Voices: Short list

May 15, 2008 10:37 pm

— Not surprisingly, Daniel Boyer Jr. pops up with a letter hammering Rita Crowell and her “extremist” views. And, of course, he reviews a short list of “reasonable” items that he deems essential for “full equality for gay Americans.”
Boyer says that “gays” want to serve God. Good. All believers are called to serve the almighty God who has revealed to us, in Scripture, how we may live in His way. I expect that many who feel that they are homosexually oriented are committed to Christ. They are also sexually celibate, as are some of their heterosexual Christian brothers and sisters. Some probably deal with their feelings privately, with God alone. Others may disclose their “secret” to close family and friends, asking for understanding and prayer. Some who have previously been sexually active homosexuals before accepting Jesus as Lord may openly share how they have been changed, but need and desire the support from the church in what may be the greatest challenge to their future faithfulness. Some find freedom that clears the way for them to pursue new healthy normal relationships.
Boyer also asserts that “gays” want to “defend our country” (in the military, I presume). I believe that homosexuals now have that privilege and are serving patriotically in all branches of the armed services. They, of course, abide under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” regulation that has been in force for several years.
Thirdly, Boyer says that “gays” want to “get married and raise a family.” This proposition is contrary to reason and tradition. No society in recorded history has recognized the mating of same-sex couples as marriage. The ancients did not need advanced education to figure this out. Undoubtedly, marriages had a variety of forms and may have been as unstable as those in our “modern” time. We must not only protect the tradition of marriage from aberrations like same-sex pseudo, we should promote stability of our families.
Most importantly, the word of God cites homosexual conduct as contrary to his will. Instead of quoting those Scripture passages, here are two affirmations of true marriage. Jesus: “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one.” (Matthew 19:4-5). Apostle Paul: “Since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2).
C. Keith Sigler
Joplin