Rhetoric Race and Religion
On Friday morning, June 26, 2015, the the United States Supreme Court, with a 5-4 decision ruled that states cannot prohibit same sex marriages. In doing so, the Court legalized same sex marriages in all 50 states of the union. Here at R3, we collected a few reflections from on the ruling.
Love and sexuality are immutable constants, built into our humanness. There is, and has always been, variety in the way those immutable constants express themselves. Marriage, on the other hand, is a man-made concept, given sacred sanction in many religious traditions, but not the exclusive invention of religiosity.
What we are witnessing in America right now is a shift in our man-made concept, not a restructuring of the immutables, or even necessarily a break-down in the efficacy of religious influence. Love and sexuality are still going to express themselves in a variety of ways. The major difference is that religious institutions are going to have to either actively recognize their homosexual members or openly deny them.
I can’t say for sure how God feels about any of it. But I do know the immutables haven’t changed and never will. The ground didn’t open up. The sun is still shining somewhere on this planet. And, none of us can jump into an ocean and swim its expanse.
It’s unwise to use totalizing language that assumes moral control over the entire workings of the planet. If God got beef, we’ll know about it soon enough. The world isn’t coming to an end, it’s just moving.
Here’s the deal: I am a Christian who supports marriage equality. I do not believe being gay is a sin, and I am very happy that now all people can choose to marry the man or woman of their choice. However, I also realize that, for some of my fellow Christians, yesterday’s decision is difficult to accept. Having grown up in fundamentalist Christian culture, I understand why that is; it is no longer my view, but I understand it, because I once felt the same way. Please look at my various status updates yesterday. In none of them did I say that all people who disagree with me are bigots or hateful. I do not think they are. The majority of my Christian friends on FB who disagree with the decision are being respectful; they may disagree with the ruling, but they are NOT expressing that disagreement in a hateful way.
However, there is a *minority* of Christians on my feed who are using hateful slurs against gays and lesbians (I will not repeat those words–we all know what they are) and who are also insulting the Christianity of gay people and straight allies like myself. Please stop. Your words are drawing no one–including yourself–closer to Christ. Your use of this language (and at times images) is further damaging your credibility and your cause as you see it. I hope you will stop because it is the right thing to do, but if not, at least consider the fact that insulting people who disagree with you is not a very effective way of persuading them to agree with you.
Finally, I want to stress again that it is a very small minority of people on my feed who are doing this. I am thankful that the vast majority of my fellow Christians are being respectful and compassionate, no matter where they come down on this issue. Thank you.
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