Where should we, as Christians, stand on gay marriage?

Contents:

• WHERE SHOULD WE, AS CHRISTIANS, STAND ON GAY MARRIAGE?
• WHERE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, OTHER RELIGNS STAND ON GAY MARRIAGE
• WHAT DO THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE?
• IS BIBLILLY ALLOWABLE FOR A PASTOR TO BE GAY?
• SHOULD GAY MARRIAGE BE LEGAL?

WHERE SHOULD WE, AS CHRISTIANS, STAND ON GAY MARRIAGE?

This is an important lson for church and nomatnal bodi to learn as they nsir one of the most challengg qutns of our time: how to addrs the cln of persons who are gay, lbian, transgenr or otherwise nonnformg to tradnal rol. An example on each si: One iend believ the church should allow gay ans bee a an body should reprent the life of the church, where there are undoubtedly gay members. If you don’t normally ask straight sgle adults if they’re celibate, why should you ask gay sgle adults if they are celibate?

Crics of LGBTQ cln the church often talk about a “gay liftyle” as a broad assumptn that all people wh same-sex attractn are livg promiscuy and bchery. This is problematic, however, if the church expects a standard of sexual relatns only wh marriage but do not acknowledge marriage as a realy for gay and lbian Christians. To a person—Christian or not—who is an tegral, lovg part of the world, gay marriage almost mak sense.

This is the dilemma for some Christians regardg gay marriage: do we agree wh what God says or follow the wisdom of the world? The wisdom and logic of the world may very well dite that gay marriage is a basic right.

WHERE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, OTHER RELIGNS STAND ON GAY MARRIAGE

But no one who is learned the Bible n hontly say that the Bible supports homosexual relatnships. Many Christians, particularly those who are theologilly and/or polilly nservative, are not encumbered wh sympathetic feelgs regardg homosexual behavr. Gay marriage has been accepted by many untri, and that acceptance is likely to spread.

The agenda to normalize homosexualy by legally regnizg same-sex marriage is well on s way.

WHAT DO THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE?

Perhaps gay marriage do herald the end of the world, but that's what we've been lookg forward to, anyway (Revelatn 22:20). But you’d be wh many church shuttg their doors and scramblg to fd their equilibrium this chaotic age, there are some battl that issue of homosexualy the church is jt such an as I prepared to start wrg this article, the Supreme Court led Bostock v. Always Rpond wh Love, Huy, and RpectFirst, all qutns and nversatns regardg the church’s rponse toward people who intify as homosexual should always be nducted om a posn of love, huy, and rpect.

IS BIBLILLY ALLOWABLE FOR A PASTOR TO BE GAY?

The Church “implor fai and church not to reject or nmn lbian and gay members and iends. Homosexualy was first openly bated at General Conference 1972, four years after the formatn of The Uned Methodist Church, rultg the addn of first statement on homosexualy.

While affirmg belief that persons of homosexual orientatn are persons of sacred worth who need the mistry and guidance of the church, the statement add that the church “do not ndone the practice of homosexualy and nsirs this practice patible wh Christian teachg.

Sce that time, the church has mataed the posn that “the practice of homosexualy is patible wh Christian teachg. Based on the posns about homosexual practice and marriage, the Church has also mataed rtrictns regardg clergy.

SHOULD GAY MARRIAGE BE LEGAL?

Pastors may not be “self-avowed, practicg homosexuals” and may not nduct ceremoni that celebrate same-sex weddgs or unns. Wh a body of over 12 ln members globally, Uned Methodists are not of one md about how to be mistry wh lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people. Some members feel strongly that the church should uphold s current stanc regardg gay clergy and marriage.