Originally Posted by Textcritic
This doesn't accurately describe conservative Christian reactions to the idea of same-sex marriage. These people do not simply dislike it, they are convinced that it is an abomination. When one is committed to the Bible as the straightforward, unadulterated Word of God, and when she / he reads it like an instruction manual, it is almost impossible to ignore or to gloss over invective statements like the following:
· Leviticus 18:22: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."
· Leviticus 20:13: "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them."
· Romans 1:26-27: "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."
· I Corinthians 6:9 (NIV): "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
· I Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB): "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted."
These sorts of Christians not merely dislike homosexuality, they consider it to be an affront to God. It has long been regarded to be a transgression of natural law, and the creative order established by God, and thus, it is by extension considered an especially egregious capital crime.
Also, I expect that these sorts of Christians feel the way that they do because for most of us, homosexuality is—for lack of a better word—repulsive. I am not opposed to same sex marriage, but the idea creeps me out. When I watch TV or movies with my wife that feature a homosexual embrace, we usually change the channel because we find it awkward. I expect that a high number of people find homosexuality an easy target for their wrath, simply because it is so foreign and incomprehensible to them. Their natural feelings toward it only help to confirm what they "know" from the Bible.
|