Some very concerned Christians are saying that:


But, will all of this really happen? What can we expect to change in society? What should we consider in deciding how to vote on gay marriage?

Here are 3 questions that should be considered before deciding how you’ll vote on gay marriage.
    1) Do you believe that people are gay from birth or by choice?
    2) Do you see a distinction between "gay marriage" and "civil unions"?
    3) Will there be discrimination against Christians? And, if so, what can be done?

Being gay: from birth or by choice
If you believe that people are gay from birth, then you see discriminating against gay people akin to racism and sexism. Thus, there is no reason to discriminate against gay people (i.e. ban gay marriage) because it's not something they chose or can control.

If you believe that people are gay by choice, then you have the choice between voting for "gay marriage", voting for "civil unions" or voting to ban both.

Note: According to the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, there is no "gay gene", so when you say that people are gay “from birth”, you really mean that they developed homosexual feelings at a young age, which could mean that they somehow subconsciously “chose” to be gay…or maybe they didn’t.

Difference between "gay marriage" and "civil unions"
Gay Marriage: changes traditional definition of marriage from being between a man and a woman to being between two individuals (man-woman, man-man, woman-woman)

Civil Unions: adds another classification for lifelong commitments, which currently also includes "traditional marriage" and "common law marriage". The rights given to those in civil unions would be determined within each state. In some states, civil unions could be given the same rights as traditional marriages, while in other states, the two could be different.

Discrimination against/persecution of Christians
Whether you think that gay marriage or civil unions should be allowed in society, it's still important to consider the effect of either on Christians because in some states, gay marriage/civil unions will be voted into law.

Here are the two main effects that could concern you:

Can anything be done about these two concerns? Yes! The church has dealt with similar concerns in the past.

Education: When schools wanted to teach evolution and the Big Bang in schools, instead of creation, Christians were outraged because they didn't want the minds of their children "polluted". But, after the dust settled, parents realized that they had options.

I think that the same approach should be taken with regards to children being taught in schools that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. You can teach your kids what you believe at home and work with your kid's school on how they present homosexuality.

Religious Freedom: When the Supreme Court in New Jersey ruled that the Boy Scouts of America troops in their state had to allow gay troop leaders, the Boy Scouts took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. They claimed that under the First Amendment, they had the right to ban gay troop leaders, just like they already banned atheist and agnostic troop leaders. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed and overturned the New Jersey Court’s ruling that the troops were breaking the state’s anti-discrimination law. Now, the Boy Scouts are able to ban gay troop leaders, in accordance with their beliefs. 
 

Closing Thoughts
As Christians, we shouldn’t let fear of persecution guide our behavior. We should stand for truth in our personal lives, and let others come to their own decisions about how they want to live.

We don’t need to use legislation to make it harder for non-Christians to sin. I don't really see Christians in the Bible doing that. What I do see, are Christians living godly lives in such a way that made others want what they had, and issuing a call to repentance.

I, personally, plan to vote for civil unions because I think that will give both gay couples and religious organizations the freedom to act according to their own beliefs. But, however you decide to vote, I encourage you to base it more on how to best show God’s love and bring people closer to God, than on whether you or your church will face persecution.


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What are your thoughts? Are you concerned about religious persecution? What other things are you considering in deciding your stance on gay marriage?


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