Even When- Jesus and Gay Marriage

In my faith journey, there are two thoughts that I've been consumed with recently...

1) That the kingdom of God does not, and will not, look like our government system.

2) We need to view everything through the lens of Christ.

The issue of gay marriage is a big one, and this week, especially, it's taking a front seat in the news and in our conversations. It's obviously, a hugely important and relevant issue for this time in history.

I also think it's so interesting that this debate is happening the week of Easter.

If there ever there was a display of service, humility, anti-violence, and love, Jesus is that display. The life of Christ fascinates me. He was the source of truth and clear about how kingdom of heaven functions differently than the governments in this world, yet never condemned or judged anyone for not understanding or living it out perfectly. To the most extreme humanly possible, he showed his kingdom was different by being crucified without arguing, fighting back, or cursing those who persecuted him. Even in the midst of our dirt and muck, he humbly laid down his life. And not just for those who agreed he was the Messiah; for those who disagreed with him, and even more, those who hated him. He laid down the "sword," if you will, and was willing to look weak, so love and peace could prevail. He may have seemed passive, but truthfully, love is about the least passive thing he could have ever displayed.

I've been wondering, how should those who follow Christ respond to this super intense issue. It seems complicated, but maybe it's not actually as complicated as we've made it. What would it change if we actually looked through the lens of Jesus, and followed his example? If we stopped placing our ultimate authority in the government, and laid down our lives in the midst of disagreement, how much more would it display Christ, than fighting tooth and nail against the rights of those who are gay? What if, as those who are trying to follow Christ, we set aside whatever opinion we may have on this issue- whether for or against, set down our bibles, stop spewing our unhelpful words, and simply loved? Just like Christ did. He was convicted, but humble in his approach. He served, he washed feet, he didn't try to change the government or people's hearts with force or harsh words. He let things be as they were, and simply dwelt among us. He loved deeply and served unreservedly. What if we let God work on our hearts, first, before drawing bold lines in the sand?  What would it look like to keep our mouths shut, but our hearts open big? If we truly believe that the kingdom of God is not like the governments here, then what is there to fear if it does pass? What if we say, there are plenty of sinful behaviors to go around, and we're not going to pick apart each others lives, but work on our own instead? What if the we listen first, seek to understand one another, and loved no matter what? Would it be so bad, no matter what the law says?

This week marks the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. I think it would be silly for us to not stop this week and ask ourselves how the most loving, gentle, caring, and powerful being to have ever existed, would look at this gay marriage issue, especially considering this is the week we are about to celebrate that beings' most monumental act of love. If he is our standard, then we must try to see things through his lens, through his actions, and through his life. And to me, the answer is not to fight, the answer is to love through service, and learn about one another first. Nothing else changes hearts than that. Not law, not government. In the midst of this country arguing about gay marriage this week, and also celebrating Christ's death and resurrection, let us remember that Jesus served even when, that Jesus was beaten even when, that Jesus was crucified even when, and that Jesus forgave and loved even when. We should be able to do the same. Love, even when.

We live in an either/or culture. We see that if we have one thing, the opposite can't also exist. I've been inspired these last few weeks, by a book a book I've been reading, to challenge the notion that two seemingly opposites can't co-exist. Can gay marriage exist in this country, and God still be present and active? Yes. Let us not reduce God's presence and work to a little law. He's bigger than that, and often works fervently in the "even when." This law is likely going to pass at some point. So what! My hope is not in what this government says what we can and can't do. My hope is in Christ, who walks with us in the valleys, who works on us in process, who meets us exactly where we are at, who loves deep, wide, and vast, and who conquered death. DEATH. My only responsibility is live out love the way he did. If he is big enough to demolish death, than he is surely big enough to love and cherish us each one of us, no matter where we stand, no matter what lifestyle we live, and even if/when gay marriage becomes law. We have nothing to fear.

Let us remember that God was resurrected and he redeemed us for all time. The government of his time, had no barring on what he was capable of, and the government of our time, has no barring on what he's capable of today.

May we see that laws and rules are not the end all, regardless of what happens, and that our lens in which we see the world, needs to be seen through Jesus Christ, who served, loved, and laid down his life...even when.