The Marriage Amendment

I live in one of the four states that will have the marriage amendment on the ballot.  For me this has caused a time of reflection.  I just wanted to share with you my thoughts.  As a note I am not going to discuss my feelings about homosexuality, because I feel that they are not relevant. 

I know why most Christians are voting for the marriage amendment.  I understand this viewpoint, after all I was an uber-conservative pastor for many years.  This world view thinks the act of homosexuality is a sin.  Nothing will change that viewpoint, sex outside of marriage and especially sex with someone of the same sex is wrong.  For this group of people the impassioned pleas, the beautiful videos of two people in love, the heart-wrenching tales of loss will not move them to think that homosexuality is anything but a sin.  I've seen shame tactics from anti-amendment groups and this will only cause stronger resolution in their unwavering hearts.  In the end I know that they think that not having the legal benefits of marriage is a consequence for choosing a life of sin.

I get not wanting to endorse something that they feel is a sin.  BUT here is what is frustrating me about all of it: This amendment is not about endorsing homosexuality.  If this amendment passes homosexual marriage will still be illegal in my state.  So, to me, this amendment feels more like going overboard to try to stop something that is already illegal.  In the end I feel it is persecution of another people group.  Christians claim to know about persecution, a limiting to feel free to practice their faith, so they should understand even so slightly the feeling of persecution.

Let me explain further:  This amendment is trying to limit others belief systems.  Yes, I did say belief system.  In America we have worked hard to embrace freedom of religion and freedom of achieving your personal dream as long as it does not harm others.  This country is a haven for all to practice any kind of belief system.  It seems to me that Christians tolerate Buddhists, Hindus, Satanists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses etc., if nothing else hoping that one day they will turn to Jesus.  We live in a country where people are free to practice hate like the KKK and Westboro Church.  These detestable people follow their convictions and practice their belief systems under the guise of freedom with all that entails.  We are also free to spend our whole lives serving the poor loving other and following examples like Mother Theresa.  So not only are we free to practice our religion we are free to practice our belief system and personal set of morals and follow these convictions out in our actions.  So for example we are free to abuse alcohol or free to be dry depending on what we believe about alcohol.  I'm guessing you can see where this line of logic is heading. 

I think that the culture of homosexuality has become it's own people group.  There are many variables within that group, but in the end it has become a culture because of the stigma that has been attached to it.  This group of people has become a community, embracing one another, supporting one another, and caring for one another when often they are abandoned by their families, friends, and churches.  They are often more of a community than most churches I know.  Here is a group of people that are trying to live out their own belief system and in it find a way of life within that set of beliefs.  Marriage has become part of this culture, part of what is important, a way of life.

So to me this amendment feels like it is trying to attack another groups belief system and that is persecution.  It seems to me that that is not what we should strive for.  It seems to me that attacking a persons way of life in the name is Jesus is wrong.

In the end I don't care if homosexuality is a sin or not.  I just don't want to hurt others in the name of Jesus and that is why I am voting no.