It's been reported that Cindy McCain, the wife of 2008 Presidential candidate - John McCain, has appeared in an ad supporting gay marriage. It's part of a series of ads where celebrities pose with duct tape over their mouths and the words "No H8" tattooed on their faces. I want to first point out that I think these people's hearts are in the right place. I mean hating anyone is wrong and freedom of speech is important. The mistake is that gay marriage issue has nothing to do with hate or free speech. I'm surprised that so many people in our culture equivocate opposing gay marriages with subverting civil rights, hating homosexuals, and silencing free speech. This equivocation dodges the real issue. It comes down to few questions. The first two questions are: What is marriage and can the definition change just because the morals and ideas of society have changed? My worldview makes it necessary to define marriage as a union - socially, economically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually- between a single man and a single woman. Further I have to argue that definition is not mutable because of relativistic morality. This begs the next question: Who said the definition of marriage is immutable? Answer: The one who created it is the only one who has the right to define "marriage". So then we are left to the fundamental fact that God created marriage - I mean he matched Adam and Eve. I know the objection. Many object that there is no God - no absolute law giver - and that there was no Adam and Eve. Let's consider for the moment that there is a God and that He made all of us, wouldn't it matter what He had to say about gay marriage, abortion, and everything else? Given that there is a God - Lord over all - of course it would matter. So even if I don't personally care who or what one chooses to marry or have sex with, it matters because it matters to God because He wants what is best for us and has given us a standard. As for proving the existence of God or that there is a moral standard by which we are all judged I'm going to save that for another post. I'm pointing out here that if you accept that there is a God and that he has an objective moral standard, then you cannot support gay marriage and be logically consistent. It's about following God no matter what. My subjective opinion does not matter in the face of God's. Making it about hate and civil rights is a smoke screen. It's like protesting earthquakes or gravity. It's the pot trying to call the potter to the carpet and trying to change the pootter to fit what the pot thinks is right. Does not work.As far as I know both Cindy and Meghan are Christians so it should matter to them what God thinks of gay marriage. Given that the Bible is the infallible and undeniable word of God (I'll be posing my proof on this at a latter time about how we know this is objectively true), it would be a good idea to see what Jesus is recorded to have said regarding marriage in it's perfect purposed state.
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
10The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
11Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." - Matthew 19: 1-12
Jesus is clear. There was an Adam. There was an Eve. And marriage should be between one woman and one man.
The McCain's involvement in the ad campaign is newsworthy because John McCain has publicly denied the legal defnition of marriage should be changed. He did respond regarding his wife's and daughter's activities.
McCain's office issued a statement saying that the senator respects differences of opinion between his family members, but still "believes the sanctity of marriage is only defined as between one man and one woman."
It is more loving to tell people the truth rather than allow them to destroy themselves going against God. Given that anyone who tries to point out what God said is being stigmatized and ridiculed and demonized who is really being ductaped?
Cindy McCain Poses for Ad Supporting Gay Marriage -- Politics Daily
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While I largely agree with what you're saying, I tend to think that the issues are more complicated. One thing that I rarely see said (although perhaps it can be implied strongly as a subtext of what you have said here) is that if indeed you are a person who believes that homosexual marriage is a sinful and therefore spiritually dangerous thing, to oppose it is arguably loving rather than hateful.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, however, there is always a problem with trying to impose one's morality on another. Even in cases where virtually everyone agrees on the moral principle (e.g. murder) making laws to ban it doesn't stop it from occurring. However, because we agree that such things are wrong, we impose punishment for them. If you truly believe gay marriage is wrong, would you be willing to impose a punishment for same-sex couples who act as though they are married? If not, what do you think this says about your convictions concerning gay marriage?
As a fairly (theologically) conservative Christian with many gay friends, I have spent a huge amount of time thinking and writing about this subject, and I just don't see any simple answers to the issues surrounding it.
In my opinion if we treat all people with love and kindness, leading them to Jesus, many people, even homosexuals, will turn from their sins. I don't think God is calling us to impose our own morality but live up to His and model it for others. I think that if we are to have a God-based society then punishing homosexuality will need to be done - along with fornication, adultery, "shacking", lying, stealing, and every other commandments our society breaks. We are not prepared for that. Therefore as for me and my house, we'll obey and serve God and wait on Him to deal out punishment.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments. I agree with you except that the answers are simple: We just need to proclaim the Gospel so that people will get saved.
I agree with you except that the answers are simple: We just need to proclaim the Gospel so that people will get saved.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, but if only that were so simple itself. I tend to feel that preaching Christian morality to non-Christians yields virtually nothing, but yes, if a person is converted, we can leave that job to the Holy Spirit.