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The “Live
and Let Live” Attitude Could Come Back and Bite You
The
debate about “marriage rights” in America continues
getting grittier. Rhode Island has no law permitting same-sex
marriages, but Massachusetts does. Wendy Becker and Mary Norton
are residents of Rhode Island and they wanted to get married,
so they went to Massachusetts to have a ceremony. They failed
on their first attempt to obtain a marriage license because Massachusetts
state law stipulates that no couple residing in another state
could be married in Massachusetts if that state did not legally
recognize their rights to marry. Becker and Norton took their
case to court. Would you like to guess what happened? The two
women were granted the right to marry each other. Superior Court
Judge Thomas Connolly stated he saw no evidence of a “constitutional
amendment, statute, or controlling appellate decision” that
would declare a same-sex marriage to be illegal in Rhode Island.
The two women, who had lived together for 18 years, were “joined”
in a marriage ceremony attended by about 50 people. They have
two children, 6 year-old Hannah, and 3 year-old Mickey.
It takes little imagination to figure out what will happen next.
This couple, now “legally married” in the state of Massachusetts,
will sue for recognition of “marital rights” in their
home state of Rhode Island. Since Rhode Island has no clearly
stated statute regarding recognition of marriage as only between
a man and woman, this Lesbian couple will get a jump ahead of
authorities, and the courts will be forced to rule regarding their
rights, before legislators have a chance to make laws against
such rights. Rhode Island may soon find itself pushed into recognizing
homosexual marriages before the majority of its residents even
get an opportunity to think the matter through and vote on it.
As of this moment, the same scenario could take place in the State
of Tennessee.
I am convinced that I know, in general, what people in Decatur
County and perhaps in the State of Tennessee think about such
matters. There is no doubt that there is a small minority in our
state who believe in rights for the homosexual lifestyle and everything
that their agenda pushes. On the other hand, the vast majority
of people in Tennessee would hasten to say they are NOT homosexual.
Many, if not most of these, would say that they personally believe
that homosexuality is wrong, at least for them. They would even
go so far as to say it was immoral. However, there are probably
a substantial number of people in our state who might say, “Even
though, I don’t believe in it myself, and even though I think
same-sex marriage is wrong, or immoral, or even sinful, I don’t
think I should be telling somebody else how to live their lives!
If a gay couple wants to get married, who am I to tell them they
shouldn’t marry?” If that is what you think, watch out!
One of these days, your hind sight may be giving you a swift kick.
If the State of Tennessee doesn’t make changes soon, a homosexual
“married” couple may one day move in next door to you.
That may not bother you. You may be working in your business with
openly “married” homosexuals whose “spouses”
receive the same employee benefits as your wife or husband. That
may not bother you, either. As an employer, you may be paying
benefits to such a homosexual spouse. That may not even bother
you. However, the day may come when married homosexual schoolteachers
or child care takers may be teaching or watching your children,
and teaching them about alternative lifestyles. Your own kids
may come home, convinced by such “progressive” persuasion,
that they want to be a part of the “gay” lifestyle.
Is that what you want for your kids?
Again, let me clearly state that hatred or contempt for an individual
because he or she is a homosexual is wrong. I am not subscribing
to “homophobia” or trying to bash anyone as an individual,
no matter what their lifestyle. However, homosexuality is a sin
according to the Bible and there is no getting around it. I will
always teach that to my children, my grandchildren, and to anyone
else who looks to me for any influence. If I find individuals
on my street or in my neighborhood who are trapped in the sin
of homosexuality, I will be concerned for them. I will pray for
them. I will try to counsel them, showing them a way out of their
sinful lifestyle. However, if they are “happy” with
such a life, and insist on staying that way, I will not want my
family around them or their influence, any more than I would want
them around anyone taken up with the habit of stealing, prostitution,
or any other lifestyle of sin.
On November 7, we have the opportunity to fix the problem of same-sex
marriage in the State of Tennessee before it gets started. I urge
you to vote “YES” on the proposed marriage amendment
to the constitution for Tennessee. Let’s not have a couple
of men or couple of women who come to our state telling us they
are married, and insisting on “lawfully wedded” benefits.
“Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6: 9b-10).
James Sanders
Pastor,
sandersjc@yahoo.com
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