The Bible and 21st century morality

There has been some furor among some of my friends regarding whether it is acceptable to allow homosexuals to marry.

Sometime ago, I would have taken the Biblical approach - homosexuality is a sin and therefore homosexuals cannot marry.

Lately, however, I've become more reflective on the whole issue and the need to regard the Bible as the absolute Word of God.

The Bible has a lot of things to say - Jesus said, Sell all your possessions and give to the poor. He also said during the time approaching his crucification that we have to carry a sword. Before that He said turn the other cheek if someone strikes you.

Anyway, should homosexuals marry?

I'm not a homosexual. I love (some) women. I love being intimate with my female lover. Having said that - I never asked to be a heterosexual; I was born this way. No amount of brainwashing is going to convince me otherwise.

I think if someone is born a homosexual - and please no frivolous campus jokes - why should we as a society prevent two consenting adults from doing what other consenting heterosexual adults from doing?

Ah, then someone will say - well, they can't have kids - ergo, their relationship is a sham. I think that is a ridiculous argument. What if a heterosexual couple is barren, unable to conceive - should we ban them from marriage?

Recently some of my Christians friends had an argument over the issue. One of them was presenting very valid points for pro-homosexual marriage. But what I found very troubling was the fact that my other Christian friends - instead of debating on the issue - were resorting to name calling. They started parroting each other's accusations against this "heretic"; and I thought they were rational sensible people. If this was 2,000 years ago, they would have all been picking up rocks and stoning the dude for stepping out of line.

I don't have the answers to all the questions and problems regarding homosexual marriages.

But I turn to the words of Jesus - in this case: "the Sermon on the Mount"

In particular Matt 7:12

¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I'm not sure which Torah or Old Testament Jesus was reading from - but my reading of Jewish Law with its endless rules ordained by God - esp. with references to tortuous executions for non-virgin brides - doesn't connect. Deuteronomy 22 . No, I'm sorry. Don't you dare say "context"!!! I say its fucked up. Its not ok to kill a new bride just because she doesn't seem to be a virgin. And its not ok 2,000 years ago either. God is suppose to be the same yesterday today and forever. I don't know how those commands got in - but I think its not godly, its fubar. If you dare try and defend it I suggest you first take a rock and smash yourself in the head with it a few times just to find out how it feels.

But Jesus' words - those words - "Do unto others what you want others to do to you" is powerful to me, its eternal, its holy. I believe it.

I want to get married one day to the girl whom I love - someone whom connects with me, loves and respects me and we get along fabulously together.

Having said that - if someone else wants to marry the person he or she loves - even if they are of the same gender. Why should I stop them? Society is an artificial construct. We make the laws. I cannot in good conscious pass a law forbidding them to get married. Because Jesus said  in the book of Matthew 7:12.


¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

There are also other unpleasant stuff that Jesus said regarding sin, eye gorging, mutilation, lust, and divorce. If Christians want to regard the Bible as the absolute Word of God - I suggest they think seriously about those verses as well before they try behaving like modern day pharisees.