Christian opinions on gay marriage

One of the hottest topics today is the issue of gay marriage. Maryland is currently in the process of allowing same-sex marriage to be legal, so college students are even less removed from it.

Many people ask what Christians think of gay marriage. And the fact is that many are divided on the issue.

Many students are known for experimenting with same sex relationships during their college years. Keandra Smith, a junior at Hood College, was a student just like this. "Entering college in 2010, I found myself away from home, family, and any foundation I set up to live the 'Christian lifestyle'.

"My past was filled with many broken relationships with men, including my father. I felt it was best to turn to women for the love I lacked. Living this lifestyle caused stress, depression, and confusion because I was going against everything I cared about- my parents."

Smith turned from homosexuality because she felt she was not honoring God with her lifestyle choice. "Even though it was not for me, I stand proud to say that I believe everyone should be happy and be allowed to love and marry who they love and want to marry," Smith said.

Jonathan Cerda, a student from Shepherd University, stated "as a gay Catholic, I do believe that the ideal family is a mother and a father and that the purpose of marriage is a way to honor God. The reason why it's very heated is because people don't understand the Christian perspective on marriage is to honor God."

The debate over gay marriage is a topic everyone deals with, not just college students. Mike Ferrante is the worship arts pastor and young adult/college age Bible study leader at Crosswind Church in Westminster, Md.

"I feel gay marriage is an oxymoron. Marriage is a holy sacrament of the Church to distinguish the relationship between one man and one woman as separate and higher than any relationship they have on Earth,"Ferrante said.

Crosswind Church is one of many churches in Maryland asking congregation members to sign a petition by the Christian-based Maryland Marriage Alliance to put the issue before the voters of Maryland. The State requires 56,000 valid signatures to place this bill on the ballot.

"What the government does is up to the government. However, if the government were to put regulations on ministers like myself to officiate these unions, then I will defend what I believe to the point of affliction,"Ferrante said.

Jonathan Lewis is a popular blogger from South Carolina, and has very liberal views on the issue. He made a post online about the issue in February, and the post went so viral and became so heated, he deleted the post altogether.

Lewis explained "To look at it biblically, the word 'homosexuality' did not appear in the Bible until the 1940's. The word, in the original text, that was used in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy was 'male bed' which meant an older man sleeping/taking advantage of a boy. It did not mean a loving/consensual same sex relationship.

"We will allow a black man to marry a white woman, which is pretty 'untraditional' in the grand scheme of history but we realized that tradition was wrong," Lewis stated.

Smith also compared same-sex marriage to interracial marriage. "Gay marriage correlates with civil rights because African Americans wanted the right to vote, eat in the same restaurants, and live the same life as others. Who are we to take the right of marriage from an individual?"

Christians are often given the persona of hating homosexuals. Tyler Simmons, a recently enlisted United States Marine, explained that "it is our job as Christians to love them and show them the error of their ways in a loving manner that is worthy of Christ because our own sins are equally as bad as theirs, but marriage is something that God established for us to use in order to create a family and raise it to follow God's will."

Suzanne Mack, a senior at Hood College gave a similar response. "Relationships involving people of the same sex are cited as sinful in the Bible, the Holy Word of God. This does not mean that God doesn't love the people who participate in this type ofrelationship.

"Instead, it means that God hates their actions with a holy hatred, just as he has a holy hatred for all other sin. God can and has delivered people from sin - including homosexuality."

The majority of Christians, both straight and homosexual, agree that marriage is meant for a man and a woman in order to further God’s kingdom. Cerda explained though that "Christians don't understand why gay people want to get married. For gays, it's about political rights. It's about being recognized under the law and having the benefits that come with being a married couple."

Smith stated that "this is where the battle begins and the question is asked, 'Why do we truly get married?' Most couples marry to be with the one they love and produce children out of the result. Do the husband and wife that cannot bear children or want children not symbolize a true marriage because of this factor? At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, 'What is marriage and whydo we marry?'"