Gay Marriage

Let me start off by saying that this is NOT intended to start any kind of political debate about gay marriage.  I think with the topic of gay marriage we are NOT going to change each other's minds by leaving passionate comments about why our views are right and other views are wrong on Facebook, Twitter, or other forms of social media.  So please save your fingers and don't leave a comment about how I'm wrong and you're right or vice versa.  This isn't that kind of post.

Okay, now that that is out of the way I am happily surprised by the number of friends I have who have changed their profile picture to the red equality flag (or whatever it is called).  I know I have a large number of conservative friends and I have also enjoyed reading their shares from pastors and what not about gay marriage.

I often struggle with integrating my ingrained social worker/civil rights beliefs with my religious side as they often seem at war or at least it is presented that way by others on Facebook.  Somehow by saying that I believe and support gay marriage I am somehow not allowed to believe in Jesus Christ or God or the Virgin Mary or at least that is the impression I get from some people.

I will admit that I don't attend church as often as I should or even as often as I'd like.  And I feel that my beliefs tend to be more of the spiritual variety than the truly religious quality some of my close friends present.    I have been blessed in my life to have been gifted with friends who are deeply religious, who I can ask questions of, and who truly exemplify what it means to be Christian.  Unfortunately, my experiences working in child protective services and social work sometimes leave me jaded as to what a religious leader looks like especially when the news loves to focus on those leaders who are doing things wrong instead of promoting people who are doing it right.

Regardless, I realized this morning that by sometimes allowing my social worker side to prevail that I am missing out on what it means to lead by religious example.  Yes, I believe in and support gay marriage, but I also can respect and support my friends who believe otherwise.  I'd hope that, in their Christian hearts, that they would also open their minds to supporting others who believe differently than them.  Because isn't that what being a Christian is about...loving each other, praying for each other, supporting each other even when we may not land on the same side of the political fence?  I hope I'm not that far off base in what I believe Christianity to mean.

Perhaps I am naive and perhaps I am oversimplifying things, but I would much rather live in a world where good people with good hearts and good intentions can lead the lives they want and deserve than focus on inhibiting others in areas that I'm not sure will matter in the long run.  I'm sure the God I love has bigger things to worry about than if Adam loves Eve or Steve.  I'd rather Him focus His efforts on helping us end human trafficking or homelessness or war or divorce or finding homes for all the beautiful orphans that are in dire need.  Maybe the beauty of loving God is that He can be all things to all people if they only believe.

Perhaps all I needed to say was best said by someone else: