family values

In this year's election, the land of cheese, land of my nice suburban home, will allow voters to decide if they want to add an amendment to the constitution which would guarantee the definition of marriage as a contract between "one man and one woman." I'll vote no. Even if it means gay sex in my front yard and men marrying dogs.

First, let's get a few things clear: I'm a religious person. I'm a Christian. The Bible is my holy book. I'm not a big fan of the protestant doctrine of Solo Scriptura, but even if I was, I'd be more than happy to argue that God/Bible (the difference sometimes blurs), has little to say about homosexual marriage. I do not believe homosexuality is a sin. Saying so is like saying being single is a sin: God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve...therefore being single must be sinful, right?

The term Sodomy offends me. The term refers to the events at Sodom, as documented in Genesis. Most people assume the "sin of Sodom" refers to homosexuality. No. No. No. No. No. For God's sake NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Don't believe me? How about some scripture: "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy" (Ezekiel 16:49). Strange....sexual acts aren't in the list. But forgetting the poor and needy is....damn scripture....how did that verse get into the bible....

But even if I did have moral qualms with homosexuality, for the life of me I'll never understand why people get so upset by it, so motivated to make sure to prevent homosexuals from getting married. Even if homosexual marriage were legal, there is no law which would force your church to marry people. What's the big deal? Do you really believe making gay marriage legal will increase the number of homosexuals? And cynically, it's about time the gay community joins the rest of us. 50% of us will suffer divorce. Divorce lawyers everywhere should campaign for making gay marriage legal.

Proponents of preventing homosexual marriage value narrow scriptural interpretation over well attested scriptural tolerance and compassion. Did you know that a gay couple isn't guaranteed the right of hospital visitation, or terminal medical decisions, or inheritance? Can you, o heterosexual reader, imagine going to the hospital and being told you had to leave the bedside of your beloved because visiting hours were over?

I will vote no this fall, even though I worry the issue is somewhat of a moot point. Given the results of so many other states, I doubt Wisconsin will fair any better. I just wish more people would see the gay marriage initiatives for what they really are: just another ploy by republicans to increase turn-out at the polls. Sigh.

Get your buttons and t-shirts here.

And for some more good stuff, watch some Jon Stewart on the issue:

saved?

I need to get saved. Mac Hammond says so. Watch the YouTube link below. First, Michelle Bachmann talks about how it's God's will that she runs for U.S. Congress, and that God wants nothing more than prevent women from marrying women, men from marrying men. I'd hope God has better things on God's mind...call me a crazy liberal...people dying in wars, children dying of hunger, crazy men walking into schools and shooting kids..........

Mac Hammond, pastor of Living Word Christian Center, addresses his congregation after Ms. Bachmann's speech and says: He says "I don't want any more letters about Church and Politics don't mix. If that's your opinion, you need to get saved." If Mr. Hammond is right, I don't want to be "saved." I think politics and religion don't mix well. I think history proves me right.

This is why, if I lived in the 6th district, I wouldn't vote for Ms. Bachmann. When political canidates start talking about God's will, I get nervous.

And please, please, know I'm not crazy about Patty Wetterling as a canidate. I'd like to vote for John Binkowski. However, the "wasted vote" ideal comes into play, only because Ms. Bachmann makes me so trepidatious with her "God's will" comments.

latin anyone?

Looks like the Catholic church is going back to Latin masses. Very progressive.

jesus and the aclu

Bumper stickers amuse me. If it were safe, I'd take pictures of my favorite bumbers while driving. However, considering I already talk on my cell phone, drink coffee, change songs on my iPod, and yell at the kids while driving, it believe it behooves me to abstain from adding yet another distraction.

Alas, it saddens me to not have a picture of my new favorite bumber. Yesterday while driving home from The Gap, I passed a car with a Jesus! bumper sticker placed immediately to the right (co-incidence? Jesus is a republican) of a sticker with ACLU circled with a line through it.

I'm still a bit naive. I didn't realize so many Christians had it in for the ACLU. Until I got home and browsed the web. Holy smokes. I even found a website that proclaimed "ACLU - Jesus Christ lives. Get over it!"

I like Jesus. And I don't mind the ACLU. Any group which expresses concern about the Patriot Act and files lawsuits against the government for conducting warrantless wiretapping is just fine with me.

greg

New York Times, reporting on Greg Boyd.

the speckled mind: for the love of the city

I've been mulling over the following:
The Speckled Mind: For the Love of the City

I should probably avoid comment, since I don't know much about the topic, but ignorance breeds conflict (witness our president), and a good blog is nothing without a little conflict.

1) "But there's everything in the Bible that says you ought to want to [live in a city]." Where the hell is this piece of scripture? We ought to want to live in a city? What is a city? Since Dr. Keller is a pastor in NYC, I assume "city" = large metropolitan area? Those poor farmers, working in the country (dumb hicks) and suckers living in small cities like Des Moines.

2) When Christians talk about wanting to become "counter culture" centers of society, I get nervous. I know the idea is a noble one. Usually the argument involves the city on a hill can't be hidden argument: Christians should be ambassodors of love, peace, joy, etc, and hence "counter-cultural." I've yet to ever see this play out in practice.

3) My good friend Timmer asks an interesting question: "How does this all affect the way we live within culture?" What is "culture"? The question presupposes "culture" is a universal concept, but shouldn't we speak of cultures rather than culture? In practice, there are multiple cultures at work within society.