Let's change the example:

What if you NFL fans got yourself all hyped up about YOUR TEAM's first game of the season, and the visiting team came in, got suited up, and in the middle of the game announced that they were going to play with TWO quarterbacks, making 12 men on the field on their side and the extra quarterback wasn't going to throw the ball, he was going to pull out a gun and start shooting players on your side in order to give his team an "advantage".

Unless a ref stepped in and penalized them, I imagine that you'd be on your feet in the stands, your living room, at work, wherever you happened to be and would be shouting at the TV or the field for the ref to do something about it, wouldn't you?

Well, Christians happen to be the "home team" on the issue of marriage, and we figure that if the visiting team wants to change the rules in the middle of a game, they really should go somewhere else and start THEIR OWN league, where they can decide what the rules should be about how many players can or cannot be on the field at any given time, and various and sundry other guidelines fro how they wanted to play the game. And since we know that the majority of the fans, players, coaches, owners and refs will side with us on the issue, we figure we have a winning case on not getting the rules changed to suit the other team.

So what should the other team do? Demonize the refs, players and coaches on the original team, cry and whine that it's "not fair" that the winning team gets to keep the rules that the majority of fans, players, coaches and sponsors want, in the hope that someone will give them what they want just to shut them up, OR should the go ahead and form their own league and try to get players, coaches, refs, sponsors and suchlike for themselves, and leave the NFL alone???

Christians are opting for the latter, because it's easy to see that their "league" has been working pretty well as the nucleus of civilized society (notice I said "pretty well", NOT "perfectly") for THOUSANDS of years.

The other reason is that Christians are prepared to fight for their principles as long and as hard as it takes to get the job done.

All Christians (and a huge number of just plain wholesome family-type people) are asking is that the homosexuals just go form their own "league", and stop trying to change the time-honored, successful rules and guidelines in a league that is larger, stronger, has more "depth on the bench" and has bigger and more powerful players. In other words, in my humble opinion, they're just "out of their league" in this one....

You're welcome to your own opinion on the subject, but that's the way I see it.....

Homosexuals will have quite an answer to give one day. If they only knew God's heart on the subject, they would gladly work to change their sinful behavior to avoid the conscious, eternal, torments of Hell. I am not trying to be preachy, my heart honestly weeps for them in their lostness.

I would add to your opinion this: Homosexuals (as sinners like me) have a need to reconcile themselves to God's ways in this "league". Starting another league won't save their souls. And seeing lost people come to faith and salvation should be our desire as every follower of Christ!

hi my name is Carrie. i'm straight but have a uncle who is gay. i guess i didn't understand how Christians felt about the issue until i read your blog. it cleared up a lot of confusions. just wanted to say thanks for putting it so well into words.- thanks

thanks Hollis

jesus. you couldn't have used a worse analogy if it involved a car!

straight marriage has worked fine, sure. but who are you to say that people can't choose how to run their lives? Not everyone believes in God, and even those who do might not believe in a Christian God. America is founded on the principles of freedom and liberty. Deciding how other people should live their lives is decidedly un-american.

So back off.

I shouldn't have to point out to you that I can easily get married outside of a church with no mention of God. Stop trying to reclaim marriage as a christian thing - it isn't like that anymore.

No matter how much you pine for the old days where proprietors of new ideas and progress can be shunned into submission by the church, they're not coming back. With the advances in gay rights, the world isn't going to turn around and reverse the restrictions imposed on homosexuals.

Grow up, have some compassion for your fellow humans.

And while I'm not gay, I'd be bloody ragin' if people like you told me how me and another consenting adult can lead our lives. That goes without saying. So to answer your question: just look at what you're saying. You're forcing a doctrine that restricts the freedom on others, freedoms you enjoy purely because you were BORN that way.

The sports analogy really makes no sense considering the fact that homosexual marriage is completely separate and doesn't threaten or negate heterosexual marriage in any way. Separation of Church and State...it is a constitutional amendment your argument is futile.

While this doesn't focus on gay marriage, you may find solace from your wicked way in this blog post:

http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html

I don't understand what is so complicated about equal rights. Homosexuality is genetic, like having green eyes or brown hair...

Also, your analogy is flawed on a number of levels. The "league" you describe isn't run by Christians, it's run by the state. You guys didn't invent marriage, all you did is codify it in The Bible. That doesn't make it your place to decide who can engage in it, because christianity isn't a state religion in the US.

You guys are onlookers, or delusional protesters, hoping to have some say in an idea that pre-dates chrstianity. Have your say, but base it on science. That's how the world runs now, and by'eck do we reap the benefits!

And actually, I don't care if you consider progress hateful. or gays hateful. the moment I find something in common with a conservative christian like you will be the moment I take a good look at my life, and try and pinpoint where it went wrong.

and besides, why is this on a twitter discussion board?

Nothing WRONG With Being A Christian!

I'm Sick Of PERVERTS Running Us Down!

Will, I agree totally with your opinion. I have known and do know many homosexual people, some of whom were open to talking about GOD's view of their condition and some not.

But I have NEVER been "hateful" with ANY of them, and don't know any other Christians who are that way. That's why it was so insulting to read the other topic here about why "we" as Christians were hateful to homosexuals. (?!?)

To me, the explanation of why anyone would post a topic of that title is simple: first of all, he/she can't REALLY be a Christian, because anyone who has truly experienced the love and compassion that our LORD has for ALL of us sinners knows that it's His requirement that those of us who have been forgiven so much sin in our lives are transformed by Him to have the same compassion for others, no matter what their background or present condition may be. And our primary purpose in this life is to share the great love He has given to us with anyone and everyone who will listen and respond to His love for all of us.

I like to say that He reached into "the sewer" to get me, so I know there's no depth He won't go to in order to save anyone else. It hurts my heart to see the deceptions that Satan uses to fool those who really need Him into thinking that He wants to "judge" them, when His primary purpose is to SAVE them and do them more GOOD than they could ever imagine!

It's a sad situation and a challenge, But thank GOD, we know His Grace sufficient to meet and overcome it!

Thanks for your post! =)

Wow, there seems to be some strong feelings, (possibly even intolerance) against Christians here. I can't speak for all Christians, but I don't hate gays, however, I don't appreciate their personal choice being forced down my throat either. I do not understand why they want to take a relationship that is common in most societies on this planet and make it their own. It can't be for rights, because most states have created options for protecting their rights; it can't be for medical emergencies because anyone can write a power of attorney for anyone else in case of their incapacitation, so is it just to legitimize their choice?

The Bible is very clear about sexual relationships of the same sex. It is sin, just like adultery, prostitution, lying, cheating, swearing or any other sin. Our issue is with them asking us to recognize what God says is a sin as the same as what we consider to be a holy union between one man and one woman. However, we are also still commanded to love them.

I am often frustrated that the intolerance seems to be wrong for Christians, but ok to direct, often violently, intolerance against Christians.

Barney, I used to think I was part of "the new social movement that was gonna change the world" at one time too. We called ourselves "hippies", and we really thought our radical, left-wing social movement was going to "roll over" all those "pesky conservatives" who stood in our way, too.

What we ended up finding out (just like you and your well-meaning friends will find) was that though they were silent for a time there were a WHOLE LOT MORE conservatives who believed in GOD, country, loyalty and all those "straight-laced" principles that we "progressives" were so sure we would overcome, given the opportunity to.

Son, I HAVE "grown up", and I have more compassion now for others than I EVER could have had back in those days, because I had so much ANGER that I couldn't overcome back then.

Now it's YOUR TURN to "grow up".......I hope the ride for you isn't as "bumpy" as mine was - I say that out of compassion for you.....

Barney, if you're going to pontificate on a subject, the least you can do is to get the correct background on what you're trying to talk about, so that others can see FACTS on the issue.

Marriage was NOT invented by the "state", it was given to us BY GOD, THOUSANDS of years ago, (in case you can't understand that, it means before America was even a glint in our Father's eye...)

And I'm betting that the Person who "decides who can engage in it" was then and still will be GOD. I'm sorry if that pops your little socialistic bubble......

Barney, once again: You're only showcasing your own ignorance by making a comment like, "while I'm not gay, I'd be bloody ragin' if people like you told me how me and another consenting adult can lead our lives"

Actually, the conservative movement I exemplified in my football analogy was designed to show that conservatives believe it's fine if homosexuals want to create their own lifestyle, but we will RESIST and fight with all our resolve any attempt by the left-wing and homosexual lobby to change and totally distort the time-honored and successful definition of marriage, which has stood for thousands of years as the core of civilized society.

We're ready. Are you and your "progressive" friends? You do not fight against just us. Your fight is with the living GOD, who created marriage as it has stood from the beginning of civilization as we know it, and I am confident that He will decide how this conflict ends.

And by the way, that's not "hate", it's just FACT, which you're welcome to oppose if that's the side you want to be on.....

Why are Christians to hateful to Homosexuals? Why are Christians intolerant bigots?

Chris, you wrote: "and besides, why is this on a twitter discussion board?"

I guess the only answer I could give to that is that the "other" discussion here on the topic is a distortion of the true facts of the case, so I thought a rebuttal based on the TRUTH of the issue was fair. Apparently, a lot of others agree....

Since when does homosexual marriage threaten you or you beliefs about marriage? I guess I stumbled into another conservative Narnia where freedom died in favor of a religion and the religious who have no right to govern others lives.

Dylan, "Why are Christians to hateful to Homosexuals? Why are Christians intolerant bigots?"

On the contrary, you should turn that question around 180 degrees. It's the homosexuals who are bigoted, intolerant and hateful toward not only Christians, but conservatives of any stripe and actually ANYONE who disagrees with their radical agenda.

Just so you understand, Dylan, "disagreement" does not equate to "hate", AND disagreement is a free speech RIGHT, available to EVERY American, not just to radical leftists.

You're welcome to disagree if you choose to........that's your right.

What conservatives and others who disagree with and say in opposition of radical agendas is theirs...

i just wanna know how this is on a twitter application page, God is Love
L.R.

Kevin Tobin wrote: "The sports analogy really makes no sense considering the fact that homosexual marriage is completely separate and doesn't threaten or negate heterosexual marriage in any way. Separation of Church and State...it is a constitutional amendment your argument is futile."

Call me crazy, but "homosexual marriage is completely separate and doesn't threaten or negate heterosexual marriage in any way.", is a plain boldfaced lie.

Homosexual "marriage" is an end-run designed to change the definition of marriage for everyone and anyone who wants to get married, and I think you know that, despite what you wrote. And if we allow that, what's next? Pedophiles "marrying" their 9-year-old daughters? Farmers "marrying" their sheep? Polygamists "marrying anyone and everyone"? Scientists "marrying" their robots??? The imagination runs wild!

As far as "Separation of Church and State" is concerned, that phrase explains the protection that the Constitution gives to religion FROM GOVERNMENT, NOT the other way around. READ the amendment and you'll see that. So actually, YOUR argument is the one that's "futile". Sorry, Bud.... :-)

Tyrone, you wrote: "Nothing WRONG With Being A Christian! I'm Sick Of PERVERTS Running Us Down!"

To that I can only say take heart, Tyrone....remember GOD's Word says that "the battle is the LORD's"...we are only told to represent Him and to STAND for Him...

If I were a bettin' man, I'd bet on Him, not the cacophony of shrill opposition that is trying to "shout down" reasonable debate on this subject.....

your statement is strictly a opinion. There is no proof of the genetic strand of homosexuality. Imagine parents screening them selves for the chances of their child being "homo." That would cause so much more controversy then there is now it this statement to be true.

Since when was it invented by God? What's your source for that, The Bible? That verifiable source that has stood up to criticism? Not likely. Plus it exists in a number of religions, which is the correct "marriage". Christianity I guess, just cause you're christian?

"Pedophiles "marrying" their 9-year-old daughters? Farmers "marrying" their sheep? Polygamists "marrying anyone and everyone"? Scientists "marrying" their robots??? The imagination runs wild!"

None of those are comparable, because marriage is and always has been between two consenting adults, or when they have the relevent approval from their guardians. The examples you listed do not fall into this category, and thus will never be considered marriage. It's really that simple. Don't confuse yourself.

"
As far as "Separation of Church and State" is concerned, that phrase explains the protection that the Constitution gives to religion FROM GOVERNMENT, NOT the other way around. READ the amendment and you'll see that. So actually, YOUR argument is the one that's "futile". Sorry, Bud.... :-)"

Actually it's to do with secularism and countries not having a "state religion".

If the farmer can get the sheep to say "I do", he deserves a goddamn marriage certificate.

Homosexual people came from god's creation as well. What do you thing God could feel when other parts of his/her creation attaks their own Brother/sister just because they can not understand the beauty of the essence of life? And Life is not your sexual condition, is not your mind is a lot more, a huge more than that. So who is dealing with hell? The ones attaks the whole of God's creation? Or the ones that just ask for their happyness without hurtting anybody? God is absolutely love, respect, and peace and calm....whoever don't respect and accept that is atakking the creation. The hell dosen't exist unless we all create it with our minds.

I think so.

God bless you all.