After
hearing about the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage for all
states, many things went through my mind. Some political. Some moral. All
contributed, however, to a sinking feeling in my stomach.
There are many
things we could discuss in light of that.
Yes, I
believe that gay sexual acts are wrong. Yes, I believe marriage is a sacred
agreement between a man and a woman before God. No, I don’t believe that the
Federal Government has the right to overturn state laws. Yes, I believe
non-profit businesses should have the right to be selective about to whom they
sell their goods and services.
Does that
make me any better than people who choose to believe otherwise? No.
This isn’t
about politics, this isn’t about religion. This isn’t even about gay marriage.
This is about the condition of the human heart.
So this is
what I choose to discuss: How we as Christians, saved by grace and the blood of
Christ, should respond to this “proud”1 legal victory. It’s simple:
Follow
Jesus.
Number One:
Are we interacting with God daily through reading our Bible and prayer2?
When I go through dry periods with my walk with God, my attitude toward people
and circumstances get a whole lot worse. I am more likely in these times to
fail at showing Christ’s love to people who need it most.
Number Two:
Are we treating others as more valuable than ourselves? Selfishness is the bane
of human existence, and is the driving force of much of our interactions and
industries. The Holy Spirit nudges me when I inevitably act in my own interest
at the expense of others. Christ’s salvation gave me the desire to choose
selflessness instead. Turning the other cheek3 is a major facet of this
choice. We are called to expect rejection, abandonment, and condemnation by the
world in the same kind as what Jesus suffered. We are called to be the kind of confusing people that return hatred for kindness and love.
Number
Three: Are we remembering that our actions don’t define who we are? This one is
tough. I forget every day that I have done nothing to earn the life I have been
given by Jesus’ sacrifice. God is sovereign, and nothing I do or fail to do
will make him stop loving me4. That kind of love is healing; that
kind of love is freedom. I want others to know that freedom through Jesus.
How many of
us forget that gay people are part of the greater whole of humanity that we are
called to reach out to with that love?
The bible
passage below is one that Christians have used for decades to condemn the gay
community. Are we representing Jesus’ love in the way that we approach
political and social life? Are we all not sinners who would be condemned if it
weren’t for Christ? Take a look yourself and tell me: what are your thoughts?
“If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to
take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2
Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if
you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of
this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do
you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5
I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you
wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one
brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7
The very fact that you have lawsuits
among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be
wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat
and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 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 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you
were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 NIV, emphasis mine
1 “Proud” is the mantra adapted by
gay rights activists and their supporters.
2
Matthew 6:5-15
3
Matthew 5:38-40
4
Ephesians 2:8-10