The bottom line of the same-sex marriage debate is this: The LGBT community is requesting to participate in the legal right and/or sacrament of marriage. The Christian community and others say: “No, you cannot participate in the sacrament of marriage.” Some may say “no” on the sacrament and “yes” on the legal right part of the issue.
At minimum, the following reasons are reasons why I won’t condemn homosexuals. Mainly, though, these are the reasons I support same-sex marriage, both as a legal right and as participating in the sacrament.
#1 – Legal reasoning: The death penalty for being gay still exists
It would be rare (I think and hope) to find a Christian in American who supports making laws to put gays in prison for life or to kill them just for being gay. However, that is the legal reality of most of Africa, and in numerous parts of the world.
The first and foremost reason I support same-sex marriage is that it would be a step toward eliminating the legal penalties that exist around the world for being gay.
#2 – Logical reasoning: There is no pain inflicted on other people
If all the gay people in the world suddenly started got married, would that really hurt other people? You may not (and don’t have to) like it or participate in it. But really, with all the violence, pain, suffering, hunger and and strife in this world, I think Christians really should not be expending so much energy to forbid same-sex marriage.
# 3 – Moral reasoning: Do the supreme “right thing”
Morality is a system or doctrine that defines “conformity to ideals of right human conduct”. As a Christian, I cannot elevate ANY doctrine above the greatest command: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the second greatest command is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And furthermore, Jesus defines this greatest command to love as “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Whether our conscience guides us to support or oppose same-sex marriage, Christians on both sides would be far more effective by remembering the highest “right conduct”: love.
# 4 – Biblical reasoning: No prohibition of same-sex marriage
When I understand the six gay-slamming Bible verses in context, I see only a warning against promiscuity, sexual experimentation and harmful gang rape. Christians are right to use Scriptural teaching to speak out against (with civility?) those activities. Yet in no verse do I see a prohibition of same-sex, monogamous marriage. I see no reason to forbid certain people to marry. And while we ought to have a much higher regard for the doctrines of celibacy, I also contend that we should apply the same reasoning about marriage toward homosexuals as we do in regard to heterosexuals: “if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Corinthians 7:8-10 Monogamous, same-sex marriage is actually a restraint against sexual immorality.
Why in the world would God allow some of the Leviticus laws in Judaism? I contend that all of Leviticus points to Jesus. The homosexual reference in Leviticus, I contend, was put there by God so that the condemnation of homosexuals would be forever abolished on the cross. The 613 laws of Judaism were ended by being nailed to the cross. This is a part of the gospel that has been lost in Western Christianity, I contend. If anything, Christians ought to be proclaiming the joy and freedom God gave to homosexuals, helping them to overcome guilt and condemnation!
In fact, I contend that if Christians would approach the LGBT community with love and honesty, I believe many of them would realize they do not really believe in the gospel Jesus proclaimed. Many, I contend, would discover that they really believe in obeying the law rather than in the grace of God. Many others would find that they have adhered to a form of Judaism, and not Christ-likeness. I further believe the LGBT Bible teachers have the greatest opportunity to know and preach and live the gospel of Jesus to Christendom.
More thoughts on Biblical reasoning in regard to sames-sex issues:
http://paradigmshift-jmac.blogspot.com/2012/05/lesbians-gays-and-kingdom-of-god.html
http://biblethumpingliberal.com/paul-abolishes-the-law/
http://www.ubfriends.org/2012/05/14/glbt-evangelism/
http://www.priestlynation.com/archives/1071
#5 – Historical reasoning: No gay cure
As time passes, we human beings have discovered much in the world and universe around us. In regard to homosexuality, we’ve found that there is a sexual orientation that cannot be changed. Yes, there are people among all orientations who are just experimenting or playing around. Those people are confusing the issues, I think. But a truly same-sex oriented person simply is just that– and will be for their entire life. I believe we must factor this into whatever our position is on this issue. For example, trying to find a “gay cure” is just not going to work.
#6 – Historical reasoning: The inquisition mindset is wrong
Until the 12th and 13th century, and until the inquisitions became fully active (1200-1500), there was debate and discussion about homosexuality, but not widespread penalties. “After the twelfth century Christian tolerance and acceptance of gay love seems to disappear with remarkable rapidity. The writings of St. Aelred disappeared because they were kept locked up in Cistercian monasteries until about eight years ago, when for the first time Cistercians could again read them. Beginning about 1150, for reasons I cannot adequately explain, there was a great upsurge in popular intolerance of gay people. There were also at this time violent outbursts against Jews, Muslims, and witches. Women were suddenly excluded from power structures to which they had previously had access-no longer able, for example, to attend universities in which they had previously been enrolled. double monasteries for men and women were closed. There was suspicion of everyone. In 1180 the Jews were expelled from France.” (Source)
This is an excellent post. Very well thought out and expressed!
This is such a well thought out position paper on our Christian response to homosexuality and same-sex. I was especially touched by rationale #6. I intend to add much of this reasoning into my personal message on LGBT acceptance and same-sex marriage. Thank you for excellant insight.
Thanks. Everything on my blog is open to be used, criticized, quoted or ignored :)
I am re-thinking and re-evaluating everything about my faith. As I read through this again, I am still convinced of these reasons. Reason #1 stands by itself as reason enough for me.
Hi, Brian! Recently I read a commentary on Romans 1 by John Stott. I read it in Russian, but I am sure you can find it in the original. He mentions opinions of some authors about diffirentiating orientation and conduct. Still he proves that Paul condems homosexuality as does God. And he calls the opinions absurd. He also says that it was usual to call homosexuality “unnatural” and heterosexuality “natural” in Paul times. I agree with him, as I agree with Calvin and Henry. I can’t believe that God creates some people with the homosexual orientation. Stott mentions Mark 10:6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become on flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate”. God joined together male and female, all other variants are separation and sin against God. And if there are no created homosexuals then there are no problems you mention. And a christian doesn’t need to approve same-sex marriage and try to justify it with the Bible. (And by the way you haven’t answered one of my questions: why are there homosexuals only in some places of the world? I mean that they are mostly only in some “sinful” parts, big and wealthy cities of western countries. Does God give same-sex orientation to people only who are born in those parts?) I admit that the problem exists and that there are homosexuals in this world. But it comes not from birth, nor from God, but from human sinfulness, from the atmosphere a child grows in. And that’s why I believe God will judge and condemn those responsible for the involving children into such an atmosphere of sin. Christians should not look for a way to accept homosexuals and let them free from guilt and condemnation. Christians should create a healthy atmosphere in their communities and help those in sin to come to graceful Jesus who is able to save them from any sin. Dr Ben wrote recently about prostitutes who flocked to Jesus. I am sure that Jesus saved them from their sins and made them new creation in Him, not just forgave them and blessed them with a license to freely live in sin. You asked me whether I am free from sin. I already answered that Jesus really freed me from sin and gave me a completely new life, though I am still a sinner and have an “unwashed legs” degree of sin. I believe and experienced that Jesus washes away those “whole body” sins and saves prostitutes and homosexuals and all kinds of sinners, especially such “heavy weight” sinners as homosexuals. I believe that this kind of sin takes place only when someone is really far from God, or when someone put him/her so far from God in his/her childhood.
“Hi, Brian! Recently I read a commentary on Romans 1 by John Stott. I read it in Russian, but I am sure you can find it in the original.”
>>> I have not read this, but I’ll try to find it.
“He mentions opinions of some authors about diffirentiating orientation and conduct. Still he proves that Paul condems homosexuality as does God. And he calls the opinions absurd. He also says that it was usual to call homosexuality “unnatural” and heterosexuality “natural” in Paul times. I agree with him, as I agree with Calvin and Henry.”
>>> I don’t. Some of the best Christian thinkers simply could not handle discussing sexual-related issues.
“I can’t believe that God creates some people with the homosexual orientation.”
>>> Much of the world acknowledges the fact that some people are born with a homosexual orientation. Many medical groups, including the American Medical Association, have for years condemned the practice of trying to “cure the gay” or treating homosexuality as a disease. They say such “cures” don’t work and can often cause harm.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=homosexuality-cure-masters-johnson
“Stott mentions Mark 10:6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become on flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate”. God joined together male and female, all other variants are separation and sin against God.”
>>> All other variants are sin? So what if a hetersexual couple cannot have children for some reason? Is that sin too? I find it a stretch to extrapolate Jesus’ words here into the various ideas you present.
“And if there are no created homosexuals then there are no problems you mention.”
>>> The question of whether God created homosexuals is a mute point. The point I make in my #1 reason is that there are many laws condemning homosexuals (or suspected homosexuals) to death or life in prison.
“(And by the way you haven’t answered one of my questions: why are there homosexuals only in some places of the world? I mean that they are mostly only in some “sinful” parts, big and wealthy cities of western countries. Does God give same-sex orientation to people only who are born in those parts?)”
>>> Statistics on the LGBT community are very suspect. I think the LGBT community exists in many parts of the world. Why would certain cities be places where the LGBT community gathers? Well one reason is that they will be killed or imprisoned in several parts of the world. Some cities, such as San Francisco in America, provide a safe haven.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation
“I admit that the problem exists and that there are homosexuals in this world. But it comes not from birth, nor from God, but from human sinfulness, from the atmosphere a child grows in.”
>>> Yes, the LGBT people exist. I don’t think they are a problem though. A lot of people don’t even acknowledge that! It is like UBF people not even acknowledging that we former members are alive…
“And that’s why I believe God will judge and condemn those responsible for the involving children into such an atmosphere of sin.”
>>> I’m not sure what your point is here. I would agree that involving children in any kind of sexual activity is wrong and judged by God.
“Christians should not look for a way to accept homosexuals and let them free from guilt and condemnation.”
>>> Why not? When the Bible says there is no condemnation in Jesus, why exclude homosexuals?
“Christians should create a healthy atmosphere in their communities and help those in sin to come to graceful Jesus who is able to save them from any sin.”
>>> Agreed. But what solution is there then for the homosexual person? I find two God-approved solutions: marriage and celibacy. I say these two solutions apply to all human beings, including the LGBT community.
“Dr Ben wrote recently about prostitutes who flocked to Jesus. I am sure that Jesus saved them from their sins and made them new creation in Him, not just forgave them and blessed them with a license to freely live in sin.”
>>> Yes, but did they all just stop sinning immediately? Some, I am sure, remained prostitutes all their life. And certainly Jesus did not condemn them automatically to hell.
This book articulates my thoughts far better than I can:
Torn, by Justin Lee
“Justin Lee came to understand that both Christians and gays shared the same cultural dynamic. They both saw the world in terms of “Gays vs. Christians.” He realized that, “You had to pick one or the other, and whichever one you didn’t pick had to be squelched or hidden or forgotten.”
How could this dilemma be resolved?
Going to the Bible didn’t help Lee. He looked at the evidence carefully (and some of his insights and questions are quite good), but ultimately he found the evidence inconclusive. “I realized that I could easily make a clear, compelling argument for either position,” he discovered. Torn again.
However, when Justin Lee stepped back from these specific verses and asked the question about what the Bible taught as a whole, in the light of Jesus, he came to a different conclusion. Further study led him to believe that the “law of love” (as in Romans 13:8-10) should guide us, and Lee saw that his church had gotten this issue wrong.”
(Source: the Internet Monk review of the book Torn)