This series of essays -- Essays For The Thinking
Christian -- are protected by copyright laws.

All rights are reserved, with the exception
that these essays may be downloaded for your
review and discussion, as well as published via
email using my original, that is verbatim, text.

Those that wish to download the MS Word
version can click here:

Marriage Rights For The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Transgender?  

Reason!  Analyze the assertions!  Compare the
assertions to the scripture!  The Lord will give
you wisdom!

Much love in Christ;

Caryn LeMur

************************************




Essays For The Thinking
Christian:

Marriage Rights For The
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Transgender
(GLBT)?

What Did Jesus Do And Teach?


Copyright © Caryn LeMur    2006   

The authoress expressly gives the right for anyone to freely
reproduce and distribute this essay verbatim.



What should the primarily heterosexual
community of United States churches do for the
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT)
community?  After all, in multiple states, the
voters (to include Christian voters) are being
asked to give or deny the right of “marriage” to
the Gay and Lesbian (same-sex) couples.

As Thinking Christians, we do not say quickly
say, “Yes!  We’ll give the same-sex couples the
right of marriage!”  In fact, as Thinking
Christians, we also do not hastily say, “No!  We’
ll deny the same-sex couples the rights of
marriage!”  Rather, we pause, and then ask
ourselves:  “Did Jesus teach principles that we
must apply to the request of the same-sex
couples for the right of marriage?”  

We, as Thinking Christians, ask ourselves
“What Did Jesus Do or Teach?”  We must deny
our own self the right to make a quick “snap”
decision.  Rather, as Thinking Christians, we
research the Word of God – the Bible – to
understand how best to imitate our Lord Jesus.

The question for the Thinking Christian is never
“how to vote”, but is always, “how should I
imitate Jesus?”

Let’s look at the words of Jesus in the famous
“Sermon On The Mount”.

[And Jesus continued, saying,] "You have
heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. If you love those who love you,
what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? And if you greet only your
brothers, what are you doing more than
others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father
is perfect.  [The Bible, the Book of Matthew,
Chapter 5, verses 43 – 48.  New International
Version]

Examining this passage, we see that Jesus said
the key phrase, “But I tell you….”  This key
phrase, to the Thinking Christian, shows that
the new teaching of Christ must now take
precedence over the previous teaching.

Conclusion:  we are now forbidden to hate our
enemies; we are now required to love our
enemies.  What Jesus is about to teach takes
precedence over our interpretation of all Laws
that came before and all Laws that will come
afterwards.

How are we to then “love” our enemies?  Good
question.  Jesus then defines this “love” as the
imitation of “… your Father in heaven”.

Fine.  We are to imitate our heavenly Father.  
But then, as Thinking Christians we search the
passage for more specificity in order to
understand the manner in which we are to
imitate God, our “heavenly Father”.  After all,
imitating God in general is a subject that is very
abstract.  

Fortunately for us, Jesus communicates very
specific examples and converts the abstract
concept into the concrete actions.

Jesus first gives two examples of God’s specific
actions – the sun rising on the evil and the
good, and the rain being sent to fall on the
righteous and the unrighteous.

Conclusion:  God’s law of impartiality
transcends His law of making a distinction
between the “evil” and “good”.  God’s public
blessings are given with impartiality.

This is important conclusion for the Thinking
Christian.  God does not negate the law of
making a distinction between “evil” versus
“good”.  Rather, God uplifts His law of
impartiality as the higher truth for His children
to imitate.

Are we certain that Jesus is stressing imitation
of this truth – that God’s law of impartiality is to
take precedence over God’s law of making a
distinction?

Yes, we are certain, because Jesus then gives
us yet two more examples of how to implement
this teaching:  in the giving of love without
partiality, and in the giving of a greeting
without partiality.

Conclusion:  As God gives the blessings of the
sun and the rain with impartiality, we must also
give the blessings that we control with
impartiality.

Therefore, to the Thinking Christian, we must
give the blessing of “marital rights” (a blessing
we control at the voting booth) to the ones we
consider “evil” or “good”, for the law of
impartiality shows us that Jesus would give that
right to them.

The distinctions of “evil” versus “good” can still
be taught within the bounds of any Church
doctrine, and should be taught.  But the
distinctions must yield to the higher law of
impartiality in respect to “public” blessings, as
taught by our Lord Jesus.

Does the “righteous” heterosexual church
community enjoy the warming “sun” and
refreshing “rain” of marriage rights?  Yes, of
course they do.  And the law of the states gives
them that blessing.

Therefore, we are obligated as Thinking
Christians to vote so that the “blessing” of the
“sun” and “rain” of marital rights also will fall
upon the “righteous” and the “unrighteous”.  

We most certainly can make distinctions within
our private Church doctrines concerning “what”
is “righteous” and what is “unrighteous”.  And
yet, we equally and most certainly must also
imitate our Christ in showing impartiality with
giving and sharing the blessings that we
control.  

Christ’s teaching takes precedence over all the
teachings that came before, and yes, Christ’s
teaching takes precedence over the
Constitution of the United States, which came
2,000 years later.  “Righteousness exalts a
nation” says the Bible, and the righteousness of
the impartiality taught by Christ, will exalt this
nation all the more.

Let us imitate our Christ, and vote that all
persons – the “evil” and the “good”, the
“righteous” and the “unrighteous”, the
heterosexual and the same-sex couples – that
all be allowed the rights of marriage.  The
primary issue is not “right or wrong” -- the
higher issue is to ensure the “impartiality” of
giving and sharing as taught by Jesus.

Let us be perfect, as our heavenly Father is
perfect; let us obey the words of our Jesus.  Let
us make distinction within the Church teachings
as needed.  Let us vote for all to have the rights
of marriage.





Copyright © Caryn LeMur    2006   

The authoress expressly gives the right for anyone to freely
reproduce and distribute this essay verbatim.
Essays For The Thinking Christian:
Marriage Rights For The Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Transgender?