Marriage Equality – A Lost Opportunity

 

“The saddest part of disagreements over marriage equality has nothing to do with the legal question but everything to do with Christianity’s failure as a whole to lead in the right direction on this issue. Christians are missing a huge opportunity to not only love and encourage our own Christian LGBT friends, neighbors, and family members, but are also demonstrating to the world that we are simultaneously out of touch with both Jesus and the world. Insert forehead smack here.” – Corbin Lambeth

My thoughts exactly. Exactly. A lost opportunity.

Christians obsessed with being “biblical” have missed the entire point of the book.

The Bible is about love and reconciliation. Don’t strain a gnat and swallow a camel. Don’t ignore people in favor of rules.

Please.

You know that’s what made Jesus angry and what he focused on in virtually every encounter with the religious leaders — putting rules over people. And the more they thought they had him trapped by the rules, the more he pulled the rug out from under them.

Really. It’s about people, not rules. Always has been.

It’s about love.

Be the face of Jesus to a hurting world.

Love as he loved.

Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Love God, love others.

That’s pretty much it.

* To read more from Susan Cottrell, visit www.FreedHearts.org
[box type=”bio”]

SUSAN COTTRELL is a national speaker, teacher, and counselor with years of Biblical study and discipleship experience. Her books include: Mom, I’m Gay – Loving Your LGBTQ Child Without Sacrificing Your Faith, as well as How Not to Lose Your Teen and The Marriage Renovation. Through her nonprofit organization – FreedHearts.org – Susan champions the LGBTQ community and families with her characteristic tender-heartedness, and she zealously challenges Christians who reject them with her wise insistence that “loving God and loving others” are the foundation of the rest of the scripture, just as Jesus said.

She is the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin, and her “Mom, I’m Gay” book has been endorsed by The Human Rights Campaign and others. Sharon Groves, PhD, HRC’s Religion & Faith Program Director says, “I often get asked by parents for resources that can address the struggles of raising LGBT sons and daughters without having to leave faith behind. Susan Cottrell’s book, Mom, I’m Gay, does just that. This is the kind of book that parents will love.”

She and her husband have been married more than 25 years and have five children – one of whom is in the LGBTQ community. She lives in Austin, Texas, and blogs at FreedHearts.org and here in IMPACT Magazine’s FreedHearts and Jesus Blog columns.
[/box]