gays and other social problems that divide us.

So, in the last few months the media and all kinds of politicians have been throwing us into all kinds of debates. Honestly, I love to watch these things and I really like to share my opinions but I know they aren't treasured on Facebook, nor do I believe that is the place to talk about them. It makes me too angry, so I choose to blog about them.

I love to think about the issues, I like to put myself in that person's footsteps, and see why they think they way they do. According to my bible there are several verses that condemn homosexuality, but in the same bible there are several other verses that condemn other things. Should I not eat pork? Should women be silent in the church? Should we not have tattoos? And if we really believe the bible, we shouldn't worship God on Sunday, because it should be done on Saturday. The point I am trying to make is that it's hard to distinguish what is cultural and what isn't. I have never been gay, nor do I understand being gay. But I do know that it's not something that someone can just turn off. We are sexually attracted to things without knowing why. For example, I am really attracted to Asian women--what if that was against the scripture? I can't explain why I am attracted to Asians, but I just am. It just happened that was part of my life. I honestly cannot see anyone just making "gay" up. Now, I know there are people that are gay that just want attention, I have observed that. But I just can't wrap my head around people that are just being gay. So, if that's the case then how in the world can I begin to understand it? I need to leave it alone, and just accept them as people and love them as God expects me to love them.

Despite what I feel about the issue, I have to think about what marriage is. Marriage to me, is something that is holy union between two people. Every religion has a ceremony of some kind to recognize marriage. Evangelicals have acted like the "Biblical Marriage" is the only marriage. Did people in the bible times get married too? Where they recognized? Are Islamic marriages recognized as real marriages? Or Atheist marriages? Well, I just don't know about that. The fact of the matter is, we live in a country that is part of many groups of people. It's not right, to force our religion on any group of people. If a religious person or church chooses not recognize to a marriage, thats great (thats your right.) But, it's not right to expect all people to live up to our beliefs or create laws that enforce our beliefs. The state and the church are two separate entities and there should be no greying of the lines between them.

If the founding fathers wanted to live in a theocracy, then they would have created one. They didn't because they weren't Christians to begin with. I know that may come to a shock to a lot of people- but Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin were all Deists (which is really an agnostic.) the founding fathers understood that we should keep our religious opinions and thoughts away from the state. They had spent time under a theocratic government.

Put yourself in a persons shoes, and understand that a person has a right to hare life with whomever they like. They are going to do it anyway, and there really is nothing we can do about it. Unless we wanted to enforce anti-sodomy laws and that would put the government in the people's bed rooms...which I don't think any person supports.

I say all of this to say, I know I hold a minority viewpoint here in Texas. I know I am probably the only one in my family that has this opinion. But, I  have spent time and reflection on this issue and I just feel that it's not right to extend rights to some people in America. I am a social libertarian, which means I believe the government has no right to legislate social laws. I do not see the danger in letting people make decisions on their own. I don't think it endangers marriage, anymore than the fifty percent divorce rate. Which brings up another valid point, did you know that the divorce rate in the church is higher than the world?

Who is confused about marriage???? Its hard to accept that truth...but honestly, I believe that no one really knows what marriage is.