Your argument then assumes Traditional Orthodox Christianity is bigoted by saying homosexuality is a sin and gay marriage is wrong. This points back to my original arguments that those who feel the need to change Christianity will use the Bible to fit their world view rather than have the Bible and Traditional Christianity change their world view. What the author of this article condemns, she herself has done!
Furthermore, if the revelation of Christian thought is so unsure of the truth, the rest of the world looks at the Church and says, Why Bother! In fact, this is why the Church is becoming more secular and less relevant in the American and European brand of Christianity. I know we live in an "All we need is Love" world, but what has passed as tolerance is frequently intolerant and concern is really indifference.
Pro-slavery supporters twisted the Bible to support slavery and gay marriage supporters twist the Bible to support gay marriage. Both broke from Traditional Christian Orthodoxy and both made the same error with different results.
Mother Teresa was only used in my argument because she is Catholic and as such would uphold Traditional Marriage as a Sacrament of the Church. In what way would she not be a bigot under your viewpoint?
I sincerely understand your position, but the problem is that marriage is a "union" of man and woman. Notice the wording of the author of this article, "We of Cairn Christian Church affirm the right of two people to express their love in marriage -- no matter their gender." The definition of marriage is now defined as a loving and committed relationship. The sexual aspect has been removed. Whereas in traditional marriage sex is first and foremost in the relationship because it is a union of the most intimate kind that can only take place between male and female with the possible result of children. Marriages are ultimately "consummated" and by definition, homosexual sex does not do that. For this reason government may try to change the definition of marriage, but it cannot change the Nature of marriage.
I am sorry you feel that way gun23. I thought you enjoyed and wanted "dialogue". After all, isn't that a point of an "Open and Affirming Congregation"?
Arranged marriages point to one thing, the universal law that marriage is between a man and a woman. If cultures arrange this from birth, they recognize procreation as the central aspect of marriage. When the baby is born they can see the baby's race and sex. They cannot see the sexual orientation. This makes sexual orientation less like a racial issue and more like a religious issue where you don't know if the baby will eventually be Hindu or Muslim or Christian.
Oh, by the way, I have not quoted any Scripture.
If I don't make the choice of who people marry, who will?
I know the argument in our culture is that people should be able to marry whoever they love. However, this is not a universal paradigm. There are many cultures with arranged marriages. They don't marry the person they love, they love the person they marry. Hmm. I wonder if we will ever have a culture of arranged gay marriages?
Imagine, a baby is born and since gender is not important, the parents arrange for her to marry the neighbors girl. One wonders!
You say "Gay people will wisely choose not to associate with your church." That is simply not true. I am quite aware of gay organizations that seek legitimacy through the Church. They meet, they send out two people to Churches, they infiltrate the congregation and promote their changes to the Tradition. An example of this was at a local Catholic Church where they were welcomed, but once they started preaching their lifestyle, the priest told them that they would have to leave if they continued going against the teachings of the Church. So they went to a Methodist Church and started over. The Methodist Church changed and those that upheld the teaching of the Methodist Church were called bigots. Those that went against the teachings of the Church were called enlightened. And this was not an isolated incident as those two were part of a group that met once a week with at least 25 other gay couples each going out to different churches and congregations. And you say legalizing gay marriage will not have any effect on my Church! Wrong!
No Bleeth, but now you will be free to dictate to others what you believe. You will use government funding to pressure schools to teach your way of life in sex education classes. If a Christian disagrees they will be forced out of their teaching job. So yes, two gay people getting married does change my world as the Christian view gets marginalized.
The vast majority of Christians believe marriage is a sacrament. Government recognition is a secondary thing. But since gay marriage is not a sacrament, those that want gay marriage seek recognition and legitimacy through government, The State. Then they will use the government to force Christian Churches to change.
As Jadam12 says above, "Kiss your tax haven goodbye!" Ironically, I would change the government tax policies to be neutral in every way.
The very nature of what marriage is excludes homosexual unions. Man's law cannot change the laws of Nature. An apple is still an apple even though the law may want to call it an orange. Marriage is not a man-made construct by law. Rather law surrounded what is a marriage, the union of a man and a woman. Marriage is not simply a union of persons. It is the unique union of man and woman.
KRH, that is the problem, keeping it inside the congregation when we are told to go into the world and preach the gospel. The problem with legalization of gay marriage will be the restrictions of freedom of speech and assembly and even thought. Children taught traditional values will not be allowed to discuss their ideas of marriage because they will be deemed bigoted, hurtful, hateful, and whatever else. The government will start eliminating tax free contributions to organizations they deem out of touch. This is already happening. Those who felt oppressed will become the oppressor.
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