Opinions and beliefs.

Ok. Ive been thinking about this one for a long time.

Homosexuality, Same sex marriage, The church, are you ready? Here we go.

First off, let me tell you that I have friends and relatives that deal with this subject every day because they fall into the category. Further, it is a subject that I feel very very strongly about. And finally, that as usual, it isnt about me. What I believe about this has nothing to do with what I am going to say tonight. I would also ask you to set your own beliefs aside during the course of this essay; so that you may get my point before deciding whether you agree with me. You can make that decision after you have heard me out.

It is my understanding that the state I live in recently passed a bill allowing "domestic partnerships" between people of the same gender. I see it as a clever twist of words in order to allow same-sex marriage. Whether you believe in homosexuality or not is not the question here. yet.

If you are a married person, you have certain legal rights to your spouse. One of the most striking; and the thing that I am most sympathetic to; is that married people have the right to see thier spouse at the hospital should something terrible happen. Unmarried people are not considered family; and therefore do not share this right. I can tell you that if someone told me I wasnt allowed in the room with my wife in such a situation, it would not turn out well. Homosexual couples did not share this legal right untill recently. These are the sorts of legal rights that I am talking about.

It is also my understanding that the church to which I belong is considering all manner of things regarding the acceptance of homosexuals. Some churches are considering allowing people of this nature to serve in some pretty important leadership positions.

I think you might have some idea why I felt the need to express myself tonight. This really is a hot-button topic for me.

We all know that our religious beliefs are among our strongest. Whether we are Christian, Athiest, Scientologist, Jewish, Muslim, etc. It is fact that most of us hold our faith as near and dear to our heart, and very important to our lives. Interestingly,every faith seems to have a strong stance on this topic.

I grew up with the understanding and belief that homosexuality was wrong. In the same way as lying, stealing, and all of the other things that you arent supposed to do, I have been taught that it is wrong to be gay. It is what I believe.

That said, I also was raised to believe that it is not my job to judge anybody. In old times, people were subjected to all manner of horrible things by thier peers for behaviors that were judged to be wrong. Read the Scarlet Letter sometime if you dont agree. Hell, read the Bible.

That brings about my next thought. What does the Bible tell us about our Gay friends? After reading all sorts of texts and interpretations over the course of the last week or so, turns out that the bible ends up being open to interpretation on the matter. This happens a lot when you look to scripture for a specific ruling on a specific sin. Depending how you read it, and what you believe about the authors and thier intent, and how much you know about translation from the original hebrew to our language; You can read the bible to say whatever you want about homosexuality and how to handle it with regard to your church. If you are gay, and want to prove that God doesnt mind, you can find an interpretation to do so. If you are very conservative, and want to prove that being gay ranks up there with murder; that can also be done.

The text that I did find, and no, I'm not going to give you the address to find it, (if you want to know, get out your bible like you ought to anyway) talks about the fact that "they" had hardened their hearts to thier sin, and were not repentant of it. I really think that this applies to all of our sins, even though it speaks about todays topic. I have been taught that the only way to the Father is through his Son, and that the only way to him is to believe in him, confess your sins, and repent of them. If your heart is hardened to your sins, you cannot repent of them. It means that you wont admit that what you have done is wrong, or be sorry for it.

How many times are we told that being homosexual is biological. predisposed. There are those that try to convince us that they arent doing anything wrong. Like I said about the Bible, they can even use it and interpretation of it to prove thier point. Anything but a fault in the person or in the way that they were raised. Anything to not admit a sin. This is the essence of a hardened heart. Try to tell a homosexual that they should repent thier sin and go straight or be celibate. I suggest a ski mask. You can find it in all of us, in all manner of sins, not just homosexuality. Again, I refer to it as a sin, but it is just my own opinion. You form your own.

Form your own opinion.... The next step in the thought process relates to exactly that. When I talk about domestic partnerships, and the legal rights gained by those involves, It reminds me that this is not just a question of theology. It is a question of legality and public opinion. We have the supreme privilege of living in a free democratic society. What I believe does not necessarily equate to what becomes a legal right. What a homosexual believes also does not equate. What becomes law in this country is that which appears to be believed by most of the people. Most of the people, that is, who participate in the society.

Whether you do or do not believe that it is ok to be gay. Whether you do or do not believe that domestic partnerships are ok, the law will be determined by those who voice thier opinion.. I have been told that this is a naive notion of how it is that our country works. Kiss my ass. When I get to the point that I dont believe that democracy works, Im moving to Canada.

SO, the fact is that domestic partnerships are ok in Wisconsin because most participating wisconsinites are ok with it. I havent heard any huge public outcry to the contrary..... This part of the question is not a question of theology. WE do not live in a christian-governed environment, quite the opposite actually.

What is the one thing that creates law? Public outcry. Laws are made in much the same way as my son's bed. It doesnt happen unless somebody pesters to be point that it seems better to make it happen that not.

Now, my conservative friends; I have not forgotten you. Let me guess, Sodom and Gemorrah right? Yes, the old testament can be read to cast a very dim future for homosexuals. It can also be read to cast the same thing for women who dont cover thier heads in church. Or a SLAVE who doesnt SUBMIT ( ie sexually) to thier master. I can go on and on with examples that you will tell me are no longer applicable to our society, yet you will defend your old testament beliefs about homosexuality.

What about participation in the church? Should we allow them to worship with us? I think that we all say yes we should. What about teach sunday school? hmmm. Become Pastors? ( and thats when the fight started....)

Lets go to that extreme. And get to the point about judging each others sins. If we decide that a homosexual cannot pastor a church, what about somebody who is a lyar? or a thief? or somebody who covets thier neighbors goat? How wild is it that it is a commandment to not covet thy nieghbors possessions (goat), but it is not a commandment that relationships only happen between man and woman? Notice it also is not a commandment that relationships only happen between married people.

When I was in middle school, there was a very nice couple who wanted to be married in our church. Both were very well respected and active in the church. Our lead pastor would not do the ceremony for them because the groom had been divorced. Our associate pastor had a different view and married them. I am definetely not saying that we should conduct marriages of homosexuals as if they were approved by the lord. What i am saying is that there are all different ideals, and ways of expressing them out there. Which method does the most good for God?

Brass Tacks.
There are all different sorts of sinners out there. Fact is that there are as many different sorts as there are individual people. All of us qualify. No matter how small or large the sins, we all do it.

That in mind, our job in this world is be sheperds for the lord. We dont get to decide who goes up and who goes down. We are not the judges. Our job is to expose as many people as possible to as much of Jesus as we can. And, as I recall, He Loved the least of Us most. We do not need to spend our time trying to save the ones who have already been saved. We are to be searching out the lost. Spreading the good word if you will.

So what do you do? First of all, if you have a belief on the subject, voice it. It is the only way that you can affect the country in which you live. Vote. Write your congressman. Participate in a rally. Tell your pastor how you feel. Get your voice heard in your church.

Secondly, love thy neighbor. Soften that hardened heart. Let god work through you. Remember that your job is to tell the story, not to pass judgement.

Finally, the elephant in the room. Can a homosexual be a Pastor? I can tell you that I would not attend that church. But, remember, it isnt about me.

Questions to answer to decide.

Does the bible tell us that homosexuality precludes saving souls? What it does talk about is quite a few men who "loved each other dearly" You decide.

Is it possible that a person who is gay will have an understanding of faith such that they can lead a church?

Is a homosexual able to be a positive role model and caregiver for the congregation?

All of these are tough questions. But I will leave you with just one more that I think sums up the point very well.

Does God have the ability to love, forgive, and use that person to his purpose; and is it up to you and I to judge whether or not he is allowed to do so?

Food for thought.
Greg