Something to chew on

If the Bible is true and if the biblical definition of sin is “disobeying God in thought, word or deed,” then first and foremost we must admit in humbleness of heart that we are ALL on level playing ground, none of us superior to another. None of us has any room to boast about the degree to which we live a godly life, for sin is not merely what we do, but who we ARE. We are in desperate need of the righteousness of Christ, the only perfect One, if we are to have any hope at all of being reconciled to a holy God.

One challenge we Christians face is that we live in a culture that does not define sin in the same way. In our country individuals generally can enjoy the freedom to do anything as long as it doesn’t harm someone else. As the old saying goes, “The freedom to swing my fist ends where the other guy’s nose begins.” Under the constitution, individuals are granted the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Americans, we have the constitutional “right” to indulge in many different perfectly legal sins, though as Christians living by God’s grace we choose to refrain. For example, if I think food makes me happy, then I have the constitutional right to eat myself into a coma. Is gluttony ok? No, and yet in our country there is no law against it because I’m not technically harming anyone else. If I think being lazy will make me happy, then I have the constitutional right to sit on my couch for as long as I want. Is sloth ok? No, and yet there is no law against it. Self-glorification, greed, and pride are all examples of perfectly “legal” sins, because they are not technically inflicting harm on someone else, and we would not expect nor advocate for laws to be enforced to prevent them. As long as I have the right to refrain from these things, I’m content.

So, same sex marriage is the hot topic of the day. Is it in the realm of possibility for Christians hold to our biblical view of marriage, while peacefully allowing the government to recognize same sex marriage? I know it can be difficult and confusing at times, but it is possible right?

Do I believe that same sex marriage is ok?  No.

Do I believe that same sex marriage messes with God’s natural order? Yes.

Do I believe that same sex marriage violates God’s intended picture of Christ and the Church? Yes.

Do I love my gay friends and family for who they are? Yes. They know I do.

Do I believe it’s necessary to impose my belief system on the rest of America even though many of them do not even claim to be Christians? No.

Do I believe I am somehow departing from the faith or condoning sin by not taking a stand against government recognition of same sex marriage? No.

Do I believe that the government should prevent same sex couples from the same government benefits that straight couples have? No.

Civil rights activists and religious fundamentalists are all up in each other’s grill about this issue. Sometimes I do fear the natural consequences on our country of legalizing same sex marriage, but I still think the root of the issue is being missed once again. When push comes to shove, we must remember that you can make a law and enforce it from a behavioral standpoint, but you can’t force anyone to personally adopt a belief system, ESPECIALLY one that claims to be a divine revelation. The problem on both sides of the coin (sinful indulgence vs. self-righteous pride) has always been and always will be, a matter of the heart. And hearts will NEVER be changed by political legislation.  Hearts are God’s jurisdiction and are changed by the power of the gospel. We can pray for, minister to, build relationships with, and share the gospel of Jesus with our gay friends, but it is NOT our responsibility to govern them or change them. It is not our job to make them adhere to our belief system or hold to our values. There is a fine line between showing Christian love and condoning sin, but if I’m going to err, I’ll err on the side of grace. As long as the good news is being proclaimed of Christ’s death on behalf of sinners and His victory over sin, death, and hell, I have hope for America… regardless of what is legal or not.