My topic this week was given to me by none other than my lovely husband. I usually don't like getting topics from him because they always seem to be too challenging for me, but I think that I am ready to tackle this one head on.
Before I begin, I just want to make it clear that I am not condoning the "act" of being gay, just like I don't condone any other sin that is in the Bible. I am simply trying to give a fair and equal argument about same sex marriages.
To start off with, I want to make mention that there is an undeniable separation between church and state. Regardless of a person’s personal beliefs regarding a particular issue, separation has to be maintained. If there is a law prohibiting gay marriage, why not a law prohibiting spouses from having affairs? Why not a law prohibiting sex before marriage? These are all moral issues, but laws are not made to enforce morality; they are created for the protection of citizens. They are not created to enforce a particular church’s beliefs; they are created on behalf of the state to both defend rights and guard the people. So, even if someone is convinced that homosexuality is wrong, they would have no right to impose that belief on the entire nation.
I also have the concern of allowing our government to decide who a person can marry. Do we really want so much power in the hands of imperfect people? As a Christian, I readily recognize the fallibility of mankind. We make mistakes every day and no one is exempt from this. Given the nature of human beings, does it make sense to give equally flawed men and women in our government the power to decide who can marry who?
I know that it is hard to put personal prejudices aside when making difficult and important decisions. But despite our own personal feelings, it is important to remain objective on issues like this.
I know that some, well alot, of the arguments about same sex marriage are because they feel it threatens the sanctity of marriage. I do believe in preserving the sanctity of marriage, but why aren't people equally or even at all concerned about more common factors that deface the value of marriage.
Because if it really is about the sanctity of marriage where is:
- The amendment that makes divorce illegal?
If it's about the children who need both a mother and father, where is:
- The amendment that makes divorce illegal until your children are 18 or older?
If it's about the argument that God created marriage for procreational reasons and people of the same sex obviously can't procreate, where is:
- The amendment that disallows marriage to a straight man and woman who can't physiologically have children?
Why aren't these issues more of a concern and brought to the table to battle over? Why? Who knows!!
So, with all the rambling aside, I suppose if I were asked the question...Do you think that same sex marriage should be legalized? I would have to say, YES.
20 comments:
dang, this was awesome. all your points were excellent.
Did we (not just April, ALL of us) not learn anything from the notorious evolution blogs? You make some very true statements but two wrongs don't make a right. If I go visit a murderer in prison, I would love them in Jesus name and try to help them or meet their needs, and hopefully have the courage to try to lead them to Christ, but I would not take them a gun permit. By encouraging and authorizing this sin (or any other sin, I am not saying its worse than other sin), you open Pandora's box and leave the door wide open for more trouble down the road. I think the same could be said for this blog topic. I think a lot of these topics lately would be better discussed in person. This stuff just stirs people up and divides us. I think we should try to avoid that. Again my 2cents. I love you April and everybody else too!
very well said, april. and i agree. the state should have no authority over this.
remember, just because it is legal does not mean that the church has to recognize it. if the church stands against it, they do not have to bless or recognize the union. but the government should not legislate morality.
I agree with you mostly on this. If someone asked me if I was against gay marriage, I would say yes. BUT if someone asked me if I thought it should be illegal I would say no. Like you said, its not the government's job to deal with morality. Killing someone is a different matter, because that affects other people. So yes, I think its wrong. No, I do not think gay people going to hell. And no, I don't really think it should be illegal.
Besides, even if it was illegal then thats not really gonna change anything. People are still gonna be gay if they want to.
This is a confusing subject and I don't think any of us are making ourselves crystal clear. If we are speaking from a strictly government law standpoint its still a bad idea. It will give homosexual folks that much more support to go attack someone that is saying the Bible says homosexuality is wrong. There are plenty of nice peaceful people who are homosexual who don't go around picking fights but believe me the homosexuals have just as many radical nuts as any other group (Christians included). They would definitely use this against anybody they needed to. I am sure homosexual marriage will be legalized all over the country eventually so it a moot point really. Lastly, if you think homosexuality is a victimless sin, go talk to someone who was tempted into that lifestyle for whatever reason and managed to escape it. I think they would disagree.
okay...no more controversial topics for me!!! i just want to try to make myself clear, i do not AGREE with homosexuality or homosexual marriage. i am just simply trying to say, that as a citizen of this country, everyone should have equal rights.
April I am seriously impressed by this blog. You make a lot of good points I haven't considered before. I don't think I would outright support the gay marriage law, but I'm not going to go crazy because it's starting to be passed.
As Christians I think we should take steps to understand gay people and what exactly they are going through, instead of letting our prejudices get in the way. We are very quick to condemn them and label them as homosexuals, but we are oh so hesitant to actually have a conversation with them and maybe try to understand what is actually going on. THEN after we do that, we can truly extend a loving hand to them instead of saying they are the reason for 9/11.
One more thing and I'll shut up. We say that we are against gay marriage because we want to protect the "sanctity of marriage" but I see a lot of bigotry in the fact that there is such an outcry against homosexuality and nobody's saying anything about polygamy.
Anyways, great blog.
April...very controversial subjects!
I just want to say, i am totally against same sex marriages as well as homosexuality.
Having said that, i have a very close friend who is an active homosexual.
I don"t condem him for it, I love him and let him know it.
He grew up Baptist,with a father who was a Baptist preacher.
He knows it is wrong in the eyes of God. Instead of condeming him I have had long conversations with him about the Bible and what God says about homosexuality.
I make sure I let him know I love him yet that I don't agree.
This is where I agree with Matt. (believe it or not haha!)
I also agree with Jeff.. about the whole murderer / Gun permit part.
Yes it will prob. be legalized throughout the U.S before long , But we should'nt go down without a fight!
This country was founded on Christ, And we should do our very best to keep it that way..
Again, just my opinion..
Sorry , it was very early and my typing sucked!
My bad! haha!
I don't think that same sex marriage should be illegal, but like Matt said I'm not going to be some protestor to try to make it legal.
It is true that our nation was founded on Christian principles, but we were and still are granted freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, etc. So if a person wants to be gay, they can. Although I disagree with it, and I would try to change their opinion; I don't really see how you can forbid them from making this choice.
The whole giving a murderor a gun thing is a different story because in that case it affects their lives of OTHERS. Homosexuality only directly affects those involved.
THAT I DONT AGREE WITH... HOMOSEXUALITY INVOLVES EVERYONE AROUND THEM.. FAMILIES ETC.
SO ITS REALLY NOT DIFFERENT.
ALSO THERE IS NO LAW THAT STATES ONE CANT BE A HOMOSEXUAL. JUST THAT THEY CANT LEGALLY MARRY.
SO THEREFORE.. THEY DO HAVE FREEDOM...
yes, maybe it does affect the people around them...emotionally though. which is VERY different than killing someone. but there are a lot of other things that affect people emotionally but do we have laws against them?
and if they can still be homosexual, just not marry. then whats the difference? either way their still gay. the thing is, its impossible to make a law against homosexuality altogether.
and, please, don't yell at me. dang
okay everyone, let's all play nicely together. :)
im not yelling.... i was just lazy and used all caps..lol
sorry
lower case it is then! since all caps be skeerin yall so bad...lol
I can see where everyone is coming from. April, your saying that if we are trying to protect marriage by outlawing gay marriage then we don't need to stop there. Jeff is saying don't give a diabetic candy.
But the way the Constitution is set up, gay marriage is completely legal. It is not invading anyone else's rights. If a state wants to outlaw it, I think if someone challenged it, then the Supreme Court would over turn it every time. They didn't commit a crime so they have every right to get married. Do I disagree with it? Yes.
But as Christians we are charged with loving everyone. I was talking to Matt about this, if you want to change someone, then you will love them. I think you will agree that you don't save the person, God does. What is God? God is love. (1 john 4:8)
well..I agree, there shouldn't be a law against same sex marriages. Keep in mind, my dad thinks I'm going to hell because I feel this way.. but! The way I look at it is, You can't help who you fall in love with. If someone came to me and said "It's illegal for you to love Kevin." I would say "screw you" and I would keep loving him and doing everything in my power to be with him. Though I agree that homosexuality can't be argued on whether it's a sin or not. I don't really think it's my place to decided whether or not someone can lover another someone. I just don't think it's fair to tell people who they can and can't love.
so there it is.
I think it should be left up to the states. Constitutionally, the Federal Government shouldn't have a say one way or the other, leaving it to the states. Personally, if the government had a say in marriage by handing out marriage liscense and the sort, it would not hurt my feelings to have it outlawed in the states because the government is handing out certificates of marriage to same-sex couples which is not my idea of government. But if the government had no say in marriage whatsoever, then I think the churches should deal with it, not the states.
I do not agree that we have a rigid seperation of church and state. It is never mentioned in the Constitution, or Declaration. Simply, Congress shall not make a law establishing religion.
And to say you can't help who you fall in love with as a defense of keeping homosexual marriage legal, is a poor defense. If it is wrong, then you are not truly "in love" homosexually. God would not allow that. It's your own sin. Maybe the government shouldn't have a say in it, but it's still not true love.
But I think you have good points. I don't want a Constutional Ammendment banning gay marriage. But we could carry them further. What about drugs? Should they be illegal if you just do them in the privacy of your own home? Does the same logic apply, or am I too libertarian? Another BITR topic?
Just my thoughts.
Ryan
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