I try not to take a stand on controversial politics on this blog. I don't want to upset/hurt/offend/annoy anyone and make them not want to read it anymore. But I need to say this ...
When it comes to marriage, the line between church and state is dangerously gray. I worry when state ballot propositions start to enlist the support of churches and other religious organizations in their campaigns. The Roman Catholic Church was one of the biggest supporters of Prop 8 - for reasons of biblical authority. The state shouldn't rest its understanding of marriage on biblical authority. The state should rest its understanding of marriage on basic civil rights. From there the church can decide whether or not it wants to sanction said marriage. And individual churches can rest their understanding of marriage on their own understandings of biblical authority. I'm not going to ostracize or judge a church or Christian for refusing to religiously sanction a legal marriage. That is their choice and I will respect their biblical understanding even if I don't necessarily agree with it.
We need to take a step back from the "gay marriage" debate and start picking apart what, exactly, "marriage" is. What it means to talk about marriage on a state level and what it means for it to be sanctioned by the church. Why clergy are ordained but the church, but can act as an officiant of the state when it comes to legal marriage. It's murky and gray and marginalizing a group of people who are just trying to live their lives in love and learning.
Perez Hilton posted this video on his blog today. It breaks my heart and gives me hope all at the same time.
With hope,
Sarah
Posts
