*Note: It is easy to generalize all Christians into a category as those who display hateful signs to gays as Westboro Baptist Church does, and it is also very easy to generalize all gays into categories as well. We must recognize that people are all individual and made unique, and not generalize. :)
Firstly, lets look at the differences between what those who support gay marriage say, what statistics say, and what the Bible and Bible believing Christians say about homosexual relations/marriage:
Biblical views:
- It is wrong to have sexual relations man with man (Lev 18:22)
- It is punishable by death (Lev 20:13)
- It is unnatural (not born with the desire) for men and women, lustful (sensual desire and sinful), and indecent (Rom 1:26-27)
- It is not permissible in the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-10)
- It is your choice
Supporter of gay marriage:
- There is nothing wrong with it
- You are naturally (born) that way.
- It is part of your identity
- You are made that way.
- If Christianity says to "love your neighbor as yourself" then you sin in denying a person the right to love someone even if they are of the same sex.
Statistics:
- 78% percent of gays have an STD
- 50% have gonorrhea
- Less than 3% of the gay community is over 55 and a little less than one percent of that 3% die of natural causes
- 23% are more likely to have an STD than a hetero-sexual person
- A homo-sexual male's life expectancy is 20 years shorter than that of a hetero-sexual male (Worse than cigarettes)
Let's address how one who supports gay marriage views this.
One in favor of homosexual relations would state that someone who is gay is born with the desire to have sexual relations with another person of the same sex-- it's a part of who they are and they have no control over it ,like a bird has no control of if it grows feathers or not. However, in order for this to be true, there needs to be a gene that would make this happen. If this gene does not exist then that means that homosexuality is not natural and it is a choice that elicits a person's sexual orientation.
We need to look at how and why a person would come to be homo/bisexual then.
Firstly, the success or failure of one's home affects all behavior, but mainly sexuality. Children love and desire touch-they long for the affection of loving parents. Consider this: If a child is neglected in this area he/she will never learn how to react to any sort of affection properly. When older they will still desire the affection of a father or mother that they had never received, and therefore look for it in another person (perhaps another in the same situation and one of the same sex) and accept it and react radically on the first hint of it they get (perhaps by claiming to be "in love"). Also, in a broken home there is a lack of an intimate love relationship between the two parents (man and woman). If the child never sees and observes a marriage the way God intends it to be then that image is free to be distorted because they do not know what love is to look like. And if that child's image of marriage is still unclear and they see the romantic affection in homosexual couples they may automatically accept that as good and right.
Now lets take a look at the topic in a biblical perspective.
The Bible clearly labels homosexuality as sinful (Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1Cor 6:9-10). Marriage was originally designed for one man and one woman, as with Adam and Eve. It was not designed for one man and one man or one woman and one woman. Why? Because He loves us. Take the ultimate and intended example of marriage, Christ and the Church ,the Bride of Christ. The Bible tells men how to love there wives in Ephesians 5:28-29,33. It tells us to love them as Christ loved the Church (even to death Rom 5:7-8; John 3:16), and as our own bodies. In other words, to protect them from any kind of harm and provide for everything need, even if it means our death. God loves us enough to give us commandments to live our lives by so that we would not have to endure the consequences of what they forbid. (He also gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live our lives according to it, seeing as we are sinners and we are going to fail with out Him (Rom 3:23; Zech 4:6)). If you take a look at the statistics listed above you will find that homosexuality is not good for you. It is not a healthy alternative to a man and woman love relationship. It should not even be considered as an alternative because it is so bad for you! It is even noted as worse than smoking cigarettes (A.K.A. Cancer-sticks)! If God had not warned us to not live this way then we would be in a grave, grave situation. Also, if you research the health benefits of a hetero-sexual marriage you will find that it is quite contrary to a homo-sexual one. It is actually beneficial to your health! God's law and design is perfect!
Some of those in favor of gay marriage also used scripture to back up their beliefs: "Love your neighbor as yourself". Answer me this, would you be loving your neighbor as yourself if you simply watched them have the very sinful behavior that could lead to a crippling of their health and ultimately to their death?
My point is clear. Yes on prop. 8. :]
