It looks like Newsweek has decided to enter the theological debate concerning gay marriage. Check out this story regarding the current issue’s cover story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081208/pl_politico/16305
Share your thoughts. What do you think about Newsweek printing this article? Would you be likely to change your biblical views based upon an article found in Newsweek magazine?
The Newsweek article can be found at the link below:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653
Do you think the article is fair in its discussion of the issue(s)? Do you find the article convincing? What does / does not convince you?
Theologically Speaking 
Even though I’m a Christian, I always get nervous when we try to base our discussions on the legality of gay marriage on morals alone. It seems to me that we may be putting the cart before the horse. Why would anyone expect society to accept a certain set of moral beliefs without accepting the WHOLE belief framework that supports those morals? It is necessary to vote our convictions, but the “Religious Right” is often totally focused on pushing a political agenda that they see as aligning with their faith, and they totally forget that sharing the Good News is NOT the same things as getting people to vote a certain way. In fact, I think those who claim that Christians who vote are the only thing keeping this country from becoming a moral cesspit actually make us look bad. I wish we would spend more time talking about the Good News and less time canvassing neighborhoods with “Yes on Prop. 8” signs.
Anonymous:
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate your thoughts. I agree with you that if all we are doing is trying to get people to vote a certain way on key issues, we are not doing what we are called to do, which is proclaim God’s word to the world. I also agree that our moral values and society’s are often very different because our belief frameworks are at odds with each other.
Christians have been called to proclaim God’s word to the world and to live out that word in our daily lives. Much like the prophets in the Old Testament, we are called to warn others of their falling away from God and to call them back into fellowship with Him. This means we must not simply overlook the sins of individuals or our culture (which reflects the sins of individuals), but inform them of their falling away and of what God’s standards are. They may not listen. In fact, they often will not, but this does not remove our responsibility to proclaim the truth to them and give them the opportunity to respond. It also does not give us an excuse to ignore certain parts of God’s word because the culture is at odds with it.
As we live as Christians in this world, we are to work to redeem people, but we are also to work to redeem all that God is working to redeem, which is all of his creation (including our culture). If you have not read my post on the gospel, please do so. I think it will help clarify what I mean by this. It is called “The Gospel: It’s bigger than us.”
The article is infuriating. The Bible is so amazing in that it reveals how we live in spite of God’s ideal for us.
Many troubles result from a disregard of God’s design.