I’ve read comments on the same sex marriage issue and we all have our opinions. We know what our Bible reads as far as same sex marriages.  And we also know what’s right and wrong.  

We all can judge that person or those people for the choices they make, but God has the last say-so. He is the ultimate judge, and he is the one whom we all have to one day face. 

Let us all be in prayer for the choices made by them, for their lives.

Candy Stevenson
Chattanooga

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No one needs for you to pray to your God for them or their choices.

These Bible belt opinion articles never cease to amaze me.

Alex Rose
Stuart Heights

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Responses to "Bible belt opinion articles" never cease to amaze me.  Miss Stevenson has a standard by which she forms her belief, the Bible.  Conversely, Mr. Rose has no standard by which he forms his opinion. 

If you don't believe the Bible, then just come out and say so, and stop attacking those who do.  Whether you believe the Bible or not, at least Christians have a standard by which they form their belief on same sex marriage.  Those who support same sex marriage have no such standard.

Mark Harwood

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Mark Harwood, the people that support marriage equality do have a standard to base our beliefs. Maybe you have heard of it. It’s called the United States Constitution (with all those pesky Amendments ). See, in this country, if a couple wants their marriage recognized by the government they have to go to the courthouse and get something called a marriage license. And if they wish, they can be married by a judge, or go to a house of worship and have the ceremony there. Whatever they decide is best for them, but without that paper they are not married in the eyes of the law. Not discounting that several mainstream Christian churches (along with other religions ) bless and have holy matrimony ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples, specific religious beliefs have no bearing on secular civil law.

aulcie@live.com

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A word to those who are homosexual. We believe differently about many things while we also agree on many things. The issue of your homosexuality has become a significant discussion in our community, and no one wants their identity to be kicked around as if it's a school book topic. This is not a mere item of interest to you. Your identity is wrapped up in the sound-bytes and headlines. Someone fires an opinion piece into the Chattanoogan, and you are being discussed as if you are an idea. 

I'm sorry for hurtful statements that may be written. I'm sorry for hurtful statements I may write. Whether I mean to hurt or not is an important distinction for me, but that distinction is lost on one who feels an arrow in his/her heart.  I'm sorry for the attacks, and I'm glad God stands ready to love you regardless of what this or that angry mob may say.   

It's good community to take a stand for what you believe to be right, but it's bad community if you take a stand on the other person's head.  Acknowledge me this: we don't have the power to logically trap others into seeing it our way.  It's theatrics to jump on a soap box singing tired hymns as if you think you'll change a mind, when you really know only God can change a mind or a heart.  

I'm a Christian which implies I hold the Bible as an authority.  That's a statement of belief.  My conclusion about homosexuality is that scripture approaches it with a warning that acting homosexually will separate a person from God.  Strong language.  Some conclude very differently ranging from "Who cares what the Bible says" to "I believe the Bible says homosexuality is good."  So after considering everything I know to consider, I believe what I believe. Now what do I do?  

Those who hold the Bible in authority will acknowledge we are to love people.  People of all sorts.  Everyone.  So how do I believe something is sinful while at the same time loving those who do the thing I see as harmful (sinful)?  I'm really addressing Christians in this paragraph.  If you love Christ, you will love people.  You'll look for opportunities to love people.  This happens when God changes our hearts by changing the way we think, therefore, Christians are all over the place in the process as God is at different places at different times with different people.  Had God asked me, I would have suggested he strike all Christians with immediate perfection when they receive Him so as not to confuse everyone else.  But God didn't ask me, and He seems to put a lot of value on free will and process.  

Loving people isn't theoretical.  I love my relative who is homosexual and a groomsman from my wedding who is homosexual and a college roommate who is homosexual.  That means I want the best for each.  I respect where they are, I am concerned for them since I believe what I believe, and I pray for them.  And I love in a way that doesn't try to force them to believe like me.  They may or may not care what I believe, but as for my relative I can tell you what love does not look like.  It doesn't look like me challenging him on Thanksgiving or leaving him off the July 4th guest list because we believe differently about homosexuality.  

Taking a position on an issue doesn't mean I take a stand on a person.  I believe homosexuality is sinful and ultimately self-destructive, but I'm not at war with homosexuals any more than I'm at war with people who lust or eat in unhealthy excess.  Christ didn't raise up an army to stamp out people who aren't Christian.  He raised up an army of people to represent Himself.  And in my deference to His ultimate wisdom, I trust him to change them...or me. 

Rob Smith

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Mr. Smith, I appreciate that you try to love and respect homosexuals as you would anyone else. In that respect, you are a good example for many others. Unfortunately, denying fellow Americans the legal (and non-religious affiliated) right to marry is taking a stand on a person, as you would put it. 

You may hold the bible as an authority, but in the eyes of the law the Constitution of the United States of America is the authority in this country, not your or anyone else's religious beliefs.  

Some Christians against gay marriage accuse supporters of "picking and choosing" parts of the bible. If you believe that the bible is the authority on homosexual relationships, deeming them wrong, then why do you not believe that the bible is the authority on slavery and polygamy, deeming them acceptable? Those who use the bible as an argument against gay marriage are just as guilty of "picking and choosing." 

The fact is, the bible, nor any other religious text, is not a valid argument against the U.S. Constitution. 

I am grateful to you that you do your best to love and respect homosexuals as you would anyone else, but I encourage you to further examine the Constitution and the idea of "picking and choosing" parts of the bible.

Tinamari Coleman

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When will this ever end?  I get so tired of hearing about all the "Christian" folk attacking gays and trying to push their religious beliefs on them.  What does it matter to you?  If someone else doesn't have the same beliefs as you, how does that have anything to do with you?  Why can you not worry about yourself?  It's a person's own responsibility to follow their own beliefs, why do you feel the need to push yours onto others?  

God is judge, so why not leave others alone?  If same sex marriage becomes legal, what does that take away from you?  Nothing.  Does it take away from the honor of marriage?  No, the 72 hour celebrity marriages and millions of divorces do a good job of that.  

So a gay couple who have been together for 20 years can't get married but a man and woman who just met can walk in and get married anytime?  Okay.  That really honors the whole marriage idea, eh?  

True Christians know that God is love and God loves all people.  God doesn't hate gays, you do.  I have seen so many Christians who pick and choose which sections of the Bible they want to follow.  You can't fix ignorance.  Lots of people are on the wrong side of history.  

One day you'll look back on this and see yourself the same way you look at those who opposed black rights and women rights.  Some of the Christians are the ones who need prayer, not gays. 

Bo Denson