It's always been puzzling to me how two people can read the same thing and come up with two very different meanings. Take for instance the Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus. I have read that several times and never once did I grasp that he was addressing the issue of same sex unions. Maybe there are even veiled references to drilling in Anartica, and Wal Mart holding dominion over pagans.
On the campaign trail in Ohio, Sen. Barack Obama defended his support of abortion and same-sex unions. That's too be expected. The man is entitled to his opinion and his vote. It's how he chose to build his defense that is disturbing.
In response to a question, Obama said he does not support calling same-sex unions marriage, but thinks same-sex couples should be given the recognition and benefits granted to married couples. Maybe we call it "Deirram". It's married backwards. It will mean the same thing but have a different word. Kind of like "liberal" and "progressive".
Obama said: "I think that it is a legal right that they [homosexuals] should have that is recognized by the state. If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans."
Yeah, let's just toss that second rate Romans thing out. I mean heck, how many Romans are there in America anyway? He is not running for president of Rome, so let's not waste time with such things.
Jesus teaches on a number of issues central to the Christian life in the Sermon on the Mount. I've read it over and over again. I see the part about being witnesses to the world, loving our enemies, honoring marriage. Still as hard I try, even if I hold the pages up to the light and look at them upside down, I find no instruction on same-sex unions.
As for St. Paul's writing in Romans, it is distinguished not by its obscurity but by its clarity and consistency with all of Christian teaching about the nature of sexuality and marriage.
Paul writes: "They [the unrighteous] exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." (Romans 1:24-27, NIV)
Somebody dig Romans out of the trash please. We might need it after all!
Obama also told the crowd that his support of abortion (he voted against banning partial-birth abortion, and against notifying the parents of minors prior to their having an abortion) and his support of same-sex unions do not make him "less of a Christian."
He is right. A vote doesn't make anyone less of a Christian. However, total ignorance of Scripture and the basic understanding of the value of human life certainly does permit one to question Obama's theology came from the back of a cereal box?
If you don't want to be a Christian that's fine. Support gay marriage, support the killing of children, be an advocate for gay causes, calling for higher taxes, a socialist health care system, tell the people what you really think.
The political activism of Christians has been noticed and the wolves are out shopping for clothes. Candidates now assume either be or appear to be Christian to have any change of actually being elected anymore. Candidates create there own version of "Christianity" that fits them and their ideas and hope to pass it off to shallow believers.
If you believe that the Sermon on the Mount was speech given by Jesus in support of same sex unions then Barack is your man. "A great ignorance did sweep across the earth. Behold, with a smile the savior led them to the promised land. It was not what anyone had envisioned and the people cried out, what the heck were we thinking?" - A reading from the book of Obama.
No comments:
Post a Comment