The Debate on Gay Rights

There is a constant debate about gay rights, gay issues in general and gay marriage in particular. Whenever we refer to gays or lesbians we are talking about humans, men and women. That being so, gays, as individuals, must be treated with the same amount of respect we give to any other person. I believe that we all can agree that it is wrong to hate someone who is gay. Homosexuals, lesbians and heterosexuals are all the same - people. However, do you think that it is equally wrong for those who accept homosexuality to describe those who reject it as "hate-mongers?" Christians in general and Evangelicals in particular, are viciously attacked for their stance on homosexuality.

Quite recently, during the 2008 election cycle, the Mormons forcefully pushed for victory with Proposition 8 - the California Marriage Protection Amendment. According to Alternet.org, the Mormon Church spent tons of dollars and made 1,000s of phone calls. Many agreed that those actions by the Mormons led to victory at the polls. The Mormons' stance enraged many who called them "bigots" and "haters." Are they really "bigots" or just a group of people with a certain belief that marriage should be between a man and woman?

You decide.

Quite often, when someone attacks the church for opposing gay marriage, they point to the fact that Jesus loves everyone. According to the Bible, that is true. St. John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." There is no doubt that God loves gays and therefore those who claim to love God, must also love gays. But does this mean that God, and those who love God should condone homosexuality, even when it goes against their belief system?

You decide.

Could it be that the same God who loves gays, prefers that they were heterosexuals? The Bible is clear, that although God loves Christians, He is most displeased when Christians lie, cheat, steal, hold grudges, etc. Yes, professing Christians are not perfect and sin against God constantly. But God's directives to Christians are clear: when you sin, confess and repent. In 1 John 1, the Bible states that if we confess our sins, God forgives us. So, does God consider homosexuality to be sinful?

You decide.

To summarize the Bible's Romans 1:18-32 - Man failed to glorify God and instead chose to worship idols. Consequently, God allowed man to pursue their "uncleanness" and "vile affections" which resulted in a number of actions that displease God, such as the "women changing the natural use for that which is against nature" and "men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly..." (KJV) Does the preceding summary paint of picture of God's view on homosexuality?

You decide.

If you decide that the most recent paragraph summarizes God's view of homosexuality, does this give you a better understanding of why Christians oppose gay marriage?

You decide.

Please note: my aim is not say that Christians have a right to force people to live like them. Even God gives us choices and does not force anyone to accept His salvation. However, He makes it clear that each choice has its consequences. So, Christians have no right to tell others how to live, but do you believe they have a right to share what they believe?

You decide.

As it pertains to marriage, for centuries, all we have known publicly is man with woman - heterosexuals unions. Our ancestors have lived that way and have passed this down to us. Yet, towards the end of the 20th century, the gay lifestyle made headlines and continues to do so. Is it reasonable for those, who for generations have attended weddings for men with women and have themselves indulged in heterosexual relationships, to have difficulty accepting man with man and woman with woman? For centuries we have attended weddings, where at the end of the ceremony the officiating minister presents the couple as "man and wife," or "husband and wife." What does the officiating personnel say at the end of a gay wedding - "man and man?" "husband and husband?" "woman and woman?" or "wife and wife?" Do you see why some members of society may have a hard time accepting this union?

You decide.

Again, some say being gay is natural and so they desire to have children, or rather, raise children. For centuries, our homes have had fathers and mothers, mothers only, fathers only, or some other relative raising the children. It is commendable that gay couples want to help society's children by providing homes for them. But where are these children to come from? Can two men produce a child? Can two women produce a child? Should we give a child to a gay couple to raise so the child winds up with "two dads" or "two moms?" Is that too much for a child to deal with?

You decide.

Sources:

1. The Holy Bible

2. http://www.alternet.org