Homosexuality, Same-Sex Marriage, and Religion

The topic of how religious entities address homosexuality and same-sex marriage has been publicly considered for at least 40-some years to a significant degree.  I recently attended a lecture to learn about the United Methodist Church's stand on these issues. Personally, I do not care of what sexual persuasion a person is; but I do feel that since the Bible defines marriage as being a union between a man and a woman, I feel that same-sex marriages should not be performed under a religious authority but rather by a Justice of the Peace.  I believe "committed" same-sex relationships should have legal rights but would not expect same-sex couples to be expected to follow the instructions that are biblical demands of husbands and wives. To me, they are "civil unions," not religious ones. If couples want to be called "married" for semantic purposes, I find no big deal in the word itself as a way of defining their relationship, although I personally think the terms "matched" or "partnered" are more accurate. But under whose or what blessing that title is given does matter immensely to me.

Professed Bible believers supposedly accept it with no intention of changing it.  Followers are supposed to strive to live their lives according to the Scriptures -- which is a life-long struggle and often times includes demands that we fall short of meeting, but our goal is to continue striving to do better. Perhaps the entire discussion is too clear-cut to me, but my faith tells me I must strive to be all loving, to honor and respect the teachings of the Bible, and to accept that God is everyone's ultimate judge. The Bible does not support homo-sexuality and same-sex marriage, but it does say to love one another as Jesus loved us. I doubt that Jesus would shun or ignore a homosexual but rather would be loving and caring.  I do not, however,  believe Jesus would approve of religion-based marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.  However, mankind is given free will; and if a society determines that same-sex couples are entitled to the rights and privileges that married heterosexual couples have, that sentiment can  be recognized in a secular legal system and need not water down, ridicule, dismiss and disavow religious laws.  Many hetero-sexual non-believing and non-practicing persons get married by the Justice of the Peace so as not to sign on to the expectations and demands of the religious-based ceremonies.

Also, there is no need for all the psychological, biological, and environmental studies to come into play when determining where religions stand on the topics of homosexuality and same-sex marriage -- they do not matter.  The heads of Bible-based churches are obligated to follow the dictates of the Bible which, by the way, truly are timeless and pertain to every age of human existence. "Free" societies are graced with the option of secular laws that contend with the issues society wants to recognize that may contradict religious laws. There are a good number of people I love and adore who are gay or lesbian and whose "marriages" or "unions" I respect and accept.  However, as far as I know, their marriages have been performed under secular, not religious authority.

If the church(es) I attend decides to skew the teachings of the Bible to satisfy what a group of people want instead of adhering to God's word, then it has lost my confidence in it for providing me the role models I need to enhance my Christian belief in and my relationship with God.  It will have, in my opinion, found a new idol to worship; and I will seek out a purer, more obedient-to-the-Bible place of faith.

Maeke Ermarth © Cheyenne, WY
         February 13, 2012