How far does the pendulum swing...

We are on the brink of establishing a new precedent in this country. We are considering a change to the definition of a word that has been understood for centuries. Marriage. It's a union between a man and a woman sanctioned by the state and ordained by God. Now we want to change that definition to include a union between a man and a man or a woman and a woman.

Why?

Because there are a group of people who feel marginalized and set apart as different from the mainstream. And they want to be accepted just as we all wish to be accepted. For some reason we hope that legislating acceptance will make a difference. But since when is it possible to legislate fairness, kindness, love and acceptance? These are matters of the heart. At best, law can offer recourse for those who have been treated unfairly and unkindly. And those laws are already in place...for all of us.

We need to be concerned with whether it is truly necessary to change such a basic concept in our society. There will be many ramifications with such a precedent. Have we truly explored those?

All of history shows reactions to social injustices that swung the pendulum too far and eventually there is a reaction that goes the other way. Look at Russian history for example. The Tsars were the rulers of the day and there were definitely problems with a huge gap between a wealthy nobility and impoverished peasantry. Eventually, the common persons overthrew the government, killed many of the nobility and established a regime that became a ruthless dictatorship. I'm speaking of the Russian revolution and Communism. The opressed became the opressors. Was reform necessary? For sure. Did the reform really improve society as intended? You tell me.

Won't the pendulum swing too far if we protect the concerns of one group to the point of rejecting the rights of others in the process? Do you think I'm overstating the problem?

It is no secret that evangelical Christians in this country are concerned about the issue of same-sex marriage. And honestly, I know there are cases of hatred and alienation that are not OK by any standards. Christians do live by a moral code (the Bible) that clearly does not accept homosexuality as a life choice ordained by God...sanctioned by the state though it may be. If that religious belief is considered 'hate' and therefore 'criminal', freedom of religion and speech have been very seriously undermined. It is simply not true to say that a moral and religious conviction precludes hatred and rejection.

I have other moral and religious convictions too. I believe that every single one of us is far removed from what God intended for us to be. I believe that not one of us should pick on issues like homosexuality to live in judgement of other people because there are so many ways that we fail to measure up.

"Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires.
Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry...
get rid of rage, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language... Don't lie to
each other..." Col 3:5-8 (just one example of the kinds of things
that do not please God - how many of this one list are we all guilty of?)

God doesn't get hung up on our sin and leave us without hope. His arms are outstretched, willing to embrace all that turn to Him. And then He starts the work of transforming our lives into what He designed for us to be all along - holy, pure and without blemish. We just have to be willing to let Him.