the most perfect Christian is not without sin, so who are we to judge, anyway?

For these main reasons, I do not support gay marriage. I don't believe in it because of my religious views, so therefore I will not lend my support to the cause.

But hang on a second......how are they defining "marriage?"

Are they using the Christian model?

That's where things get interesting. And really, really clear.

The majority of homosexuals are not Christians, and their definition of marriage is a civil union. It is a joining of their households, a joint filing of taxes, etc. It has nothing to do with God whatsoever. In short, it's a piece of paper. A piece of paper that I already said holds little to no meaning to me, beyond the necessity of acquiring one for my marriage to be legally recognized. Their goal is to remove gender from the equation entirely, and to be treated as two legal, consenting adults entering into (what boils down to) a contract.

That raises a very basic question: do men and women have equal rights in America? A man and a woman pay the same taxes, can hold the same jobs, can both vote, and are treated with little to no distinction legally.

Essentially, the answer is yes.

So, if two adults, regardless of their gender, want to enter into a legal contract together, why should that be a problem for me? They're not infringing on my rights, they're not violating my beliefs or my religion, and they're certainly not trying to offend anyone. Sure, I don't want to see a homosexual couple making out in public, but I really wouldn't want to see a heterosexual couple doing that, either. So long as they're respectful of my beliefs, I see no reason not to be respectful of theirs.

For those reasons, I am not against gay marriage. By this legal definition, which has nothing to do with my religious views, I don't have a problem with it, or any right to say anything against something that doesn't affect me. I cannot in good conscience vote for it, but I will never vote against it, if it comes to that.

Now, let me go back to religion. The only reason I would object to gay marriage would be if they claimed to be Christian, and wanted to be married in my church, by my God. That, I have a problem with, because the Bible quite clearly states that homosexuality is not permitted. That, I feel, is in direct violation of my faith, and I find it offensive. I wold never kick a homosexual couple out of my church if they were truly seeking the light and truth, but if they came to me asking for me to acknowledge their marriage as godly, I would not do it. I would still be kind, I would not shun them, and I certainly wouldn't be rude or hateful to them in any way, but if they came into my territory and asked for my acceptance, I would be completely open and honest with them.

Let me be perfectly clear. I would rather explain to my children why their friend _____ has two homosexual mommies/daddies who love each other, than explain to them why their friend ______'s heterosexual mommy is always covered in bruises from his/her abusive daddy. I'd rather explain homosexuality than divorce. I'd rather talk to my children about the sin of misguided love than the sin of murder, or rape. I would rather sit in church surrounded by good, sincere gay people who are respectful of my beliefs than insincere heterosexual people who only come to church as a formality. I have gay and bisexual friends, whom I love with all my heart, and they know how I feel, and we still manage to be friends in spite of our differences. That is how it should be.

I have been taught to forgive any and all sins, whether the sinner asks for it or not. I have been taught to love my neighbor, my friend, and my enemy alike. I have been taught that "he who is without sin shall throw the first stone," and since no one is without sin, no stones should be thrown at all.

No, I don't support gay marriage in a religious sense, but I certainly don't see any reason to object to it in the secular sense. They are two completely different things. I don't "support" it, but I'll be damned rather than become guilty of the sin of hate. Somehow, I think the love and acceptance shown by those of this mindset will bring us closer to God, and we might even bring a few others along with us because of it =)