Fred, where are you?
Did you know that McCain opposed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage? I don't think I knew that. I don't know enough about his stance, but this vote doesn't necessarily mean he supports same-sex marriage, but it does seem to say he doesn't support banning them on the federal level.
I don't want to be a one issue voter, but I think some of my value's are strong enough to get that type of attention. I think this coming election will prove to be a much harder decision for me, as well as many, than it has been in the past. I have many more questions, but some things are becoming clear.
Fred?
Rob
Comments
All the Dems have fewer divorces, affairs. And who knows who politicians vote once they get elected anyway. The Republicans had the house and the senate for 12 years, right?
It's better than Guatemala. At least for now.
I never really got Christian Evangelicals' issue with legalizing Homosexual marriage. Ok, take a second and catch your breath. Hopefully you're still reading. What I mean to say is, isn't there a really big difference between something being moral and something being legal? Should marital infidelity, lying, disrespecting one's parents, coveting, idolatry, and working on the sabbath all be made illegal? I think it was in great wisdom that these commandments were kept legal by our founding fathers. Also, why do we, as evangelical Christians, love to mix our religion and government. Don't get me wrong, I believe that all of life should flow out of one's religious convictions. When I vote a certain way, it is precisely because of my Christian convictions. However, the paradigm of marriage that the Lord gave us is first between the couple and the Lord and second between them and the Church body. How can any two people without a relationship with the Lord, hetero- homo-sexual have any concept of what Christians believe marriage to be. If two homosexual women want to enter into a municipal and economic relationship that our govt. chooses to call marriage, who cares? I choose to discuss the morality of homosexuality here, but let's take for granted that it is a sin. What is the difference between two heterosexual non-believers calling what they have marriage, although it in no way includes the Lord, and two homosexuals doing the same thing?
So, this post was originally about politics, and that is what made me write. I am really not trying to get into a debate on legalizing homosexual marriage. I am only trying to say that the maybe, the 38 million Americans who are right now having trouble finding the money to feed themselves, the 400,000 people killed in Darfur, the 3,00 killed every year in the civil war in Columbia, and the thousands of Americans living on the streets are more important than a legal issue outside the Church. I say outside the church because the issue in politics is NOT the morality of homosexuality but whether the government (an inherently and rightly non-religious institution) should recognize legal contracts between homosexuals.
Any other ideas?
I am listening to you, and have been challenged to think. But I am not ready to apologize for being a protaganist of pro-biblical-marriage politics.
There are all kinds of mindfields that you have created, so I am almost reluctant to respond. But, becuase I love you, and dialogue is good, I will try. I believe you have thought about this a little and I can learn from you. I know, that comes as a surprise since I am your omniscient elder. Let's not stop thinking. In general, i guess I agree with most of what you have said. But even with all you say, I still think it is wrong and I don't think it is wrong to say it or discuss it in the political arena. There are many things that are inherently "outside of church" that I still desire for my candidate to espouse. Marriage Paradigm? I think not, and I caution you here. Marriage, is a sacred ordinance created by God. I am married to my wife. I want that marriage to be defined as God intended it to be defined. I believe this is important enough to be discussed, voted on, etc. I don't want to see what I have with my wife to be watered down, within the church, within government, or wherever else as so often happens in our postmodern context. It has been watered down, and we "evangelical christans" need to fight against it being further watered down.
Should we only talk about these sorts of issues after we have fixed, or at least discussed the bigger issues you have mentioned. I think not. We need to dialogue about them all. Yes, the social ills you mention are of serious concern, and are not discussed enough. I agree wholeheartedly. A priority of christ followers must be loving the poor. Shame on us. Now, I have to say, loving the poor doesn't always mean "free lunch". How rude of me! I just can't help being political!
By the way, I don't think working on the "sabbath" is wrong. Jesus did. There is much more to say here, but I will let it alone for now.
Love ya.
Rob