by Mark Gibson
The idea that it’s okay to harass or discriminate against a man or woman for being born with a sexual identity outside the “norm” of their biological sex is ludicrous and has much less to do with religion than it does culture.
For every religion that reviles homosexuality, the original offshoots spawned from the biblical old testament being obvious examples, there are plenty of spiritual paths that accept what has always been the case: Sexual identity, whether mentally and biological expressed, is not cut-and-dried and those outside the norms are as beautiful and acceptable as those inside.
Even in the Judeo Christian tradition there are faiths, spiritual leaders and even more individual believers who accept that this is true.
There are also, of course, those who do not. They preach that such people are “perverted” and their existence unacceptable in the eyes of their God. I grew up hearing this as a young man, and in the end rejected their interpretation of scripture: There are church leaders today who see the ancient text more accurately and give greater weight to “love thy neighbor as thy self” than obscure texts long-twisted by cultural norms both ancient and modern.
Yet I agree with my co-editor that the “anti-homosexual” church will not be changing their tune anytime soon.
Their sexual beliefs play too large a role in their faith. Indeed, there are evangelicals working overseas today focused on promoting anti-homosexual laws among their converts.
This is a tragedy: I have no respect for those whose teaching dwells so pointedly on “unnatural acts” and promotes hatred. In the long run such bigotry will fail overseas just as it has failed here, but in the meantime they are heaping faggots on the flames and one can only weep over the pain and damage.
God bless America, religious bigotry in the realm of sexual preference is against the law.
Spiritual leaders are free to deny a church marriage to same-sex couples, just as they were free to deny a church marriage to those who had previously divorced or otherwise violated the church tenants of the day.
That, too, is part of living in America. Religious freedom is one of the truths any number of Americans have fought and died for: Even homosexual ones, although we weren’t supposed to ask and for Gods sake, not tell.
But outside the church all people are created equal. They have a right to purchase a wedding cake, rent a tuxedo — or two tuxedos — and schedule their wedding at any non-church rental facility hosting weddings. Period.
So God bless America, and if you are going into the wedding-cake business be prepared to serve all of us.
If that slams up against your sexual preference or your religion, find another line of work.
by RaeLynn Ricarte
America is at a crossroads about how to deal with Christians who oppose gay marriage and many church leaders are worried that persecution lies just around the corner.
It is important for us, as a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, to decide just how tolerant we are willing to be with a differing opinion. Will society continue to go after people who refuse services to same-sex couples, such as the Oregon bakery owners who have been fined $135,000 for discrimination?
Faith encompasses an absolute set of values that people have been willing to die for throughout time. So, labelling Christians “haters” because they disagree with homosexuality is not going to make them stand down.
It is important to understand the Biblical references to homosexuality that lie behind the opposition to same-sex marriage:
• First, every Biblical narrative, law, proverb, exhortation, metaphor or lesson that has anything to do with a sexual relationship points to the male-female bond, no exceptions.
• Second, there are plenty of verses that speak strongly against same-sex relationships. For example, in Romans, the disciple Paul warns about happens when man turns away from God.
Romans 1:26-27 states: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another…”
There are similar references throughout the Bible, including 1 Corinthians 6:9: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men…”
With 77 percent of Americans identifying as Christians in a recent Gallup poll, the belief that homosexuality is wrong is held by millions of people.
Devout Christians explain more liberal attitudes in some churches by Matthew 24:11: "Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and lead many into error.”
Christian leaders across the nation are now telling believers to get ready to pay a high price for their faith.
An Oregon City church sent out this bulletin after the Supreme Court upheld gay marriage in June: “Praise the Lord that there is no ruling of any court, decision by any government body or law of the land that can change the truth of these verses or the word of God, the Bible… It is by faith that we believe that, no matter what may come our way, Jesus is the head over every power and authority. JESUS STILL REIGNS.”
Can we, as a society, demonstrate true tolerance by respecting the right of Christians to live by their values, even if they now conflict with a changing culture?
Commented