Opting out of my Faith: Not Optional


Coexis2I am growing sick, tired and saddened over the aggressive discrimination, attacks and overt bigotry towards Christians and those who hold to an orthodox theology that has been in place for over 5,000 years that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Up until a few years ago, this orthodox view was (and perhaps still is) mainstream in America. (And for the record, holding to the orthodox view of marriage is not akin to slavery or racism, so please don’t even devolve to such a silly and illogical argument.)

If you have always believed that homosexual relationships should be affirmed via a sacred ceremony called marriage, or if you’ve simply changed your position in recent years as Obama has to follow the growing support by many, that’s your choice and I respect it, even though I disagree with it.

But is it possible you could respect my choice as well, even though you might disagree with it?

Is it possible that you can allow me and millions of other orthodox Christians to exercise one of our God-given unalienable rights (affirmed via our Constitution) to follow the dictates of our hearts as we are instructed in the Holy Scriptures?

Is it possible for you to allow us to take Jesus at His word when he stated:

‘Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? (Matthew 19:4-5)

Is it possible for you to concede that for a Christian who still believes in the orthodox view of marriage to participate in a ceremony such as homosexual marriage it would be a violation of that individual’s deeply held religious beliefs? Is it possible for you to acknowledge that one can love and respect people without actively participating in their marital vows?

Is it possible that rather than resorting to calling us “bigoted” and “homophobic” or even death threats as so many supporters of homosexual marriage do, that you could actually understand that this truly is about our faith, our religious beliefs, and ultimately our desire to follow God, even if it’s at odds with the majority? 

I hope your answer is Yes to the questions above.  But if your reply is NO then here’s my response to you:  Opting out of my faith is NOT optional.  I will not cave, surrender, or be intimidated into relinquishing the position that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, affirmed as truth.

Tell me why is it ok for an entire national media machine, Fortune 500 CEO’s, hollywood elites, politicians, athletes, and on and on, to attack the literally tens of millions of Americans who are simply orthodox in their view of marriage? Remember, those of us who hold to this view are consistent with the historicity of marriage. We are not “Johnny-come-latelys” in our views.

As you consider my thoughts on this, take a minute to read this excerpt from the linked article below. I believe it aptly describes why this is such an issue for so many of us in America and why allowing this matter to continue to separate and divide those on both sides of this controversy will ultimately lead to a devastating scenario for our nation, in my opinion.

“The issue of sex, generativity, and sexual complementarity goes back to the fundamentals of Judaism and Christianity, back to Genesis and the order of Creation. I’m not asking people to agree with me here; I’m asking people to recognize that the orthodox Christian conviction on this matter goes very, very deep, to the roots of the religion. For orthodox Christians, to capitulate on this issue would mean repudiating something we profoundly believe to be true, and an intrinsic part of the cosmic order. Again, we can’t expect everyone to share that belief, though nearly everyone did, until the day before yesterday. All of us, I think, concede, or should concede, that America has changed, and we are going to live in a republic that permits same-sex marriage.”

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/indiana-christians-benedict-option/

If you agree with these sentiments, please share this essay with others. It’s time that Christians begin to stand up, speak out and openly defend the logic, fairness and validity of our position.