Thursday, July 28, 2011

Gay marriage and Jesus

I'm a Christian. So when I say that I support gay marriage, most people are either going to assume that I'm a "liberal" or faking the whole Christianity thing. It's like there isn't a middle ground.

I don't know where I stand, honestly. The liberals don't even want me! What I do know is that there are some verses in the Bible that say homosexuality is a sin. There are also verses that say gossip (and much more of these, by the way), gluttony, wearing cotton blends and eating shellfish are sins as well. I don't see anyone lining up to condemn the fat preacher for his sinful lifestyle of eating too much, or arguing that a gossiping couple shouldn't be allowed to adopt, or that Johnny who wears wool pants to work with a tad bit of Spandex for stretch shouldn't be allowed to marry Marie, because they might pass on their evil habits to their children.

So I guess I'm wandering around in the middle ground, right about where Jesus put his disciples when he took a bunch of law-abiding Jewish guys and got them to break all sorts of religious laws. Like not honoring the Sabbath. Then Jesus turns around and says, Yeah...don't worry about that. The Sabbath was a gift to you, not a curse. When it starts being a curse, you gotta let it go. (That's my updated take of Mark 2:27) Jesus wasn't very good about laying down nice black and white lines for us to fit ourselves into.

For example, Jesus didn't ever mention anything positive or negative about homosexuality. He didn't address it at all. But he did spend a lot of time with the sort of folk that "Good Religious People" sneered at and avoided like they were, literally, lepers. The sort of people you secretly thank God that you are NOT like. The kind of people you keep away from your kids. Those were Jesus' friends. He loved them.

I figure anyone that the Christians are shunning is someone I might just want to get to know. If I want to be close to Jesus, that is. And I can't very well love someone while simultaneously cheering that they aren't allowed the same rights as I am, now can I?

10 comments:

anne said...

hooray for a concise and well-spoken opinion! no name-calling, no mud-slinging, just the way you see it!
and congrats on being a "love your fellow man/person" type of Christian, not the other kind :D

Anonymous said...

firstly, do u know what it means to be a christain? to put it simply, it means to believe and practice the teachings of christ.(mathew 28:19,20) jesus refered to the old testaments many time.(mathew 4:4,7; 19:4-6) 2timothy 3:16 says: all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching,for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness. paul, an apostle of christ made God's stand on homosexuality clear at romans 1:26,27. so can u say ur position is christain? to be a christain? to put it simply, it means to believe and practice the teachings of christ.(mathew 28:19,20) jesus refered to the old testaments many time.(mathew 4:4,7; 19:4-6) 2timothy 3:16 says: all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching,for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness. paul, an apostle of christ made God's stand on homosexuality clear at romans 1:26,27. so can u say ur position is christain?

Anonymous said...

the fact that people dont demonstrate against glutony, gossip... does not mean these things are not sin. a christain should not be in support of homosexuality and anything that is in violation of God's laws, principles and regulations. if a person chooses to be gay it is their sin. supporting them means u are sharing in their sin. it also means u are calling what God says is bad good! and this makes u an opposer of God and his son Jesus Christ.

Anonymous said...

christ ate and drank with sinners to teach them the way of his father in order for them to turn away from their sins. he at no time supported their sin. supporting sin is throwing jesus ransom sacrifice back in God's face! i urge u to reflect on the scriptures i cited earlier and rethink ur position. er in order for them to turn away from their sins. he at no time supported their sin. supporting sin is throwing jesus ransom sacrifice back in God's face! i urge u to reflect on the scriptures i cited earlier and rethink ur position.

--jenna said...

Anne, I knew you'd approve. :) The haters may be more vocal, but I still believe the majority of Christians understand that love sums up what it means to follow Jesus.

Anon, I've deleted your extra comments. I have no idea what it means to be a Christain. Sounds like a misspelling to me. However, if you're asking me if I know what it is to be a follower of Christ, I do. Glad that you're passionate about your interpretation of what that means...but as you pointed out, Jesus spent lots of time with sinners. He supported them publicly by eating at their homes and letting them touch him in inappropriate ways (with hair and expensive perfume, for instance). So you may need to rethink how exactly you plan on following in Jesus' steps by being a friend of sinners while not supporting them as people. I'm guessing it's not going to work too well. But best of luck all the same.

monica noel said...

thank you for this beautiful post, jenna :)

Anonymous said...

jenna,firstly, i am not a hater. i am just a true CHRISTIAN.(if i may ask, is this also a spelling and grammar exam??) that i know a CHRISTIAN should not support homosexuality does not mean i hate those practicing it. you are totally misunderstanding christ's motive of mixing with sinners. he cleansed the sins of the woman who poured oil on his feet. when he slept in zacchaeus, the tax collector house house, zacchaeus repented, he even returned the moneys he extorted to the people. when jesus prevented a

anne said...

Whatsoever you did to the least of my brothers, you did unto me.

Is a quote...

http://bible.cc/matthew/25-40.htm

Anonymous said...

a harlot from being pelted he told her to sin no more. does this in anyway sound like he enabled them and supported their sinful practice? the obvious answer to that is a big NO! i am sorry if i offend you by being forthright, this is not my purpose. it's only that i highly revere God, respect his sovereignty and value the price he paid to free us from sin and death. my purpose is for you to do same.

Anonymous said...

Jenna - I think Anonymous should be informed that spelling and grammar ARE important elements if one wants to be taken seriously by "the grammar Nazis". I also suggest that he/she re-read your post, especially the last part. -Mom