The Gay Marriage Debate

Dear Friends,

Over the last decade the issue of gay marriage has been a political hot potato. Liberal’s want it. Conservative’s don’t. And Independent’s want everyone to shut the heck up because there are more pressing needs in our nation then this right now. While I am not bashing someone for their desire to marry, I just think that gay marriage is not as big a deal as say……….the national debt or our illegal war in Libya. However, I would like to discuss the issue because I think it is something that is important in light of the Constitution and will be something that the federal government will use to grow even bigger then it is now. So, let me address my opinion on the matter and how I think both sides should handle it from here on out. Here goes;

Personally, I think the matter comes down to this: The Declaration of Independence states the following:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Our very foundations declare that ALL men/women are created equal and have the RIGHT to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as a citizen of this country. It gives no exceptions!! White, Black, Red, and Yellow. Christian, Muslim, Jew, and Atheist. Straight or Gay. Plain and Simple. Is gay marriage a right? According to the Declaration of Independence it is. In a free society people have the right to live their lives as they see fit without any involvement from the government as long as they are not hurting another or damaging/stealing property. While many think that this is an issue of morality, I don’t believe that to be true for a few reasons: 1.) Being gay is NOT a crime. Many people like to say that we can legislate morality and in a sense they are right but only to the point of things like murder and theft. Things that do not hurt others or cause damage to property are not things that should be used as political tools to pass someones agenda. Reason 2.) Legislating morality on internal matters or matters of the heart is dangerous. Whether or not you agree with gay marriage or the gay lifestyle doesn’t give anyone the right to use the government to force others to accept your views and vise versa. When the federal government can tell citizens what they can feel or not, believe or not, etc. you end of getting tyranny. Personally I believe with all my heart that the government should NOT be in the marriage business!! Period!! At least on the national level.

However, I do believe that the homosexual community needs to realize that forcing your beliefs onto others through the force of government is dangerous and unconstitutional. I think that gay marriage is a state’s rights issue and each state should vote in their respective House’s for their state according to the will of the people. If New York wants to legalize gay marriage, I am cool with that, but the Federal government should NOT, for any reason, force another state to recognize gay marriage if that state doesn’t want to do so.

Am I pro gay marriage? Honestly I am a Constitutionalist and think that people have the right to marry who they want to and it’s none of my business. If a gay man or woman finds a religious leader who will marry them……..fine by me!! I am firmly in the camp that gay marriage will not be the downfall of the family because the downfall of the family has everything to do with the absence of the father in the home and not whether Eric and Steve are getting married!! Do I agree with the gay lifestyle? It doesn’t matter. What people do in their own homes or bedrooms is nobody’s business as long as they are not hurting or taking advantage of another against their will.

Now to the Christian community:

We have FAILED!! We talk a really good game about love and acceptance but FAIL miserably when it comes to the gay community. We have treated the gay community like the pharisee’s of Jesus day did the leapers!! This MUST STOP!! People are people no matter how they act, live, or treat another. The gay community deserves RESPECT and the right to be heard. If we are to live as Jesus we need to get involved in the gay community and love them no matter what and not try to “fix” them!!! If we go into the gay community with an agenda we are not going there in the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus came to love and serve. Period. It is high time that the Christian community repents of it’s treatment of the gay community and look for ways to love as Jesus loved. Remember, Jesus ate with prostitutes and tax collectors, and I am pretty sure there probably was a few gay people among them as well.

While this post is by no means going to cool the fire that burns over this issue, I do believe that if we as a people return to the Constitutional form of government our country was founded on we will be better suited to handle these kind of situations. This topic deserves to be talked about in a respectful and gracious way from both sides. I believe that we can all find the right path if we would treat others as we would like to be treated. That’s all for now my friends. Until next time.

Much love,

Shawn

p.s. I know that this post has the potential to make a lot of my Christian friends angry. Please understand that we as believers need to approach this subject with grace and humility. Not judgement and hate.