Tuesday, July 9, 2013

END-AROUND


Stephen T. McCarthy has written about the use of the Hegelian Dialectic in American politics as a means of moving the bar ever farther left while making it seem to most Americans that a compromise is simply being made.


I can think of no better example for this than the assault on Christian values by the gay lesbian bi-sexual transgender (GLBT) lobby.


But before I go there, can we all agree that this is too broad a group?

John Stewart makes the following point about whether or not one “chooses” to be gay, and I am willing to agree with him here.





But even if I were to go further and say that a homosexual marriage is valid in the view of the Bible (I won’t say that), how does either a bi-sexual relationship (would need three people) or a transgender (talk about you classic argument for “don’t-ask-don’t-tell”) fall into the same ballpark?

And how can you say either lifestyle is not a choice?



In my mind, bisexuality is clearly hedonistic behavior, and I don’t know what to think about a transgender relationship once the snipping and sewing has been done.

So for purposes of this post, I am only recognizing gays and lesbians as party to the debate.

And while I agree with Mr. Stewart that they probably did not wake up one morning and say, “instead of Corn Flakes, I think I’ll be gay,” I am not sure that means that a rewrite of the Bible is in order.

Yet that is happening as you read this.

Tolerance is simply a code word for the Hegelian Dialectic.



Look at how the pendulum has swung in twenty years.

Bill Clinton’s “big” solution for gays in the military (becoming policy on December 21, 1993) was ‘don’t ask don’t tell,” (DADT) which basically meant that gays were meant to remain in the closet and the military was not permitted to discriminate on personnel they suspected of being homosexual.


Under Obama, DADT was repealed, and the military’s ban on openly homosexual was struck down by a Federal court.

In twenty years we went from persecution, to keep it to yourself, to let your freak flag fly.

Similarly, in the private sector, the gay lobby has made all sorts of inroads (no pun intended).

Major corporations (like the one I just left) have special task forces on GLBT marketing (or in my former employer’s case, the health care needs of GLBT, which, seems to me, are the same health care needs as everyone else, except for counseling and an operation for the T's).

In short, it's all about being politically correct.

According to Emporer Obama's edict, if you make a gay slur, that’s a hate crime.

How long before we start calling it the "G" word? It's coming! America IS that freaking stupid!

In churches, we’ve gone from gays being persecuted and vilified (not very Christian behavior), to being prayed for (better), to some Christian churches performing same sex marriages, in spite of a pretty clear track record in the Bible of the acceptability of gay and lesbian behavior (can you say turned into pillars of salt?).

Some Lutheran churches allow gay priests, and recently, a gay bishop.

You could see it coming.
When “Brokeback Mountain” made it’s Oscar splash, all I heard people say was “why shouldn’t they be allowed to be together?”

And I am certainly not advocating witch hunts on gays and lesbians.

But I do not understand how one reconciles an active gay lifestyle and being Christian.

While I support the idea of DADT, when asked my opinion, I believe marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman.
I believe there would be huge fiscal implications of a change in the definition of marriage (we can’t afford the entitlements we have without causing more), not to mention that it violates the fundamental Christian values this country was founded on.

Does that mean I want to cast out homosexuals?
Of course not.
Does it mean I hate homosexuals (or bisexuals or transgenders)?
Do not be ridiculous.
I thought DADT provided a decent middle ground, and I feel that the Christian faith needs to stick to their non-judgemental guns on this issue.  

God will judge the behavior, or not.

Christians should pray for gays and lesbians, not persecute them, but remain true to the book that is the foundation of their faith.
Whether or not Obama gets his way, any church following the bible should refuse to recognize a GLBT marriage.
But it is already more acceptable to be openly GLBT than it is to be openly Christian.

I believe that many churches are sacrificing their principles to be trendy again. 




Because of that, I think the battle has already been lost by the organized Christian faith.

My father thought the Catholic church made a mistake when they stopped saying mass in Latin.

He may have been right on that one...it seems to have been a slippery slope.

You'll notice I refrained from making a Vaseline joke there. I am not totally without couth.

5 comments:

  1. LC, this is a topic that I have a very hard time getting a handle on. I know quite a few gay people. (Now, I admit that the bi-sexual and transgender thing is another category altogether... and I don't get it at all. IMO, the same rules don't apply.) Speaking strictly to gays and lesbians, I don't think they choose to be gay. Just like heterosexual people don't choose that. It isn't a choice, it just is.

    I have spent the better part of my adult years trying to reconcile what my Bible says with what my heart says. If two gay people have spent their entire lives together, if one gets into an accident and is hospitalized, the "family members only" rule becomes particularly unfair. Should they be married in church? I think churches have the right to stick to their guns and refuse based on faith.

    One of my friends pointed out that this new law allowing gays to marry in certain states doesn't change a whole lot for her and her partner. They both have good jobs and good insurance. If/when the state they live in passes a law allowing them to marry, the only thing that will change is that they will be allowed to file taxes jointly, thereby increasing the amount they pay in taxes. She was thrilled.

    Now, I have another gay friend who is very Christian and refuses to live the gay lifestyle even though he is gay. He believes it is sinful, per the Bible, and even though it is who he knows he is, it is his choice on whether to act on those feelings. That said, in his youth he did live the gay lifestyle, but he has repented of that and does no longer. I understand that choice, but I feel that he hates himself for who he is. As you and I know, a fundamental hatred of self is not a good thing. Is that better? Is it what Christ would want? He was so loving. I just have hard time believing that if He were here, He would say to my friend, "Yes, you should feel shame and hatred for who you are. You are flawed deeply at the core. God doesn't make mistakes. Except for you. And then He really f*cked it, but you are doing right by hating yourself until the day you die. God will love you for that."

    That is what gay people hear from Christians. It is why many of them are so angry. I am seeing postings on social networks from my friends (who are mostly easygoing people) about now being "almost as equal as the rest of you" when DOMA passed. I was like, "Oh NO." My first thought was, "Are these people going to hold on to their anger forever? Is this going to be like blacks in the present day and slavery? Not one black person today was ever a slave, but you would think that a good many of them were just set free last week. Is this going to go on for decades?" More divisiveness. More hatred. More separation. More Me Vs. You. This is even going to backlash on the people on the people that supported them. Mark me.

    Maybe that is part of the X-Y-Z model, too. I don't know. Divisiveness and separation does seem to play a major part in rending the fabric of our civilization.

    You now have every thought in my head on gays. It is very noisy up here. I truly don't have any answers. Just more questions.

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  2. Robin-

    My view on whether benefits should extend to gay couples is rooted in my fiscal view-the US simply cannot afford it. Fortunately, I am old enough that I should be off the planet before our economy implodes, because it will happen. And if the vote goes that way, so be it. I will vote my conscience, and that is enough for me.

    I hope I did not convey in my post an attitude of hatred or judgement towards gays, because that is not how I feel. I always do try to weave in humor, and sometimes I may go too far.

    Even though gays might find it objectionable, my view on how churches should approach this issue is far stricter. When I was younger, I had some relationships with women that did not fit the Biblical view, and the church frowns on that. They did not throw me out, but sermons discouraging pre-marital sex are not uncommon.

    I think the clergy should hold to these views.

    However, if Christians in the congregation would follow their freaking bumper stickers' edict (WWJD), they would judge and persecute less, and pray more.

    I do not espouse telling people how they should feel in relationship to God.

    I would not have a problem with a gay person sitting next to me in the pew worshipping, and in fact, I do not know how I would even know.

    I will admit-if two men were holding hands next to me anywhere, I'd be a little uncomfortable, but I do not believe I have ever put out a judgemental vibe to the gay couples I work with.

    I would have a problem with the Catholic church if they recognized gay marriage (or ordained a gay priest).

    But I do not condone persecution of gays.

    While I believe in what the Bible says, and vote that way, what two consenting adults want to do with their time is simply none of my business.

    In my mind, they answer to God, not me.

    If your friend truly hates himself, I would offer up one thing. If he has truly embraced God/Jesus, he's forgiven for anything he might have done.

    I would imagine any temptations your friend feels are no different than those I feel when I walk into a club filled with women.

    Tell him to start thinking of sports scores. I usually try to remember old song lyrics.

    Larry

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    Replies
    1. Larry,

      You didn't come off sounding judgmental of gays. In fact, you said>>> "God will judge the behavior, or not."

      The problem everyone is having here is how the church should handle this (The Bible is clear) versus how the law should handle it (maybe the same, but not necessarily) and how we handle it as individuals. That is one problem that I have with the Koran. There is no extricating the law from religion. The two are one and the same. Sharia Law is written in their Holy Book. That is not how we live here in the USA.

      It is not freedom from religion, but freedom to practice your religion. The church should not be run or regulated by the government. However, the same is also true that the church cannot run or regulate government. The Constitution is in place for that. The two are separate. It is how Christians, Jews, and people from any other religion (other than Muslim) live together in harmony.

      I appreciate your thoughtful comments to my very long-winded comment. I cannot really tell my gay friend anything about how to deal with his feelings. He would say that he doesn't even feel that way. It is just that it oozes out of him in various ways that he doesn't even recognize. Self loathing and/or forgiving ourselves is the hardest task we face as people. It is much easier to forgive others or even accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers. But, for us to forgive ourselves... or perhaps, hardest yet, to fully accept ourselves, when we see ourselves as less or unworthy? I am not sure that sports scores will do it. And that is a place I would even think about treading. However, you are thoughtful to suggest it:)

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  3. DiscDude ~
    Thanks for the shout-out! I didn't have time to comment here last night (many comments to post on my own blog bit), and I don't have time this morning either (the shower and work calls). But a heads-up... I hope to get over here sometime tonight to submit a comment on this good post, Bro.

    So please check da Dashboard because, as one of your cinematic heroes said... "Ah'll be bahk."

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    Replies
    1. I'll look for your comment-I know we don't agree on a few points I make here, but I will especially be interested on your "hobib" take.

      I passed you on the highway this am but you were in the right lane (which was moving slow because of a broken down school bus on the shoulder?)-not sure if you noticed and I couldn't slow down.

      I am dreading this commute when schools are back in session...

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