July 10, 2004
Let me preface this column with the fact that it contains many personal religious beliefs. There has been a lot of activity recently in the press as voting, both locally and nationally, nears on the decisions to outlaw gay marriage. The NY TImes has an article dealing with the political aspects of a constitutional ammendment. Republicans are hoping that it will cause Democrats to alienate their constituencies. But that's not what I want to talk about.Locally in Utah, the state government is also working to pass a constitutional ammendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman only. The LDS church (of which I'm a member) has recently endorsed the social idea (not the politics behind it). I'm a little torn on the idea because while I oppose gay marriage, a constitutional ammendment doesn't seem to be the right way to go about it, at least to me. But that's not what I want to talk about either.What I want to talk about is this article on being gay and LDS. This discussion comes up on occasion and the result is pretty constant: the LDS church doesn't budge on their values and other side is angry that the church isn't more tolerant.This is where my religious beliefs come in. I don't understand how Christians can justify homosexual activity. The Bible and other scripture is clearly against it. Sodom and Gommorrah were destroyed because of it. God is declared to be the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can't just assume that God needs to get with the times and allow homosexuality. The LDS church preaches that you should love the person, and not the sin. I firmly believe that. Now, there is a lot of discussion on whether people are born gay or not. It is my non-endorsed, personal belief, that people may be born with homosexual tendencies, i.e. a weakness for same-sex attraction. I think lots of people are born with certain tendencies or weaknesses -- that's why everyone's trials in life are different. Someone may struggle greatly with alcohol, drugs or pornography, while to others, those aren't tough at all to deal with. I must confess that I've never been attracted to men, but I would assume that it's an attraction they do feel, but one they must fight. They may say that's the way they are, so accept it, but that doesn't make it right (in Christian law). Because of that, I can't sympathize with people who say "The church kept saying I was wrong, even when I was with my boyfriend, and I was incredibly happy and at peace...I guess I'm not supposed to be happy with my life." Everyone has trials, some of which are very difficult. That doesn't mean they can't be happy, but it does mean they have a long struggle. I know that's true from my own life. I once had a friend tell me there's no way she could have gone through some of the things that have happened to me, yet the things she referenced weren't at all a big deal to me. I believe God knows us extremely well and tests us accordingly.
Posted by charr at 12:42 PM
Reader Comments
I've always thought the Bible passages that some take as against homosexual activity are very weak and could be about anything. If this was an important issue for Jesus, he could have spoken about it or put it into a commandment. I'm still unsure if it's a sin or not, but I think socially communities do better as families. I was around a lot of gay men in Hollywood, and I got plenty tired of their affected bitchy attitudes. It made me wonder if there are any good Christians, who don't do casual sex and drugs, who are gay. I would be OK with someone who is nice and caring, and gay.
Ellen,
You are right that a gay person can be nice, caring, etc, just like any other person. They are certainly still people. What I don't agree with is homosexual activity. And I'd have to disagree with you on the biblical passages. To me, it's plenty clear.
I'm actually regretting making this post, but I feel like once I've published it, I shoudn't take it back. This isn't the right forum to discuss religious ideals, and while there are secular issues here, this is mainly a religious argument.
I have no issue with my gay friends (I've had gay roommates 3 times; I'll tell you they were a lot easier to get along with than the female lds ones I had!), and a lesbian cousin in a comitted relationship for 20+ years. I wouldn't turn my back on them anymore than I would on my straight friends who commit sexual sins. We all fall short of the glory of God. If we hated because of sin, we'd like no one, including ourselves.I mentioned this on Times & Seasons - I have a friend who is LDS. She was a practicing lesbian and preparing to become a minister in the MCC church - a gay friendly Christian church. She met the missionaries, took the discussions, and joined our church. It is a serious struggle for her. However, when she found what she believed to be the truth, an answer to prayers, she felt no choice other than to deal with it and try to be obedient. The scriptures are crystal clear and in several verses. She cannot justify it because of how she feels or urges. If feelings and urges justified actions, then anything goes.God doesn't want people to hurt. That's why He's given us directions for the path of the fewest obstacles to happiness, not the easiest.Our state passed an initiative to define marriage between a man and a woman. I don't think it should be part of the US constitution and I honestly believe that it wouldn't pass (to ban gay marriage) right now because the majority of the public doesn't believe anymore than things should be done for the common good. If the immediate results are unconfortable for anyone, it's out the door. Long term consequences mean nothing today to the general public.We (the collective we) brought this on ourselves with every other action that slowly chipped away at traditional families. Based on all the things that we do allow or don't penalize for, we haven't a leg to stand on politically to say gay marriage is wrong. And I don't think you should regret posting.
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I've always thought the Bible passages that some take as against homosexual activity are very weak and could be about anything. If this was an important issue for Jesus, he could have spoken about it or put it into a commandment. I'm still unsure if it's a sin or not, but I think socially communities do better as families. I was around a lot of gay men in Hollywood, and I got plenty tired of their affected bitchy attitudes. It made me wonder if there are any good Christians, who don't do casual sex and drugs, who are gay. I would be OK with someone who is nice and caring, and gay.
Posted by Miss Ellen at July 12, 2004 4:45 AM