Some Late Thoughts on Amendment One

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

WWJD? I never thought I'd find myself asking that bumper-sticker question - you know, "What would Jesus do?" - in a newspaper column.

But it's a question that religious proponents of the anti-gay-marriage Amendment One should perhaps have asked themselves more often during the ugly North Carolina primary election campaign that just ended.

Instead, they often tended to fall back on the usually less forgiving Old Testament. That's what the local mother accused of stealing campaign signs did in her recently published letter when she compared herself to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego or Daniel in the lion's den.

Now, I'm no Bible scholar - though I did love the three elective biblical courses I took back in college, which turned me on to the subject for life. Can't believe I once read the whole thing in a year. And I am possibly the only guy in Moore County who keeps a bilingual Russian-English Bible beside his bed for occasional reference.

I acquired that volume back in the early 1990s, by the way, from an overly enthusiastic young American evangelist whom I encountered as he was cornering annoyed passers-by and attempting to preach the Gospel to them - in very bad Russian - in the Novy Arbat area of Moscow.

But I digress. The topic is supposed to be what Jesus would have done or thought about Amendment One. And that's not necessarily the same thing as what he might have thought in his heart of hearts about gay marriage, assuming there were any such things to think about in his day.

To be honest, I'm still not sure exactly what I think in my own heart of hearts about gay marriage. Perhaps I, like President Obama, am "still evolving." A same-sex wedding recently took place in another state among our circle of acquaintances, and some of us are still trying to come to terms with that.

But the discussion should not be about anyone's private thoughts on this subject. It should be whether we should assert the right to impose our religious attitudes publicly on everyone else through the force of civil law. And call me presumptuous, but I can't help thinking I have a pretty good idea how Jesus would have come down on that.

It's a stretch, I know. But suppose the marriage feast at Cana, as described in the Second Chapter of John, had been between two friends of Christ's who happened to be of the same gender. Would he have turned his back on their invitation, ordering his disciples to do the same? Would he have walked away in disgust and refused to turn the water into wine, thus postponing his first miracle until another day?

I have trouble picturing that. After all, wasn't his message always one of love and acceptance? Doesn't he say in Matthew that the first and greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself - even if the message is often to love the sinner but not the sin?

In the Beatitudes found in Luke (somewhat different from the ones in Matthew), does he glorify judgmentalism and rejection? Or does he say to his disciples, "Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil"?

Last, I also can't help thinking of Paul, who spend the first part of his life mercilessly persecuting those who thought and acted differently (Christians), but ended up writing possibly the most moving verse in the Bible, which ends: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (Or "charity," depending on the translation.)

Maybe I myself, ironically, am being too judgmental here. We all have our own truths to seek, our own demons to battle. Some people can accept change more readily than others. I have some issues of my own in that regard. I'm also aware that people can find (and have found) justification for just about any view somewhere in the Scriptures.

Here's all I ask: Look at all the countless messages for and against Amendment One that have appeared in The Pilot or elsewhere over the past few months. Which ones seemed to flow from an attitude of love, charity and acceptance? And which more often bespoke hatred, narrowness and intolerance?

In short, which ones sound more in keeping with the spirit found in the New Testament?

I'm just sayin'.

Steve Bouser is opinion editor of The Pilot. Contact him at (910) 693-2470 or by email at sbouser@thepilot.com.

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LeeMcGraw 1 year ago

Pick your favorite sin.Go ahead. We all have sin in us.I can stand 100 percent on what the bible says...that it is wrong. We are to move away from sin...not pretend we are above it. Every single person on earth is invited into any church or gathering where I will worship. I agree, love the sinner, not the sin. My bible is heavy with pages full of right and wrong. We need to bring people to God's word and let him do the convicting. Man cannot save anyone. More damage is done by holding up signs and chest and Bible thumping than they know. "They will know you by your walk" Not by holding up a sign or wearing a tee shirt that may as well say "Look at me God, I know I drove away people from you, but I made a stand!" Not exactly what I believe he wants. If you need affirmation you are a Christian, talk to your preacher. If you need assurance that Jesus wants us to go out into the world and bring people to him, read the New Testiment. I don't translate the ancient sciptures, but I haven't seen where he tells us to go out and drive people away with arrogent zeal. Again, love the sinner and you can remember to do that everyday when you look in the mirror. Are you overweight? Probably because you sin Gluton. Are you a man? Probably lustful as human nature goes. How about drinking too much? Gossip? There is a bible full...pick your favorite sin.

fugitiveguy 1 year ago

When President Obama says he is "evolving" it just means he is constantly assessing what position he can adopt that will give him the best chance of remaining in the White House. Biden is even worse, I would love to be a fly on the wall and hear what he really thinks about gay people. I bet its a far cry from what he was professing on tv this past weekend.

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year ago

The Evolution of the generational bigotry in America.

Late 1700's While espousing religious freedom and God given rights to Life and liberty, Americans begin to drive Native Americans off their lands, their paganism is not tolerated. Sects of non conformist Christians are driven into wilderness areas.

Mid 1800's A Key time in the American civil rights movement, Abe Lincoln ends slavery. All "MEN" are to be equal.

1920 The 19th amendment is passed granting women the right to vote and hold office. Women are to be Equal to men.

1960's to present Jim Crow is abolished, segregation is abolished, Black Americans are to be Equal citizens.

What we see in this very general time line is a generational gain, at the foundation of our country, the rulers were to be White men. Over time black people were freed from slavery, women were granted equal rights as were black people. In America we have this uncanny ability to recognize injustice, however it is not something that happens overnight. In 30 years homosexuals will share the same rights as all other Americans, Why? because the people of my generation will make it so.

clodfelter37 1 year ago

Stevearino, please never leave The Pilot

jimt 1 year ago

TAP, I don't think it will take 30 years. Unless, of course, the "teahadists" continue to hold sway in the GOP caucus in Congress for another decade or two. If that occurs, it may never happen, in fact, I wouldn't rule out existing gay marriages being ruled invalid by the Supreme Court (assuming Mitt or Santorum, after all, it's Ricks "turn" in 2016 if Mitt doesn't win) if a Republican President gets to replace Kennedy, Ginsberg and/or Breyer. State laws than allow school districts, police departments and fire departments, and for that matter, all local and/or state employees, to refuse to hire gays or permit them to be fired "for cause," that cause being that they are gay will be o.k. with such a Supreme Court.

rdg65 1 year ago

I am so tired of opponents of Amendment One stating that all those who voted for it are obviously haters and bigots. I am finding the most hate coming from the opponents. Just because you don't believe that marriage should not be redefined does not mean you hate gays. I don't have any hatred towards gays. I have friends who are gay and think the world of them. That doesn't mean that I can't have a different opinion from them. Showing love towards your neighbor does not mean that you necessarily agree with them or should go against your belief system and values. In 1 John, the apostle John speaks about love constantly but also against compromising truths. Many of us consider tolerance as the chief virtue, thinking we show our love by being open and accepting of all different ideas and behavior. We think it unloving to refuse to compromise the truth. I find it offensive that you think Jesus would have condoned gay marriage when His Father obviously said it was wrong to have relations with someone of the same sex. You can't have the Son without the Father or the Father without the Son. They are One. Please stop encouraging the hatred and let's move on. I would like to see something else in the opinion section of the paper for a change.

jimt 1 year ago

I really could care less if you are "tired" of being called a hater and a bigot. You may perceive yourself as not being a bigot or a hater. If so, in my judgment you are little better than the Germans in the 1934-1939 period who thought Hitler was doing a lot of good for the country, and was just a patriot upholding German values.

If you want to vote your fundamentalist religous values I suggest you move to a theocracy rather than a country based on secular law (The Constitution of the United States). Iran comes to mind.

PBinNC 1 year ago

My biggest objection is everything that follows the words that Marriage may only be between a man and a woman. The rest of the stuff will no doubt cloud the issue as it seems to be open to so many different interpretations. They didn't want some judge redefining the existing law, so they made a new one that appears to have all kinds of interpretations whereas the old law was pretty simple to understand. I think the legislature didn't think this through, and I think our courts already have enough to do without making more mischief.

nothingspecial 1 year ago

Most Americans lovingly tolerate the gay lifestyle, despite you out there who like to throw out the words bigotry and hate.

A key issue about this amendment was whether it was healthy for children to live in a state that PROMOTES the gay lifestyle. Everyone against the amendment wants to bash religions. ...As our society slowly erodes in large part due to the promotion of adult only, hedonistic, selfish, unhealthy and unwise pastimes including no-cost sex, pornography, no fault divorce, and only emphasizing the values of being polite, not being judgmental, and looking out for yourself in our schools, etc.

Explain to me why I am wrong and how these factors have not had a profound effect upon our families and the children we are raising?

Otherwise I am left with the opinion that we have been led upon a Star Trek like search for utopia the past forty years that has somehow directly led to a mountain of social problems that we can't afford to fix.

GroundTroops 1 year ago

Mr. Bouser did you skip Romans Chapter 1 when you were reading the New Testament? Theres nothing sadder than news folks giving opinions when they dont understand the topic. It makes you look stupid.

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year ago

UWW UWW YOU LOOK STUPID STEVE!!!!!!!!!! STUPID STEVE STUPID STEVE...

Steve here ya go Romans Chapter 1 read so you wont be so stupid.

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year ago

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year ago

Now after having read that you can come back and say ahh but wait I have read romans chapter 1

clarabelle 1 year ago

"fugitiveguy - When President Obama says he is "evolving" it just means he is constantly assessing what position he can adopt that will give him the best chance of remaining in the White House."

Too funny - sounds like you were describing the republican nominee for president - the flip-flop king himself.

Of course - you being a simple minded person will vote for Romney anyhow!

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year ago

Clarabelle....what does being simple minded have to do with anything? there are only 2 choices, Obama or Romney, With obama our country is gone in 4 years,...with Romney we can hope that congress can make some changes.

Paul/Gingrich !!!

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