Properly framing the Gay Argument pt.1

The subject of one’s sexuality continues to come up. As the sun is scorching the United States so is the topic of homosexuality. The problem I have is how the argument is being framed. Should gays have equal rights? Are they born this way or is it a choice? As I mentioned before the framing of the issue has been wrong. The argument generally falls between two camps: for or against. Those for believe the Constitution answers the question. Those against believe the Bible is the answer. So, what is the answer? Well both, kind of.

Let’s deal with the Bible and the religious side first. I would like to add something first, people hold and have the right to agree as well as disagree. This is what adds to the framework of the argument. We all need to learn to disagree agreeably or agreeably disagree. No one opinion is absolute.

Let’s get back to the religious aspect. The Bible is written for all those that will hear. People have the right to follow its teachings or not. I want to deal with three very specific scriptures that people point to in opposition to homosexuality. The first is Romans 1. It’s important to read the entire book of Romans but for time constraints we will begin with verses 21-32.

It begins… Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain god in their knowledge, god gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The second scripture is Leviticus 18:22: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is an abomination. The strongest word God uses to describe a certain sin is abomination, a strong disgust.

The last scripture is Genesis 19:1-11, a telling story of angels who visited Lot and how certain men wanted to meet other men and the angels struck them down with blindness.

These are just three examples of how God and his word feel about homosexuality. His word also teaches all sin is punishable by death, with that said there is the other side of the argument.

I think former mayor Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani said it best “Government should stay out of people’s bedrooms.” Isn’t this what responsible, freedom-loving people want or is this just a farce? First, this is a States’ Right issue. Marriage is a social union or legal contract between two people. New York is the latest state to sanction gay marriage; to legally allow people to enter into a contract as it relates to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The 14^th Amendment stays out of the argument of marriage and wisely so. It has an equal protection clause that requires each state provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. We don’t want to give more arduous powers to the federal courts. By placing marriage in the Constitution, the judges have taken marriage out of the hands of the people.

 I would like to add something else to the argument. Romans 13:1: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. We must follow the laws of the land. If we didn’t have laws folks would be put to death for a lot of offenses. Many men of the Bible had many wives which were called concubines, under the laws that are established now that would be bigamy. We have to be careful when we try to use the Bible to legislate. We have freedoms to practice and worship as we please.

Lastly, in properly framing the differing view-points the conclusion is inconclusive. Each view point proposes different merits. This is going to be an on-going debate, both points of view may come to some type of agreement or not.