In the past couple of days I have seen the number of zombies showing their faces in broad daylight increase exponentially. Since NC became the 30th state to approve an amendment to their state constitution banning same sex marriages the number of zombie attacks has risen by an order of magnitude. I'm not just speaking about the homosexuals and their supporters either, it's also been rising within those of us who call ourselves Christians. As Christians we need to not let our zombie loose under the pretense of defending the Word of God. Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't stand for what God has decreed as truth in His Word. Quite the contrary, we need to speak the truth, but in love. Simply lashing out in retaliation isn't doing that.
Ephesians 4:17-32 talks about how we, as children of light, are to put off our old selves (our inner zombie) and put on our new selves. It reminds us that we were once sinners and that someone brought us the truth and instructed us in its ways. It tells us that we are not to act as the unbelievers do, nor are we to act in anger, but are to love and forgive even as we have been forgiven by our Father in heaven.
It is not easy to disengage from our anger. I should know I struggle with it daily. It is also one of the emotions most used to give our inner zombie a voice, but according to scripture that is exactly what God expects us not to do. The first part of the same chapter talks about becoming mature in Christ so that we will not be lead astray or worse yet, cause others to be lead astray from the truth of God's Word. Throughout the entire chapter though is the theme of love. God's love for us and that we are to love others the same way, to the best of our ability.
I have deliberately tried to keep this brief and refrain from 'preaching from my soapbox', so to speak. It is not my attempt to convince anyone that same-sex marriage is a sin, though the Word of God clearly states that it is. Why? Because I cannot change anyone or their opinions through any form of discourse. No amount of scripture quoting will convince someone who is disinclined to believe that the Bible is anything more than an outdated book that it contains the very words of the one, true God and that they should live their lives according to its precepts. Only the Holy Spirit can change a persons heart and mind and it is His job alone. Mine is merely to present the truth and then lead by example by living my own life by that very same truth, to the best of my ability.
Having said all that, a good friend of mine posted a link to a very well written and thoughtful article on the subject of NC's marriage amendment. It is a good reminder why we as Christians should continue to stand by God's Word.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/jennifer-mcgee-porter/marriage-amendment-exposition/10151589921000627
If living in sin is reason to deny marriage, no one should be allowed to get married. We all live in one kind of sin or another.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, according to some views of Christianity, my marriage is invalid because I am unequally yoked. I am living in sin and therefore should be treated like a gay couple, I suppose. In fact, my own pastor refused to perform the ceremony and I had to find another. I have never felt so shunned by my Christian family as that moment. Where was love or forgiveness there?
But if this is about sin, why is the adulterer (as in someone cheating on their spouse) allowed to remain married? How about a thief? A child abuser? Why are divorcees allowed to remarry?
Is being sinless the criteria for getting married? That is impossible.
John you are right that it is impossible to live without sin this side of heaven, nor was it my intention to imply that. I am sorry that your pastor refused to marry you and Deb and that it hurt you. The message I was trying to convey (and apparently failed to make clear) is that we as Christians shouldn't be behaving hatefully towards those who are railing against our stand on marriage but should love and forgive them for how they are treating us even as we stand behind what God has said in His word.
DeleteAre homosexuals living in sin? Yes. Is the adulterer any different in God's eyes? No. Should the divorcee be allowed to remarry? That depends on why they got the divorce as there are a couple of reasons given in the Bible where that action is permissible. I have to agree with you that the church has turned a blind eye to many sins while overly focusing on others (divorce and adultery vs homosexuality for example) and it is wrong. As Christians we need to stand behind ALL of God's word, even the parts that we have issues with. After all, as the supreme creator of all things He alone has the right and authority to determine what is sin and what is not.
As for homosexual marriage the biggest issue is that God instituted marriage, not man, and when He did so He set it up to be between one man and one woman. So living an active homosexual lifestyle is a sin in the same way that fornication is a sin (and yes, I know I was guilty of that one myself) in that it is having sex outside of God's prescribed plan for sex which is traditional marriage.
John, you are still my dearest friend and while we may never agree on any number of issues (including this one) know that you are now, and will always be, my friend.
(part 1)
DeleteFirst, let me say that I appreciate that we can agree to disagree. It's one of the biggest forms of trust because we know we are not personally attacking each other. We speak strongly because we are opinionated; and that's a good thing.
I say -all- of the following in agreement that we Christians should not behave hatefully towards others. Colossians 4:6 -- Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
So I'm going to have a little fun with God establishing marriage. Technically, that was in the Old Testament and it was established under Judaic law. This has become Christian "law" by inheritance. And I say "law" because unlike Judaism which had/has Israel, we do not have a political nation that we conduct under religious law. However, does that mean Christianity now defines what marriage is world-wide?
Does this invalidate other marriages? Jewish? Muslim? Common-law? Heterosexual civil marriages?
Or is it this simple: it's okay for heterosexuals to live in sin and be married, but not gays.
If Christianity can invalidated one kind of marriage, it invalidates them all under the same rule. If it is not sanctioned by God, it is not valid. Anyone believing in any deity other than God believes in a false god. Therefore, their marriage under those religious rules is invalid. (Again, ergo, mine is by the same rule.) Therefore, any marriage not sanctified by God is invalid (including common-law, and civil marriages -- heterosexual or not).
It is not for us to judge people's level of sin and therefore determine whether or not they are fit to marry. It is not for Christianity to tell "Caesar" that marriages must obey -our- rules. (But, hey, people voted in a Democracy/Republic, so what can I say about that, right? Yeah, I think it's bigoted, but they all agree in their bigotry... right or wrong, that's democracy in action!)
To me, this issue is between God and that couple. This is not between that couple and me, you, or anyone else. If they are wrong, God will deal with it. To get a bit 'hellfire and brimstone', the very conservative assessment is that they're going to Hell anyway, right? There is no "slightly going to hell" or "maybe going to heaven" -- it's pretty binary (in our limited, mortal, we're-not-God understanding). So this doesn't make them "even more going to Hell".
What this does do is make their life a nightmare where inheritance, legal custody, next-of-kin, hospital visitation rights, and other, basic civil issues are concerned.
What it doesn't do is corrupt society. We do that plenty without homosexuality. Alcoholism, drugs, prostitution, rape, child abuse, child pornography, child prostitution, slave trafficking (which still exists in the US!), spousal abuse, racial hatred, and more. If all this anti-gay energy could be diverted into things that actually physically harm people (and truly corrupt society), we might actually improve society! That would be an awesome world! I wish the only real marital problems we had to worry about were gay couples -- because I'd like to see all those other things no longer be a problem. I'd still be pro gay-marriage, but at least I could laugh and say "Well, we truly have no other things to worry about!"
(part 2)
DeleteMeanwhile, there are gays that go to Church, profess their Faith in God and Jesus, and do Good Works. Are their deeds and Faith any more tainted than ours? It's binary, remember. We either live in sin, or we don't; and the latter is impossible unless our name is Jesus Christ -and- we are the one-and-only Son of God.
We all live in sin. We can't choose to live otherwise. We always seek redemption.
We don't have to live in discrimination (or worse). We -can- choose otherwise. We can choose to love, accept, show mercy, and be humble in our own biases and trust that God will do his part while we show the simple brotherly love that Jesus asked us to do.
And, as you may recall, I say this as a former, outspoken homophobe.
Compassion is a mighty thing. It can overcome hate. Some say I've watered down my Faith, but if not wanting to be mean to a person because they are gay is watering down my Faith... well, I think I'd rather treat my fellow human with love and kindness than cruelty in the name of "Faith".
This passage is often misquoted as marital love, but this love is about agape love -- the love of humankind (1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13):
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
...
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The greatest of these is love. Agape love. Love for our fellow man, as a human being.
And then my wife corrected me (ha!) that my logic above is flawed. The notion of living in sin is that we take the necessary actions to stop being in sin. By committing to a marriage, gay couples persist in their sin rather than trying to reform it.
DeleteBut, I'll still stand on the "civil marriage" v. "church marriage". I don't believe gay couples should be denied a legal civil contract with each other that grants them the same legal access as "church-sanctioned marriage" does.