Instead of adding to the chain of comments on other posts pertaining to same-sex marriage, I prefer to express my thought in a separate post.
#1 The Chick-fil-A company is being criticized because of what its current president said about families.
In an interview for a religious publication, Dan Cathy said about his company, “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”
During a radio program interview, Cathy said, “As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than You as to what constitutes a marriage.’ I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about.” (Quote Source)
Because of what Dan Cathy said, some people who favor the legalization of same-sex marriage are claiming that the Chick-fil-A company is anti-gay.
Wow, what a straw-man argument that claim is.
The company hasn’t barred homosexuals from making purchases at its restaurants.
Instead, what has happened is that the owners of the company have exercised their First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion.
I consider it wrong (and un-American) to try to prevent the exercise of constitutional freedoms.
#2 If they want to, then supporters of same-sex marriage can exercise their freedom of speech by not making purchases at Chick-Fil-A restaurants. A boycott is another form of free speech.
#3 It is true that some professed Christians support same-sex marriage. The fact that these people identify themselves as Christians does not mean that same-sex marriage is compatible with Christian doctrine.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 the Apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (ESV)
Show me a Christian who supports same-sex marriage, and I will show you a Christian who is trying to serve two masters by conforming to the world, contrary to the Apostle Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:2.
#4 The rights of people residing in the USA are spelled out in the U.S. Constitution and the various state constitutions. The U.S. Constitution makes no mention of a right to marry whomever one wants to marry. The right to regulate marriage belongs to the individual states, in accordance with the 10th Amendment.
I consider it wrong to claim that same-sex marriage is a right if such a right is not stated in a state’s constitution or other legal documents.
It is also an error to claim that heterosexuals always have the right to marry whomever they want to marry. For example, half of the states ban marriage between First Cousins. The New York Times carried a story about First Cousin couples who had to go out of state in order to get married.
#5 I do not believe that proponents of same-sex marriage have done a good job explaining why they want same-sex marriage legalized. What do same-sex couples hope to accomplish with marriage that they can’t accomplish without marriage?
Already same-sex couples can live together. They can give each other power of attorney with durable provisions. Doing so enables each to do for the other what a spouse would be able to do.
#6 Contrary to what some critics say, there is a difference between being opposed to a certain behavior and being opposed to certain people, and for plenty of Americans, opposition to a certain behavior is based on written standards of ancient origin.
In general, Jews conform to the teachings of the Tanak. Christians conform to the teachings of the Tanak (to some extent) and the New Testament. Muslims conform to the teachings of the Quran.
Newer religious groups conform to the teachings of more-modern written standards. Mormons conform to the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Jehovah’s Witnesses conform to their own religious writings.
My point is that certain people are opposed to certain behavior because that behavior is spoken against in the religious texts that they use. Yet, their opposition to the behavior does not imply that they hate or fear the ones who engage in such behavior. Thus, claims of hate or fear are straw-man arguments.
#7 People who cite religious reasons for being opposed to same-sex marriage use a particular standard for determining right from wrong. They have a moral compass that they use.
If you are a proponent of same-sex marriage, then what standard do you use to determine right from wrong? What is your moral compass?
