Let me start off saying that I’m a Jars of Clay fan, and as you may know, the lead singer Dan Haseltine sends a tweet that was unpopular. Reading his blog I completely understand his point of view, and it’s a place I struggle too. As American’s, we live in a country that is free and prides itself on our freedom. As a Christian, I can practice what I believe, I can attend worship and pray freely. Jews and Muslims are free to keep dietary rules, but I am free to eat bacon and ham. With the issue of homosexuality, we have a different issue, and so what do we do with that issue?
As a Christian, I believe what the Bible teaches about homosexuality. I believe what Romans 1:24-27 states, that homosexuality is the ultimate depravity, when God gives people and a nation over too it’s lusts and sin. This country is full of depravity and I know from history that when a nation is involved in the kinds of depravity we are, they collapse. Paul was in Rome at the height of power and depravity, and things began to unravel. Divisions, wars, factions and invasion tore the empire apart until Constantine united it under Christianity. Even then, they faced serious challenges.
As a Christian, I am concerned about the massive depravity in the nation, but as an American, how do I deal with the freedom given to people? The question that Dan from Jars of Clay brought up is valid. Is marriage a civil right? Do people have the right to be married? Should that right be extended to people who believe different than I do?
We have laws against certain types of marriage, no underage marriage, no polygamy, no marriage to animals, and some places, no same sex marriage. What is the line that we have drawn, and do all of these stand on the same side?
As a Christian, I have found there are times I am to stand up, and times to sit down. When someone is being taken advantage of, being hurt or abused, then I must stand up. As a Christian, I am to defend the rights of the orphans, the widows, the oppressed and those in need. I would oppose marriage to children and animals because they would exploited, we have seen it happen. With polygamy, women end up being exploited. It is historical, we see it happen with the cults that have illegal practiced polygamy. Women become exploited and often children become brides. What about homosexual marriage? Are people being exploited in same sex marriage? I don’t have the answer.
In America, we have laws and rules based on making sure people have freedom and the ability to succeed. We are ruled by majority and the laws reflect what people believe. In places like California, the people have spoken, they don’t want same sex marriage. Where I live in Iowa, the people haven’t had an opportunity to speak, the courts made a decision.
In polls, it seem that many people are for same sex marriage. If the majority of the country believes it should be legal, should we oppose it? The question for me is, is this an issue I need to stand up and fight? Are people being hurt and exploited? Some would say yes, that same sex marriage would hurt and destroy children and families. I agree that the best situation for a child is in a home with the mother and father. Mother and mother or father and father is not the best situation. The issue is something I think we all need to think through and decide if it’s something we need to fight.
This is a complex issue, and our faith as Christians combined with our freedom as Americans often comes into conflict. People in this country are free to practice all types of immoral and unethical behavior, which ones do we stand against ad which ones do we sit down and pray that God will change hearts? When it comes to the issue of same sex marriage, I just don’t know. I one sense, it doesn’t violate someone’s freedom or exploit the people involved, but in the same way, there are people who get involved that can be exploited. It’s a slippery slope either way. To begin to limit freedoms may come back to limit our freedom to worship. In the same way, too much freedom can bring destruction and pain.
I am thankful for men like Dan Haseltine who struggle with the issue. Sometimes we have to face realities of national vs religious freedom. It takes struggle and prayer and dialogue. What we don’t need is condemnation for those thinking through the issue. I pray we will all have wisdom.