Serious question for Christians concerning gay marriage?

Question

Okay, lets get some answers out in the open. I'm not gay myself, but I know a lot of gay people. Most of them want to get married, but Christians say no. I assume its because your religion says its wrong.
But what if I was gay, and I wanted to get married. Are you telling me I can't because YOUR religion says I can't? Its not MY religion, its YOUR religion. Why should I have to follow your religion?
My next question: Religion and religious fanatics say NO to gay marriage because its against their beliefs. But any one of you tell me HOW gay marriage hurts YOU persoanlly? Its not YOUR life, its not YOUR relationship. So how is it hurting you. Say Bob and Gary out in Nevada get married, and you live in Maine. How is that going to affect you? How will that ruin or devestate your life? What business is it of yours how others live thier lives?
I actually hear a religious leader say that gay marriage would devestate the birth rate in the USA. Like they were going to have kids otherwise?

Answer 1

Morality is defined by an ultimate moral authority, God. If you are a non-believer, then you have no objective moral truths.

Sin is “any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God” (1Jo_3:4; Rom_4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom_6:12-17; Rom_7:5-24). Sin is not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offense against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties.

Since God, speaking through the inspired prophets authoring the books of the bible, declared homosexuality a sin, then it is a sin.
See: Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; 1 Timothy 1:10.

Thus, homosexuality is just one of a litany of the decay of the perfect moral state found in original creation.

As all sinners, homosexuals can be true Christians. As far as God views sin, homosexuality is no greater or lesser than other sins. All sin is objectionable to God. Since homosexuality is often practiced openly ("in your face"), the reaction by some who have wandered off the “love thy neighbor” reservation is over the top. It may also be the case that anyone that seems to revel in their sin seems defiant or disingenuous, if they are a self-professed Christian. I believe that the true Christian homosexual struggles daily with their sinful nature.

Some resources regarding homosexuality and the bible to help you understand the issue or the reaction of others:

Myths About Homosexuality:
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/homomyth.html

Theology and Homosexuality:
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/homotheo.html

Happiness to Christians is more than the needs of the flesh. Homosexuals must continue to pray for strength to resist their urges and strive to be obedient to the scriptures.

Answer 2

This is a hard question. I consider myself a religious person, and I don't believe that gay people should get married. It is mostly because of religious reasons. I do agree with you, though, that why should my beliefs be pushed on another. They shouldn't. Here is what I do believe. I think that if people choose to live in a relationship together, then they should be able to assign their benefits to each other. (like medical and dental). I also believe that they should definately be allowed to adopt children and to have children if they so choose. I know a lot of homosexual people, and every single one of them I consider dear friends. I know people who are in gay relationships, and they really don't care one way or another about marriage. One lovely couple I know have raised 3 beautiful children together, and they are the most loving and compassionate children. I believe that marriage as layed out in the bible should only be between a man and a woman. However, that being said, look how many heterosexual people don't choose to get married either. This is a tough question.

Answer 3

Both are a perversion of the sacred ordinance of marriage. Therefore, Christians should display an equal amount of concern for both issues. I love gays as my brothers and sisters in flesh and spirit. I realize the grief they are going through as individuals, and my heart goes out to them. However, this does not alter my position that homosexual marriage is against the will of God. Nevertheless, mankind will do what they will, whether it be good or evil. God has granted His creation the freedom of choice, which all mankind will face the consequences of. Perhaps society should create a process by which gays are able to obtain all of the rights which married couples possess without actually getting married.

Answer 4

As a gay man who believes that gays, lesbians and trans people should be allowed to marry, there are a few things that I would like to point out to those here who are against it:

Exactly where in Genesis is marriage defined?? And as something Christian no less?? Does this mean those married in religious ceremonies of the Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim or any other recognized faith are not really married??

To the one who states that we're all atheists descended from monkeys and can act any way sexually, you do not speak for me. Where do you get this information, anyway?? Do you really think that the world was created in 6 days (144 hours)--God did take one day off after all?? And how is homosexuality a form of adultery??

To the priest, I wouldn't WANT to get married by you, a 'supposed man of the cloth'.

A few points for ALL of you fundies to mull over: If Genesis is to be believed, Eve was created from one of Adam's ribs. Does this mean that Adam was, in effect, having sex with himself??

If Adam and Eve were the first two people, just HOW did the world become populated with over six BILLION people? It seems to me that there must have been INCEST somewhere at your religious beginning.

You religious whack jobs are entitled to your beleifs as I am entitled to mine but DO NOT IMPOSE AND REQUIRE ME TO LIVE BY YOUR BELIEFS.

Answer 5

We live in a representative republic, where people get to express their beliefs and work to make those beliefs the basis for the laws of the land. Christians and other religious people have that right as much as any others. If there are very few people who share a particular viewpoint, it will not prevail. If there are many people who share a particular viewpoint, it can become the basis for laws that govern those who have a different point of view.

There is no one Christian perspective on gay marriage, but a general objection to it is that marriage between a husband and a wife provides a societal framework for the protection and raising of children. The Bible opposes, not the feelings of homosexuality, but the behaviors associated with those feelings, just as it opposes sex outside the bounds of marriage for the single and those who commit adultery.

From a religious perspective it is in the best interest of all society, believers and unbelievers alike, to abide by God's laws. To do so brings prosperity, life, and blessings. To ignore God's laws brings many negative natural consequences as well as the disfavor of God.

So, while from an unbeliever's perspective, what you do has nothing to do with me, from a believer's perspective what we all do is important and what we agree on as the laws governing our land is also important and has significant repercussions.

Answer 6

These are good questions. I have a problem with people who say something is wrong just for the sake of arguing. I came from a very strong, strict Christian background, and grew up in a church with views much like you just questioned. However, I have since moved away from some of it, because I've found most people in the church to be judgmental hypocrites. Anyway...

Here is my opinion on the subject.

No one has to follow anyone else's religion. We all have the choice to do what we want. Everyone has a free will to choose what he will do. However, if you believe the Bible, there are serious consequences for rejecting what that Bible says. And the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong.

So you're right. No one has the right to force these views on you or anyone else. We live in a country with freedom of religion. However, with that right also comes the right to express our views and opinons. So my take on the matter is basically 'to each his own', but we need to be strong and stand for what we believe in, even if others say it's 'wrong'.

Answer 7

There are several questions here, so I've dealt with each separately:

"Are you telling me I can't because YOUR religion says I can't?"
You cannot have a Christian marriage in a church, because the Christian faith says you can't. However, it is also reasonable for Christians (and anyone else) to rely on their values to guide them when electing politicians and supporting or rejecting public policy. You cannot in all honesty expect a Christian to approve of a piece of legislation that he or she feels goes contrary to the will of God.

"But any one of you tell me HOW gay marriage hurts YOU persoanlly?"
It is a Christian's obligation to try to follow God's will and help others find God. You don't ultimately have to accept God's grace, but the Christian has to tell you about it, even if your actions won't hurt the Christian personally. That said, many (most?) Christians will argue that gay marriage really does hurt them personally, because it legalizes a practice that they believe is immoral, and therefore the whole society they live in partakes in this immorality.

I hope that helps explain the position.

Answer 8

You wrote: "Religion and religious fanatics say NO to gay marriage because its against their beliefs."

This is kind of a side point, but not all religions are anti-homosexual or anti-gay marriage. In some religions, homosexuality is either regarded as neutral -- a natural orientation, like heterosexuality -- or as something to be celebrated as an act of love and pleasure.

In answer to your question -- gay marriage in no way hurts anyone (unless it's two gay people who get married and discover it was a mistake, but hey, that happens to heterosexuals all the time). :-)

Answer 9

The church is defending their philosophy and trying to protect their interests from their point of view (they're also against their priests marrying, so the fortune remains within the church...). We are talking institutions made and run by mankind and not by God (who obviously created gay peoples too) As they are in general against this type of relationship,
they will not make an effort to make gay peoples more comfortable as they reject the whole picture...So it's like an elite club that doesn't want certain members, and I wouldn't want to be a part of it then, no matter what I'd believe in ( God, Allah, Eli...) and I'm not gay either.

Answer 10

You are right, it is not our life, but it is our world. If MY religion says something is wrong and I believe it, It is MY responsibility then to speak up when I'm asked. Marriage was instituted by God in Genesis. It is a Christian union. If gays want to live an "alternative lifestyle" what right do they have to call it marriage? That was made by My GOD in MY Religion. It puts MY sancified union with MY husband where our goal is to raise productive, respectful and responsible children on the same level as bob and Gary who just want to make a statement. Why? Have YOUR own union if Christians are so bad. Call it whatever you want, but marriage is already taken. There. Problem solved.