One group of Christians who I'd have sympathy for are the professional photographers who are asked to take on gay weddings.... These people would be right in the middle of the festivities, for a period of time.... Myself, I can't say I'd never do that but I wouldn't want to do it often.... I think photographers could offer some kind of well wishes and give an explanation and apology for not participating...? If the situation was reversed, would an opposite-sex couple want to have a gay photographer for their wedding? It'd be hard to capture the best moments if the photographer was squeamish about them...!? Right?
A Christian lawyer on a satellite TV program said gay couples in the USA are deliberately seeking out Christian businesses and asking for their services for gay weddings.... The gays are trying to provoke a reaction and they want the Christians to think about things, it seems.... And so far, the conservative Christians are still resisting.... In my opinion, I think Christians can approve of gay weddings up to the point of being happy that these gays aren't running around with numerous, sexual partners.... And these gays are trying to take their relationships seriously and to practise a certain amount of love and commitment.... They're not being frivolous, notwithstanding that they're with same-sex partners.... And if Christians can't give any approval, maybe they could give their "permission," which I believe is important....
If Christians refuse to accept gay marriage, doesn't it mean they'd rather force gays to be celibate all their lives or cause them to run around in secretive relationships...??? Does God want to force any of us to obey? Isn't it preferable to give people their freedom, when they're not causing direct harm to anyone else??? If two gays consent to marry each other, they're not causing harm to anyone.... Some people don't want to even observe two gays together...but there've been books written to reinforce our heterosexuality.... [It's not always easy to find these books but they're out there....] At any rate, I believe God wants to give us all a choice...and we have to give gays a choice, whether we agree with them or not....
Friday, June 9, 2017
Monday, June 5, 2017
Trying to Make Progress...
In July 2015, in this blog, I wrote that I wanted to quit my writing to California that I was doing.... And some of my police friends agreed with me that I should quit.... And I did.... But in the past few years, I've been writing privately about the criminal matters--cleaning up the last details; and a while ago in the first Waterlily blog, I said I was finished with that.... It seemed the parties still weren't ready to settle, however, and I've been trying to prompt them and poke them, nicely...! Have told one of the decision-makers that I wanted to give him some time to think about things, after all my writing...but in the meantime I decided to make one more push for the gay marriage issues--the surrounding issues which are still somewhat of a controversy in the USA, if not in Canada...? So, I wrote the post below and I hope it'll be a help...? It's possible there's still some prejudice among the Canadian police and their associates--against gay marriage and against my efforts--also, and it'd be nice if we could make some progress...!???
Where's Their Mercy?
Would like to write for and about the conservative Christians who feel they can't support gay marriage--even with religious exemptions--and to some who refuse to provide supportive services like wedding cakes and flowers.... From what I've observed, these people normally say the Bible says the practise of homosexuality is a sin and any homosexual acts--including gay marriage--are a sin, and THEREFORE, they don't wish to support gay marriage in any form. Period.
A little background, first of all.... The first chapter of the book of Romans in the Bible talks openly about homosexuality...and the first verse of the second chapter speaks very strongly against judging another person.... Bible scholars know the Bible wasn't originally written in English and wasn't divided into the chapters we have now.... So, it appears that the comments on homosexuality and not judging others were meant to go together!? And I believe we can judge ourselves and choose our own behaviour and standards.... This is very significant, in my opinion. And some church leaders and members also have to decide on the standards of their churches. And that's fine. But when we look at people outside of the churches, there's more to consider than our standards....
Won't go into details about AIDS and promiscuity.... And not all gays want to marry. But some gays feel love for their steady partners and they've made a sincere request to have the legal benefits of marriage.... They've felt the marriage rights would be beneficial to them....
So, now I'd like to bring up some verses about what the Bible says about the topic of mercy.... [Will add my own emphasis in bold letters.]
Proverbs 3:3 mentions "mercy and truth," and I believe the word truth in this case means justice or judgment.... And it's ideal for mercy and justice to be balanced, wherever possible.... "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:3,4 [King James Version]
Another verse is Micah 6:8, "...What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" [KJV] We're actually told to "love mercy." This verse is in the Old Testament.
Finally, there's a verse which warns people that they really must show some mercy to others.... "For he shall judge without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." James 2:13 [KJV] This verse is in the New Testament, near the end of the Bible. And even though mercy and justice should be balanced, I believe that mercy is a little more important than justice.... It's better to have too much mercy than too much justice...!
It's very plain to me that mercy is an important subject in the Bible and it should be important in our lives.... We can't afford not to show mercy to others. This is what God has led me to learn [and I'm learning more] and I pray the prejudiced Christians will consider this matter. [It's not only good for the gay people but I'm sure it's easier and better for the Christians to show mercy rather than holding on to their misguided prejudices. In my opinion, they're misguided.]
A little background, first of all.... The first chapter of the book of Romans in the Bible talks openly about homosexuality...and the first verse of the second chapter speaks very strongly against judging another person.... Bible scholars know the Bible wasn't originally written in English and wasn't divided into the chapters we have now.... So, it appears that the comments on homosexuality and not judging others were meant to go together!? And I believe we can judge ourselves and choose our own behaviour and standards.... This is very significant, in my opinion. And some church leaders and members also have to decide on the standards of their churches. And that's fine. But when we look at people outside of the churches, there's more to consider than our standards....
Won't go into details about AIDS and promiscuity.... And not all gays want to marry. But some gays feel love for their steady partners and they've made a sincere request to have the legal benefits of marriage.... They've felt the marriage rights would be beneficial to them....
So, now I'd like to bring up some verses about what the Bible says about the topic of mercy.... [Will add my own emphasis in bold letters.]
Proverbs 3:3 mentions "mercy and truth," and I believe the word truth in this case means justice or judgment.... And it's ideal for mercy and justice to be balanced, wherever possible.... "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:3,4 [King James Version]
Another verse is Micah 6:8, "...What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" [KJV] We're actually told to "love mercy." This verse is in the Old Testament.
Finally, there's a verse which warns people that they really must show some mercy to others.... "For he shall judge without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." James 2:13 [KJV] This verse is in the New Testament, near the end of the Bible. And even though mercy and justice should be balanced, I believe that mercy is a little more important than justice.... It's better to have too much mercy than too much justice...!
It's very plain to me that mercy is an important subject in the Bible and it should be important in our lives.... We can't afford not to show mercy to others. This is what God has led me to learn [and I'm learning more] and I pray the prejudiced Christians will consider this matter. [It's not only good for the gay people but I'm sure it's easier and better for the Christians to show mercy rather than holding on to their misguided prejudices. In my opinion, they're misguided.]
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