I think it’s fair to say that, lately, the United States has experienced its fair share of unrest. From Ferguson and Baltimore to Caitlyn Jenner, to the Confederate Flag and Charleston, to the Supreme Court’s ruling that led to the legalization of gay marriage in all fifty states, it really has been one controversial event after another popping up on the evening news. I have witnessed plenty of disagreement from those trying to share their opinions on everything that happens, whether it be on social media, the internet or around town, and it seems that everyone has to have the final word.
Being a student at the University of Mississippi in the heart of the South, a lot of the reactions I have seen towards the news have contained religious undertones. For many, the Bible is the first place to turn when our communities deal with hard-hitting social issues. Now, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that. Personally, I’m religious, and I believe that faith is a good tool for guiding us in life, but it must be used properly. Most of the articles I have seen on social media that discuss how Jesus would treat each issue don’t remind me of the Jesus I’ve come to know. This was especially the case when gay marriage was legalized in the past week or so. The articles that some of my companions were sharing would say things like, “Jesus would want more for gay people” and, “Jesus will be there for you” and, “Even Jesus was tempted sometimes.” When reading these, I couldn’t help but think if this is actually how Jesus would feel.
I’ve always been taught how Jesus is a symbol of love, and I don’t think he would view gays as embodiments of sin. I believe that homosexuality is not a choice, which forces me to acknowledge that homosexuals are created that way. For this reason, I don’t think that Jesus would want them to try to change or to stop loving each other. I think Jesus would be happy best online casino that they’ve found love. Moreover, it isn’t as much about what these articles are saying but how they are said. The authors write as though they are talking down to gay community, but Christianity would never advise anyone to treat another human being with anything less than respect. These articles essentially express the disgust many Christians have toward the gay community but retract it by saying that they love homosexuals — because Jesus does.
What a lot of Christians don’t realize is that much of the gay community identifies as Christian. That is, people don’t have to be either Christian or gay. They can be both — so, when talking to them, remember that maybe they love Jesus too. Your right to adhere to a religion is equivalent to everyone else’s right to do so. Lastly, the Bible seems to condemn homosexuality, but many of those verses come from the same books of the Bible that say that we should stone women and cast out lepers. Nowadays, we generally admire women and give lepers the cure, so maybe we should pay more attention to what Jesus would really do.
