There’s been a ton of information (and opinions) flying around TV and the internet about the new ruling on gay marriage and its legality in California. It looks like the courts will no longer prevent gay marriages from taking place, and I would imagine gay couples are going to start lining up pretty soon. I read something yesterday that George Takei (Sulu from the original Star Trek) was going to be getting hitched to him partner of more than 20 years.
Anyway, my point is that I find myself unable to get myself worked up about this in either direction. Some people say that it either threatens or demeans the sanctity of marriage, which is supposed to be between a man and a woman (this is something that’s stated biblically, and I believe it myself, as I accept the Bible as God-breathed and vital). The part about that I don’t believe is that it threatens the sanctity of marriage. At least, I don’t think it threatens it any more than a lot of “straight” people do.
By that I mean the kind of ridiculous marriages you see a lot in the media between Hollywood types. You know what I mean. They marry on a whim, and then divorce or annul soon after. Think about it. It’s kind of disgusting. Most of the gay people I know have long term partners, and take even the possibility of marriage extremely seriously. And the other thing is that what does get my ire up is the supposed “Christians” that spew comments like “God hates fags.”
Idiots. God hates sin, not sinners.
That comes closest to how I feel, I think. I don’t feel threatened by the possibility (or actuality) of gays getting married. I can’t say that I support it, but I can’t find it in me to condemn it, either. It’s not my place to condemn anyone. That’s up to God.
What I can do, what I should do, I think, is just love the gay people I come into contact with to the best of my ability. I’d imagine a lot of the straight people (especially straight Christians) that gays and lesbians come into contact with react with, at best, trepidation, and at worst…God only knows. Maybe that’s why the gay man in my office has not been more open about it. Perhaps he thinks I’d give him the “turn or burn” speech (I wouldn’t).
What I plan to do is just treat him like I would everyone else. Which, by the way, is how I’d treat any gay person I came into contact with. What’s the point of spewing hate language at people? Yes, I believe they’re sinning, but so do I, every day. Just not in the same way. But after all, isn’t all sin…sin? Who am I to distinguish one sin from another?
anyway, much to think about, and much to pray about. While I’m thinking about that, suppose that all the energy expended by purportedly “Christian” people in hating, picketing, screaming at, and otherwise ridiculing gays and lesbians was instead spent on praying for them. I wonder what would happen then?
A Work in Progress 