What If I were asked by a gay couple to officiate their wedding ceremony? I am unwavering in my belief that the Bible teaches marriage as being between a man and a woman and that children are best served being raised in a home with a loving mom and dad. Two same-gender parents undermine the chances that the home will be a healthy and balanced environment for raising children (one factor among many that weaken families.) Still, I understand that I have no right to determine whether such a couple engage in an intimate relationship. However, I do have the right to say that I won't be the one to establish their union and that I don't support their right to raise children. At least I have that right for now.
Wednesday and Thursday
this week I watched in person as the AZ State Senate and then the House, debated SB 1062, a bill that
would allow for people in AZ to refuse service to people who are identified as
LGBT. At issue is the bill's intent to allow for people such as
Christians who object to certain behaviors, as a conviction of their faith, to not be forced to go against their convictions by doing business with LGBT people.
From the opposing perspective at issue is a bill that provides legal
justification for discrimination against people who are LGBT and who would like
to receive civil rights recognition.
As you can imagine this
was a contentious debate, but in the end there was more support for the bill in
both houses of government and so it will become law if signed by our governor.
What this case illustrates is a tension our country has been struggling
with for some time. Who will have the upper hand between gay rights
and religious rights? You may be wondering why does there have to be a
winner and a loser? As you study the issues here, moving beyond the
rhetoric and sound bytes, you'll see that anytime either side of this debate
makes a legal gain, the other side automatically loses some of its rights.
In other words, there is no middle ground, which I know makes this very
uncomfortable for some people.
So, if you are on the side
of wanting to preserve the religious rights of our citizens but not wanting to appear discriminatory let me suggest something. If you lived in a number of other states right now you would
be forced legally to endorse the gay lifestyle and gay marriage under penalty of legal recourse. So, doing business with people whose decisions go against your religious convictions would be expected. Yet, in Arizona you are not expected to cater to LGBT people if you disagree with their sexual choices.
My question is, with
the privilege that is ours by having a majority of legislators who agree with
us what will we do? How will you act as a result of your winning position
on this matter? You have the option to parade your victory and even use your "right" to harm others. Or you can remember that Jesus faced the same challenge of living righteously in a sinful world.
Our command to love our brother along with Christ's
"friend of sinners" reputation, reminds us that we can't be cavalier.
We must prayerfully consider setting aside at times, our "right" to refuse to do
business with LGBT people. Having the right to do something and then
choosing to voluntarily set aside that right (as long as it doesn't violate
clear biblical teaching), is exactly what Jesus did. He associated with Gentiles, tax
collectors, and "sinners" even eating with them demonstrating an important element of our mission on
this planet and an essential characteristic of a disciple of Jesus.
Was there any doubt that Jesus associated (did business) with "sinners"...no doubt that he did. Did Jesus ever leave any doubt in people's mind as to wether he would personally enter into their sinful choices...no doubt that he wouldn't. God is going to call you to love gay couples if He hasn't already and I know it's not an easy road. Would Jesus perform a marriage ceremony for 2 gay people, I expect he would graciously decline. Would Jesus attend the wedding and bring a gift and would he bake a cake or take pictures...although it was His right to dissociate with such people, He might.
