Mosques and Same-Sex Marriage

Alright, brothers and sisters. Jump off your political high-horses for just a second.

We claim to love the Constitution and the freedom of America.

But, I'm here to tell you, that means we may have to allow things legally that we wouldn't support morally. Think about it. If we believe adults are free to make their own decisions, (as long as they don't harm others), and everybody doesn't think exactly as we do, then we are guaranteed to dislike some people's choices--and it doesn't necessarily require a change of law. What do I mean?

Well, maybe we should let people drive without seatbelts, if they feel inclined to risk their own lives. Or, maybe it should be legal for adults to shoot themselves full of cocain or smoke pot, if they have no regard for their own health. And, specific to this post, perhaps we should allow Muslims to build mosques on any property they can afford--even if it happens to be a couple blocks from Ground Zero. Or maybe gay adults should be allowed to marry...

Please don't get your panties in too much of a twist because, as far as I can tell, the Constitution protects all of those things. And the same Constitution gives Christians the right not to participate in those immoral or unethical activities. In fact, the Constitution even protects our right to attempt changing the minds of those who practice them--which we could do with sound logic, genuine love, intentional service, or any other "strategy" we wish.

But Christians don't use their right to change minds. They don't practice genuine love or chat face-to-face with people who disagree. It's too hard. Christians would rather have the President or their Congressmen step in, butcher the Constitution, and force unbelievers to act like believers.

I know it feels like a victory for Christ when California reinstates the ban on gay marriage. And it's hard to picture Muslim worshipers marching past the Twin Towers and into their new mosque. It's easy to take those things personally and make a vow to destroy all immorality with one blow from Congress.

But we need to ask ourselves, what difference does it make fighting for law changes when the real battle is in the heart? Do we really think that keeping gays from marrying or Muslims from building is making a difference where it counts? Nope. It's just giving people more reasons to hate the Church. Instead, personal interraction and intentional love are the only weapons we should be using.

Do you think Muslims are misled, often-violent individuals, who are disrespectful toward a post-September 11th America? Then you'll need to introduce yourself to a few Muslims and engage in a loving conversation. Do you think gay marriage is an abomination? Befriend a homosexual and begin the foot-washing.

I know it's a big task--loving and serving the entire world. It seems almost impossible; certainly more difficult than writing your Representative. But taking moral issues to court is spiritual laziness. Our Constitution is best left as is, allowing adults to make moral choices based on convincing information.

And it's our responsibility to convince the world with information about Christ....by acting as He did.

(To read about the kind of radical faith we'll need to love the entire world--changing hearts instead of laws, click here. Or, if you want to be made uncomfortable, read this article about "Gay Christianity." Whether or not you think homosexuality and Christianity are mutually exclusive, the author makes good points about fighting the wrong battle.)