If I'm completely transparent, I had no idea the U.S. Supreme Court was even considering a change in stance on "same sex marriage." This isn't really surprising, however, as I don't turn on the local news or follow anything political. Maybe that makes me a bad citizen, but I'm not here to judge and I hope you'll do the same. Mostly what has me even contemplating this topic is the post after post on Facebook sharing news articles about the ruling and the rainbow overlays on people's profile pictures.
I kind of love this photo I saw posted on Brene Brown's FB page (I'm a fan of hers in general). When I think about my journey with the Lord, #lovewins could easily sum it up. God gives us complete freedom and with that comes an endless amount of joy and pain. And in the midst of bad decisions, perhaps even decisions I knew I shouldn't be making, God loved me in spite of them. He offered grace and truth and I have felt most loved by people in my life who are also pursuing Him; who balanced grace with challenge when I wasn't engaging in God's best. By no means are any of us perfect, but I guess on some level, that's kind of what makes me sad about this whole equality in marriage issue. I get the super conservative, religious view of marriage. But I don't ever think that the best way to share your faith is through condemnation of another's belief or actions.
I guess this is where the whole separation of church and state comes in to play. While I may hold a different belief about God's design for marriage, it is not my place to judge anyone holding a different conviction. And to use God or the bible as a means to make people feel unloved and unaccepted, in my mind, is incredibly hurtful and a disservice to the lord. I think it irks me the same way people with signs standing outside of bars condemning drunkenness frustrate me. If your goal is to win people over to Christ, is it really working? I'd venture to say not. #lovewins
Arguably, the world is always a better place when we seek to understand; when we offer a balance of truth and grace. I don't think this court ruling is changing anything that isn't already happening in the world by giving equality in marriage. On the same token, I support the right of churches to hold a firm stance on whom they will perform a ceremony. (Heck, being in the premarital process at my church currently, I know they won't just marry any man and woman either.) And I know it is also not our place to condemn those who don't share the same belief. I am not God and I don't have all the answers. What I do know is that committing your life to someone is hard and it takes an incredible amount of self-sacrifice, forgiveness, and enduring loyalty. I applaud anyone that can love that way.
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