Christian Values

         In a story about rainbow flags in Heber, Utah, 

         a frustrated mother is quoted saying 

    “As a Christian, our family believes that marriage 

is between a man and a woman. I’d like to think 

that there are other people in this valley who 

feel the same way. Are we the silent majority?

If you still believe in Christian values, 

please speak up.”

After writing yesterday about the term "sexual preference," I came across an article discussing rainbow flags and bringing up same-sex marriage. A woman is quoted saying "As a Christian, our family believes that marriage is between a man and a woman." (I think she means only, because certainly everyone thinks men and women can marry each other). Every time this comes up I look at it closely and I cannot figure out why anyone could possible object. If two men marry each other (or two women) how does that affect anyone at all except the two of them? Oh and just in case you missed it, same-sex marriage is legal all across the United States and Canada.

The "as a Christian" part of this person's objection is an argument that frequently comes up, but there is no record at all of Jesus ever speaking about homosexuality, let alone same-sex unions. In many Christian denominations, there have been specific discussions regarding homosexuality. In 1976, the Episcopal Church said “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the church.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with approximately 3.8 million members, has passed repeated resolutions to welcome LGBTQ people since 1991.

Even the Roman Catholic Church does not consider “homosexual orientation” sinful in and of itself, although it does have a very negative attitude toward it. A 1986 letter states, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.”

There is neither the time nor the space to go deeply into this matter, but let me respond to the woman's question. She said "If you still believe in Christian values, please speak up." Well I do! I believe that all people are equal before God, and are equal in their home, at church, and everywhere society. I believe that race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and class are not barriers to Christ. I believe that Christian love in action is treating each person with dignity.