Angie's Aim

Sex, Religion and now Politics? What was I thinking.

Hey friends!

Sorry I played “blog nazi” and shut down the comments yesterday! No comments for you! (Seinfeld reference!) I was doing several things at once & couldn’t give the proper attention to my blog baby… Also, we kinda got started on a strand that was more of a debate about Exodus, which I did not intend. Though a valuable discussion in some circles… it’s not the direction of this particular series. We’re just a small bunch of Christians (predominantly from a Church of Christ background) who want to explore this subject because we’re trying to figure out what it means to respond like our Lord.

Homosexuality and Politics

Once again…I got nothin’! No solid answers. In fact, I am probably the LAST person anyone would ask about anything in the political realm! I have dedicated the majority of my efforts seeking to understand homosexuality through the heart of people and the heart of my God. This focus has left politics on the sidelines. The only thing I believe I can offer here are a few general observations about how to have a Christ-like approach to homosexuality in politics as well as a few statements to really challenge your thinking.

Here’s where I’m coming from…

I do not boycott WalMart or Disney. I drive a Ford Expedition (…and save the comments on my gas-guzzler for a global warming post, please!). No rainbow flags here… but I’m a long-time fan of the Indigo Girls and I love watching Will & Grace.

I’m just saying… I don’t know what I’m supposed to look like as a theologically conservative Christian who believes homosexuality is a sin… but this is who I am. I am much more concerned with the laws that govern people's hearts than with the laws that govern my country. I can only pledge full allegiance to Jesus Christ… though I love my country and the Church of Christ dearly.

I don't know what a Christian view of homosexuality and politics is supposed to look like either.  I’m not gonna go all 'Dixie Chicks' on you, but I have been really disappointed with politics in general. Part of this stems from my lack of understanding. But there's also just that nagging feeling I get when things aren't as they should be.

Recently a friend of mine said, “Angie, lately I have come to a very strong conviction that the influence politics/government has on society pales in comparison to the impact the church can and will have.” And that makes a lot of sense to me. That is not to say I shouldn’t be involved… But it gives me a way to approach politics: in the context of Kingdom living (which may translate into some tough compromises).

I do know this. Where homosexuality is involved, there is a lot of propaganda to sift through. Just because something seems to be from a Christian perspective does not mean that it automatically has God’s stamp of approval on it. For example, fine organizations such as Exodus, Focus on the Family and the American Family Association – though they have many other facets – do have a political slant they want you to buy into. And rhetoric in the form of homosexuality being a threat to the American family really needs to be examined…

I’m still trying to figure out what part to play politically. So, as Christ has guided me throughout my uninvolvement in politics, may His example reign through whatever capacity the Spirit leads me.

Last week Bubba asked a good question:

I would like to hear perspectives on political questions. I live in Tennessee, and a gay marriage ban is on next month's ballot. (I suspect that some political leaders put this issue on the ballot because the "ick factor" draws conservative voters to the polls, but that's not the direction of my question.)
I will probably vote against the gay marriage ban. I'm a minister in a church where that view will be in the minority, so I have to be wise in how and when I argue the case. My sense is that if the impact of the legislation is to deny gay couples health insurance benefits and child custody rights, it flies in the face of command #2 -- "love your neighbor as yourself."
I haven't had time to study what's at stake, so maybe someone can give me highlights of the key issues. From a Christian perspective, why should I vote against this item?

Perhaps since you are a Christian you automatically think “No gay marriage” because it’s a sin. We’re obviously not going to approve gay marriages in our churches… but if we allow gay couples their civil rights, is that an automatic endorsement of their sin or is it forging a pathway to live in peace and show compassion as we all enjoy our freedoms in life. Is there a way to address the reality of the situation politically without compromising our religious beliefs?

I don’t know. Really, I don’t. But to me, this is SERIOUSLY worth my consideration and prayer. Just as I may not look like your average “theologically conservative Christian who believes homosexuality is a sin,” this sort of compromise might not look like the obvious Christian choice. But I think we both deserve a deeper look!

So this is your chance to think about it and discuss it.  Please enlighten Bubba and me!  In order to represent this not-so-mainstream viewpoint, I’m including some excerpts below from an article entitled A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same-Sex Marriage that can be found on the web here in its entirety.  FYI... This ain't kid stuff.  This viewpoint caused quite a stir for the woman who wrote this article and her husband (a minister).  It destroyed their church and caused them to leave their denomination.  YIKES!  So... I'm just asking!

Supporting other people's civil liberties doesn't say that we necessarily agree with their views of morality or religion. For instance, we don't agree with Buddhists and yet we don't hesitate to stand up for religious freedom. What it does say is that we are willing to get along with others and demonstrate the same respect for them that we wish for ourselves. This is not some radical new idea. It is simply practicing The Golden Rule: "However you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

That is why we need instead to work toward some kind of mutual respect between our two groups. Perhaps we should even sit down at the bargaining table with the gay movement right now and say, we will respect your right to same-sex marriage in the civil arena as long as you respect our right to exclude it from our churches. Then we ought to join forces and fight like the dickens to keep civil liberties at the forefront of American politics to ensure the protection of our respective interests.

What reason do we have that is so important as to justify barring two people from making this private commitment to each other?  We're squeamish? Well, for sake of civil liberties we'll just have to get over it. We think it's wrong? Well, we think the Buddhist religion is wrong too, but we don't prevent Buddhists from meeting peacefully in this country. We don't want to expand the definition of marriage to accommodate something that isn't true marriage? But we recognize Buddhism as a religion that deserves to be protected under America's freedom of religion clause, even though from a biblical standpoint we believe Buddhism to be a false religion.
We're afraid that supporting civil same-sex marriage will send a message to the gay community that Christians approve of homosexuality? Well, believe me, the gay community is under no such delusion. For years they have listened to our arguments against homosexuality ad nauseam and can even quote all the pertinent Bible verses back to us by heart.

Civil liberties is what gives Christians the freedom to pursue our moral convictions in this country in the first place. It is what guarantees a future for ourselves and our children in which we will be able to practice our religious beliefs free of harassment and fear. It is what paves the way for us to make a true moral impact on our culture, not by trying to legislate the Bible as if that will change people's hearts, but through leading by example as Jesus commanded us: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).