AMY LARSON
Staff Writer
It seems that some think Christianity and politics go together. While beliefs do fuel political ideals and probably impact which candidate gets the vote of a certain demographic, Jesus was never a political radical as much as he was a social radical. Jesus cared about loving people. That being said, it must be addressed that spiritual ideals have gotten dangerously intertwined with political beliefs.
I think that the place where this can most be seen in politics today is with the issue of gay marriage and homosexuality in general. It’s been a controversial topic for a long time, and the issue is split. It’s such a loaded topic that it’s caused arguments and made headlines for years.
Many stories I’ve seen reflect that Christians are often the ones fueling this controversy. I’m not certain why, but for some reason, some Christians see it as their personal mission to explain to the world why two homosexual people should not be able to wed. I cannot understand this position.
The issue of gay marriage transcends beliefs about homosexuality, and, in my opinion, right or wrong isn’t a valid argument here. Let me explain why.
As Christians, we’re called to be like Jesus who is the epitome of love. For instance, in John 8, a woman is brought before Jesus who was caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders remind Jesus that the penalty for such an act is death, and they demand that Jesus proclaim the woman’s sentence by consenting to her stoning. Jesus, however, disregards their tradition and acts in love.
Jesus tells the onlookers that whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. One by one, the accusers leave, recognizing that they are no better than her. I think that this story is applicable to the issue of gay marriage, specifically for Christians who believe that homosexuality is a sin; Jesus sends a clear reminder that no person is perfect and that only God is able to judge.
I recognize that many interpret certain Bible verses (such as those in Leviticus 18 and 20) to condemn homosexuality, and I’m not one to criticize anyone’s method of Biblical interpretation. However, I would like to compare the few times homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible with the vast array of verses regarding loving others. Based on that fact alone, the logical conclusion would be that as Christians, we are to pursue love over judgment.
The most important thing for Christians to remember is that regardless of your beliefs on issues, you are still a Christian, a follower of Christ. Jesus was always hanging out with people considered unclean by the uptight religious leaders of the day. Jesus embraced those who were seen as outcasts. He knew about every person he encountered (see John 4) and loved them regardless.
I know I’ll never sway everybody one way or another. All I ask is that Christians put politics aside and recognize that if we’re going to call ourselves followers of God, we must exude love. Sexuality is a small part of a person; when a judgment is made that leads to discarding all the other things the person has to offer on the basis of sexual preference, a profound mistake is made. Love, understanding, grace, peace, hope—these are all tenants by which Jesus lived. Jesus Christ, the only person worthy of being able to judge others, didn’t live a life of judgment. Neither should we.
03-01-2007