Anger at the disproportionate number of African Americans who voted for California’s same-sex marriage ban “has been widely noted”, says Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe. But “for sheer hatefuless” the “hatemongering” directed against Mormons for pushing the ballot measure can’t be beat. (See The Week for full article.)
I’ve watched the news with some amazement at the craze taking place in the streets of California. I have little sympathy for the protesters, at least for the position that is mobilizing them. But I find myself reacting the the charges they levy: bigotry and fear.
While concerned about the cultural repercussions if “gay marriage” receives constitutional support, I don’t believe I live in “fear”. In one sense, if this measure passes, some things will become more vividly clear, such as those who are committed to Biblical standards concerning marriage and those who are not. The words of the Apostle Paul come to mind:
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life. ” (Philippians 2.14-16)
In other words, those who maintain the characteristics of godliness shine like stars against the dark backdrop of the culture. Therefore, if this measure passes in California, and elsewhere, it is not a cause for fear, necessarily, but an opportunity to shine in contrast.
However, Paul’s words also cause me a little discomfort.
First, while faithful believers may stand firm and shine in contrast to darkness in the culture, there are others who share our opposition to same-sex marriages who do not shine in the same way. In fact, some don’t shine at all. They are just what they are accused of being: bigoted and fearful. I’m not sure that the differences of standards behind the sharing of moral/political positions are always so obvious to those who hold the opposing view. How, then, can we stand out like stars shining in the darkness, when some who stand with us are only a different shade of darkness from the culture they oppose?
I’m sure that this difference is all the more distorted because many of us who are driven by Biblical standards are also tainted, to some degree or another, with the sins of bigotry and fear. Our righteous motives are blended with unrighteous, sometimes even without our being conscious of the mixture. To whatever extent this is true, the shine on our star is dimmed, at least somewhat.
Second, Paul’s words encourage us to do everything without complaining or arguing. I’m not sure that from the perspective of the gay community, and their allies, that we Evangelicals have lived up to that counsel. I’m not sure even from my own perspective that we’ve met that standard.
Certainly the most militant proponents of “gay rights” don’t want to hear any Evangelical voice (nor do they support our right to a voice), but I am not confident we have exhausted all the means to express our voice. We have used politics and the media to protect our position. But have we expressed the full grace of the gospel with equal effort? I’m not talking about a cheap grace that simply overlooks sin and calls it acceptable. I’m talking about the demanding gospel that demonstrates brokenness over our own sin – past and present – the experience of forgiveness in Chirst that reconciles us to God AND moves us out to love a broken and decaying world. While this verse in no way mitigates our responsibility – and right – to stand up for righteous things, I have to wonder, if we lived out the gospel, if this was our primary voice, if there would be as many of our opponents who would hope we would just “shut up”. Our civil rights are not abrogated, but we must not mistake exercsing our common civil rights as that which makes us stars. It is the gospel embraced, lived out, and faithfully expressed, that makes us shine. I suspect that is a voice that would be more readily heard.
Let me conclude with this: Many people are quite clear as to what their position is, but not as well thought out about the “why’s” behind the positions.
Honestly, that is probably true of me. I’ve given some thought, perhaps more thought than some others have, to this issue, but I’ve been pretty set in my position without wondering if there were some aspects I have been neglecting. To the extent I have failed to clearly think through this polarizing issue, remaining ignorantly contented in my position, I suspect I am exercsing a form of bigotry. And to the extent that I am willing to maintian my position without discerning how the gospel can be brought to bear to bring about reconciliation and greater resolution, I am failing to shine. I am not suggesting compromise and retreat, but reflection and humility.
Dr. Geri Huminski has written a thought provoking article for Harvest USA titled: What About Gay Marriage? Harvest USA is an uncompromising Evangelical ministry that reaches out to those who are effected by sexual addictions. They offer a perspective, both experientially and biblically, that I don’t find elsewhere. This article has helped me think more clearly about this culture defining issue. I am still not sure I am ready to embrace all that is suggested (particularly in regard to taxes and shared benefits), but it is helping me think through both my “what” and my “why’s”.
My hope is that I will be more shaped by the gospel and the advancement of the Kingdom of God than by the mere maintaining of the political status quo. I suspect my “position” won’t change much, but maybe my shine can get a polish.
GRACE & PEACE 
“Many people are quite clear as to what their position is, but not as well thought out about the “why’s” behind the positions.”
Amen and amen- this seems to be the story of our lives: we are all so enmeshed in our own perspectives of the world that I fear we (myself here chiefly included)forget why exactly we stand for what we do, other than the fact it’s what we feel like we are “supposed” to do or believe.
And often when we do go deeper and try to understand the “why’s,” we cannot help but discover that things are not as clear-cut as we at first perceived- and this new complexity can be/is scary because it shakes our foundation. Yet, in it’s ability to open our eyes to so much more, this complexity that we find can also be a very beautiful, and in the end, very true thing.
Anyway, I really appreciated your insights.
Great post.
undoubtedly many Christians are thinking for the first time about their faith and practice distinct from one particular political party in America. As you have said on this issue, we have the opportunity to let the gospel shape many of our views and political actions. So many Christians have blindly assumed that whatever a political ideology proclaims is the gospel truth, but many planks have not been milled from the biblical text.
Thanks, Katye & Nathan for your comments. This most recent election has showed some promising signs of deepening the conversation concerning the Gospel and public policy. For the first time, in at least a long while, Evangelical voices are bringing sound conservative theology to bear on BOTH sides of the isle. My hope is that the gospel will become more apparent to onlookers through this dialog. Of course that also depends upon how believers treat one another while disagreeing.
In short, while I suspect I will experience some discomfort about my political biases being biblically challenged, the Kingdom will be more eviden, and the country the better for it.
The U.S. government crossed a VERY serious line with PROP 8.
This “proposition” threatened children’s sense of safety and belongingness in California. Children’s safety.
Regardless of THIS particular fight, there are way too many fights on way too many fronts for us to conquer piecemeal. The Time is Now – DRAW A NEW LINE in the sand and demand from President Obama and our representatives FULL EQUALITY.
Equality Is Simple When You Simply Include Everybody.
What? Not detailed enough for the lawyers?
OK, we can list repealing DOMA, repealing DADT, include transgender in the ENDA Bill, allow adoption of abandoned children, equality in immigration issues, recognize our hate crimes as such, equal family/children rights……….whew! See what I mean?
We are EQUAL SOULS in HUMAN BODIES. Could we please STOP discriminating due to the genitalia attached? Plumbing will determine each civil right?! Any separation from the pack is ultimately due to gender (and/or gender roles & stereotyping), and that is SEXISM. I cannot marry Bob because I am the “wrong” gender; if I were a woman I could marry Bob. SEXISM.
And I cannot stress ENOUGH how my own suffering from Marriage Inequality is NOT the reason for wanting or needing equality. I am not something to focus on. But my story, and the stories of countless other Americans desperately need to be addressed in this civil rights struggle. Marriage laws were put in place many years ago in order to PROTECT individuals and their FAMILIES; if they were NOT necessary they would not exist (for heterosexuals). When these laws are NOT in place for ALL OF US, horrible, horrible suffering occurs. My WEBSITE has many examples.
So Americans want to continue denying us what they have already deemed as essential. And many people want us to WAIT…2….5……10…….20……..30 YEARS, depending on the “civil right”, for what WAS and IS our birthright.
I personally have a HUGE problem with that. I cannot wait. I will not wait.
Will you join me on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009, and help me inform the government that WE are eager to be included in the federal tax base as soon as THEY include us in society’s laws? My 5-year-old students could understand this concept:
EQUAL = EQUAL
As Americans can’t we agree that there are MANY other important issues to address (like the Economy, Education, Health Care, Poverty & Homelessness, Iraq/Afghanistan…all of these are related), and solving THOSE problems is more urgent than having “Equality Issues” TIE UP THE COURTS for another 30+ years? We will NOT go away.
You keep procreating; we keep popping out. Sorry.
Our representatives have spent years inventing 4-letter words (DOMA, DADT) to restrict us, deny us, demoralize us, and harm our beloved families and children. Enough is enough.
NO MORE. NO MORE.
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The National Equality Tax Protest
– Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 –
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I’m not sure if John did not understand the nature of my post, or if it just did not matter. Either way I am glad you posted, John. You raise some issues that I suspect most who read this blog do not spend much time thinking about. I suspect, like me, most probably don’t agree with some of your premises, nor support your agenda. BUT, unless we are aware of the various issues related to this matter, we are limited in our ability to think through them, pray for wisdom, and seek counsel through the Word of God.
While I am not certain if John read my post, or just posted a comment because the theme was related to his concern, I am quite confident that he did not read the linked article: What About Gay Marriage? that, along with current events, prompted my writing it. If you had, John, you would realize that my chief objective is NOT to promote Gay Rights. My primary concern is that I do not believe most Evangelical Christians – including myself – have honestly thought through the positions with any sense of being informed. To that end we are not being faithful, and if ignorant we cannot be wise. My desire is godliness that will open the door for communication between Gay & Evangelical.
John, straight, gay, trans-sexual, etc. We are all created in the image of God. Therefore we have a responsibility to reflect the holiness of God. Because of being created in God’s image you, and others, deserve to be protected from unprovoked attack and assulat. (So do the Mormons in California who were being assualted by the Gay Rights Activists, as shown on the news last week, don’t you think?) Those laws are already on the books. I’m sure in many places they need better enforcement, but to add special laws for those who have made a life-style choice (and the “practice” of homosexuality, transgender, etc. IS a choice) makes the rest of us second class citizens, with fewer rights than the “privileged” class. That seems contrary to the “equality” to which you are appealing to garner sympathy.
I’ll ask an absurd question: Do you support the granting of special privilege for Pornogrpahers? How about Heterosexual Adulterers? Should I, if I struggle with lust, be given privilege if I choose to express it in some way? Of course not. And these ARE the same thing, John. They are natural desires expressed in ways contrary to the standard of God, and contrary to being created in the image of God. They are all expressions of sin; effects of the Fall. The Gospel offers hope to all of us. But I’m afraid that what you are seeking, in part, is to validate the deviations, rather than embrace the hope and power of the Gospel.
Please help me see where I am wrong.