On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:12:28 GMT,
His_child2005yourhat@yahoo.com.au (*Peace of Christ*)
spake thusly:


He tells us how he believes the Bible and is a
conservative Christian and then goes on to tell
us why we should ignore the Bible. Yea, right. :)

Gay marriage ban isn't fair

An interesting view from a "fundamentalist Christian". Please read the
whole article.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/dec05/381007.asp

Gay marriage ban isn't fair
By DEAN MUNDY
Posted: Dec. 28, 2005

There are two bills just passed by the Wisconsin Senate that will most
likely be up for referendum in the near future. I must admit, I'm torn
between the two sides on each bill.

The first is the amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution defining marriage
as being between a man and a woman. It looks like a sure thing to pass the
Assembly and be on the ballot in November. The second is a bill to ask the
public if Wisconsin should reinstitute the death penalty. I will tackle
that in a later column.

First of all, I'm a conservative. I'm a Christian, yes, even one of those
"fundamentalists" who believe one should do what the Bible teaches and who
many suspect are trying to take our country down the road to theocracy.
Whatever.

I admit that the Bible, for me, clearly teaches that marriage is between a
man and a woman only. You don't have to read far to see that. In several
places.

The most widely quoted by opponents to a biblical view is the verse in
Leviticus about stoning homosexuals. Unfortunately opponents usually
ignore Paul's teaching in Romans 1, what God told Adam and Eve early in
Genesis, and, most importantly, Jesus' repetition of that definition in
Matthew 19.

Now why this makes me a "homophobe" or a person who hates homosexuals, I
have no idea. I believe smoking is wrong, but I don't hate smokers. I
believe getting drunk is wrong, but I don't hate drunkards. I believe
divorce and adultery are wrong, but I don't hate divorced people or those
who commit adultery. I believe, well, you get my drift, I hope.

Many on the left see this amendment as a political ploy, and for many who
voted for it, that would be true. But I think there are others, many
others, just like me who believe homosexuality to be wrong. They feel we
need to do something about it.

But I'm not in favor of this amendment. For me, it's a matter of fairness
and justice. Homosexuals should have the same opportunities that
heterosexuals do. It's as simple as that.

I believe that under our form of government, people should have equal
protection under the law. This would include homosexuals.

My fellow conservatives and friends in the religious right are, no doubt,
readying e-mails and letters to straighten me out. Hey, I know what they
are going to say. The arguments are familiar. I've heard them and made
them myself before.

They will write me about how this will lead us down a slippery slope to a
time when polygamy, etc., will be made legal also.

They believe that we must defeat this is to defend marriage. If so, it's a
last-ditch defense.

Look, marriage and families have been under stress for years and not just
from homosexuals and liberals. Poverty, single parenthood, materialism,
the feminist movement, divorce, people living together and other things
add to the stress. We on the right are wrong to just blame the homosexual
"agenda."


Other conservatives might insist that homosexuals receive equal treatment
now. They can marry anyone they want as long as it's someone of the
opposite sex.

Isn't this a little bit like Henry Ford when he said one could have any
color Model T they wanted as long as it was black?

I'm conflicted, I admit, because like everyone else, I tend to vote my
values. Those on both sides of the issue say the values are clear. I'm not
so sure.

As one seeking to minister Christianity, I have to go back to how Jesus
lived his life on Earth. Contrary to the opinion of most, it's not that
Jesus never got angry (look at how he cleansed the temple and condemned
religious leaders, for example).

But he did respond to the down and out with compassion. The adulterous
woman was saved from her rightful doom. Lepers, prostitutes, tax
collectors, drunks - he sought them all out to do good to them. I cannot
do less to those who are homosexual.

As I've mentioned, other people whom I believe are living wrongly are free
to do so legally. Why shouldn't homosexuals have that opportunity?

It's only fair, really.

Dean Mundy of Waukesha is a self-employed missionary. His e-mail address
is

--

"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the
Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way
as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
- Acts 9:17


"A LITTLE WHILE, and ye shall not see me:
and again, A LITTLE WHILE and ye shall
see me, because I go to the Father."
- John 16:16