A new minority?

I start with a little bit of a disclaimer:  I am writing on a topic that is probably one of the most controversial issues of our time.  I am probably going to either gain a few or lose a few readers with this article.  In my life I have had several friends, mentors and relatives who are gay, many of whom are very dear to me.  I am not homophobic and do not write this with any form of hatred or poor intent.  Nevertheless, I think it is important to stand on what one believes, and I am glad we still have freedom of speech to do so!  There seems to be a trend toward a new minority: the Christian, American, heterosexually married father.

Vice President Biden (best known for his gaffes) went on the record today stating he is “absolutely comfortable” with same sex marriage.  Biden went so far as to say NBC’s now retired sitcom “Will and Grace” was a great source of education on the subject.  As a huge fan of irony, I find it amusing that the VP would choose fiction as the source of education for a new social policy viewpoint.  (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/biden-says-absolutely-comfortable-with-gay-marriage-rights-cites-will-and-grace/)  

This is noteworthy because it goes far beyond what POTUS has said in the past about supporting same sex marriage.  I think Mr. Obama most likely feels exactly as his number two does, but does not want the lightening rod attached to him directly at this point in the election cycle.  What better way to reach out to the base than to send Old Joe to drop it out there!  We all know he will say anything – and does!

I have no issue with anyone who finds love and joy in their mate, regardless of their sexual choice.  I totally agree with the right to pursue happiness, even if that happiness is different than what would make me happy.  However, I am very curious how comfortable Old Joe would be with accepting my worldview, as it does not reach out to his political base.

I watched George Takei make some comments shortly after Kirk Cameron made his recent remarks on homosexuality.  Mr. Takei made a great, valid point.  We are a society based in Civil Law and there are differences in issues of Faith versus issues of Civil Law.  In the perfect society, there would not be any different civil rights for one person or people than another regardless of their political, sexual, racial, socio-economic, or ethnic orientation.  I completely agree with Mr. Takei and civil rights should be afforded to everyone, regardless of their choices and lifestyles.  I even think there should be parity in the tax codes and other legal aspects of marriage that same sex couples are excluded from under marriage as defined by DOMA (which is Federal Law that Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden are not faithfully executing by making such comments, but that’s another discussion).  However, that does not mean what is sacred to one group should be blasphemed for the sake of another.

Marriage is not a civil institution.  Civil law recognized marriage with its recognition and acceptance of religious laws as the basis of Civil Law.  So that means marriage is something sacred under religious law; it is therefore a religious institution.  Civil Law has reduced marriage to nothing more than a contractual agreement and a status in the tax codes.  It does not recognize the value marriage has in religion, Christian or otherwise.  Just a side note, if the United States were an Islamic nation, homosexuals would be killed for their practices just the same as Christians would for believing in Christ.

In the Book of Genesis the Bible says marriage is the separating of a son from his mother and a daughter from her home, with the two becoming one flesh in marriage.  Despite any attempt to remove gender from the Bible, this passage clearly (even in the original Hebrew codex) specifies marriage is between a man and a woman.  The Bible never records a marriage between members of the same sex.  I could more easily fabricate a Biblically supported argument for polygamy than I could same sex marriage, although it would be a false argument.  This means even the most liberal of Biblical interpretations cannot suggest a Biblical support of same sex marriage exists.

I have watched so many say Christians are bigots for standing on what the Bible says and for not agreeing with same sex marriage.  Christians are publically decried and persecuted in the media for their views, regardless of the fact that the Bible gives over 6,000 years of consistent historically proven support of their views.  Being a Christian has become the target of satirical comedy, and the subject of extreme scrutiny.  Christians are judged as hypocrites when they do wrong, and are torn down by critics who would do the same things without any moral remorse. 

So if marriage is a well established, well documented, ancient religious institution that predates today’s Civil Law, then by what right does Civil Law get to infringe upon that institution?  What is the greater bigotry?  A Christian holding firm in their support of something that has not changed for 6,000 years?  Or the forcing an opposing values system on those that hold the former dear? 

Before answering that rhetorical question, let me go on to pose another.  The United States of America was founded by God fearing (yes Christian) men who lived within one generation of leaders who would stone and burn women accused of witchcraft and strictly enforced the attendance of church on Sunday.  They had the foresight to make sure freedom of religion was constitutionally guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.  However, they never once penned a law that said the separation of church and state required the destruction of Christian beliefs.  So, if by the same constitutionally guaranteed freedom of belief and speech the LGBT community is using to force same sex marriage into existence, what recourse do I as a Christian have to protect my religious heritage from blasphemy?

I will answer the later question before I close and let you answer the former.  I have none.  Despite the fact of there being no law allowing the destruction of Christian beliefs in the United States today, courts at every level have established enough stare decisis to promise my beliefs will not be well defended.  Not just that, but the resulting court decisions given by those courts becomes non-litigated law.  If you disagree, with a little research I am sure I could fill the content of this blog with case law citations showing rulings against churches or Christian organizations for trying to remain true to their beliefs. 

Thus, if not already, in time the Christian, American, heterosexually married father will become the new minority.  We are already branded as bigots, homophobes and culturally intolerant.  The media (news, movies, television shows, commercial advertisements, etc) portrays the American father and husband as stupid, weak, insensitive, adulterous, or is completely absent from view in family settings.  Is that something we see Mr. Biden or Mr. Obama decrying or condemning?  No.  We see the exact opposite, which could be construed as support.

Again, this was not written to attack any individual or even with the intent of attacking homosexuality.  However, I will not apologize for standing on what is historically and Biblically proven with respect to same sex marriage.  My marriage is a part of my faith, it is a covenant between God and my wife, and by its definition has no place for members of the same sex.  I challenge anyone to show me how my marriage is improved by disregarding its status as a holy institution.

As always, opposing viewpoints, thoughts and comments are welcome.