Disclaimer: This entry talks about the Bible, including Jesus, and about faith-based support for same-sex marriage. However, it does not preach on behalf of Christianity but instead presents an argument based on close reading of Biblical texts. The life and teachings of Jesus provide strong reasons for supporting same-sex marriage. If you're interested in hearing this argument, read on. If religion-talk makes you jumpy, give this one a pass.
All Christian-based Biblical interpretation should begin and end with Jesus' unambiguous answer to the question "which commandment in the law is the greatest?": "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (emphasis added, from Matthew 22). It follows that any interpretation of scripture that conflicts with these two commandments, to love God and to love one's neighbors, is suspect. Certainly, any interpretation of any part of the Bible that justifies hatred of others is flat-out wrong. You cannot deny that without rejecting the keystone of Jesus' teachings. That is the first point.
The next step is to examine Jesus' own words and actions for a model of how to interpret "the law and the prophets" in light of the keystone teaching. The paradigm is clear: when Jesus broke laws, it was always in deference to the high commandments. Jesus was a radical and rebel and he defied authority again and again, though it is easy to forget this when so many noisy Christians have wrapped him in an American flag and sent him off to the polls to vote the straight GOP ticket. But that's a topic for another day. For now, note that Jesus was a rebel with a cause, and that rebellion was justified by appeal to the higher authority of the first two commandments. For example, he was busted for working on the Sabbath, both because his disciples plucked some grain to eat and because he was healing the disabled. His response: wouldn't you save your only sheep if it had fallen into a pit on the Sabbath? A human is of much higher value than a sheep. Therefore, "It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (from Matthew 12).
"How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep?" And not just valuable in the abstract, but valuable in an everyday way. Quality of life mattered, health mattered, comfort mattered, or why would you heal someone or feed someone? Why not tell them to endure, because suffering is good for you? Or that suffering is how God shows us he loves us? Or why not tell them it is un-spiritual to worry about health and well-being when our minds should always be turned toward heaven? Why not? Well, for a Christian the answer would be, because that's not how Jesus lived. And that is point two. Quality of human life matters.
You may now see where this argument is going. Humans are domestic and social creatures. Most of us seek our deepest fulfillment through the closest human relationships. And there is no closer bond than marriage. Speaking from the experience of a 25-year old marriage, I cannot imagine having been forced to go through life alone because society refused to sanction my marriage, or support our home and the raising of our children. If I were not straight, I would be expected by most churches to bypass the rich experiences, both painful and joyful, that come from nowhere except the most intimate bond with another human being. Many Christians would tell me that being born gay meant God wanted me to be celibate. (Never mind that Protestant churches have never hailed the celibate life as anything special.) Other Christians would tell me I was diseased and Jesus would cure me, and still others that I had chosen my own perversion in utter defiance of the most sacred laws of God and Nature and would deserve the punishment that was surely waiting for me (accompanied by gleeful wriggling in anticipation of my eternal misery).
Living without marriage, without a committed relationship around which to build a home, to raise children, to grow in every possible way -- personally, spiritually, professionally -- my life would be so very much less than it is now, I myself would be so much less. [I do not mean to say I think every person should get married and have a family. I am speaking on behalf of people who DO want that, with no disrespect to single people, or people who freely choose celibacy.] The churches have always taught and reinforced the essential role of marriage, family, and home. Why should that stop now? The church can be the most valuable support network for couples and families navigating the tricky waters of life. Many churches are already welcoming congregations and that progress is sure to continue. The church has never been wrong when it came down on the side of human rights.
That would be because that's where Jesus always stood. Let me reinforce the sheep metaphor and I shall be done on this topic for now. Why should I be forced to choose between my husband and my church? Without my family, I would be like unto the lost sheep in the ravine desperate for a hand to reach out to me. And see, my quality of life matters. Jesus said so, and acted accordingly. "It is lawful to do good" -- on the Sabbath, and every other day as well.
That is my view.
I can see your side of the argument. I can also see that the church is very judgemental towards people they dont understand. The bible tells us to Judge not lest ye be judged, for the same thing. Thus if a person judges another for chosing to be gay or being born gay which ever it is(I am not sure) then that person will be judged for the same exact thing. I have learned that when we judge others or take someone elses inventory we are really taking our own. If we cant say that we have ever done the same thing before then we have it within us to do that very same thing! We need to concentrate on taking our own inventory and stop take everyone elses.
ReplyDeleteYou're very wise, I think. People often repeat the "judge not" verses without thinking about much but being judgmental about others who judge. You bring the focus back to our own lives, which I agree is the point of the "judge not" teaching. And your comment that "when we judge others or take someone elses inventory we are really taking our own" is a psychological reality as well as a spiritual truth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your view!