*Disclaimer: This is NOT a post about gay rights, gay marriage, women’s rights, abortion, or anything of that nature. My views and opinions on those matters will not be expressed in this post. This is simply a discussion about the double standard that Christians face in America when they choose to express their viewpoints on such matters. I am very hesitant to ever express things of this nature on this blog because I truly do not want to be offensive in any way, but I am honestly furious about this crazy double standard Christians face in our country of “freedom.”*
Ok, now that that’s out of the way I can say what’s been bothering me for a long time now. As a stay-at-home mom, I rarely ever just sit in front of the TV and veg out, but it is often on at my house as I go about my daily activities. It is concerning to me how anyone who speaks out against Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, agnostics, etc. is so quickly referred to as hateful and they are condemned for feeling that way. But God help a Christian who speaks out or simply answers a question about their beliefs because they will basically be hung in the town square for going against what “society believes.”
Furthermore, Proposition 8 was voted on by California voters and the majority ruled in favor of it. How does one judge- one man- have so much pull that he can overturn an amendment that so many people were in favor of? Didn’t “society” show how they felt there? (Once again, I am not stating how I feel one way or the other- just the hypocrisy.)
The double standard is disgusting. I will not speak to whether I agree or disagree with Kirk Cameron and the comments he made about homosexuality. But what bothers me is that he was asked a question on something and he answered it in accordance to his beliefs. He did not bring it up, and he was not shouting about gay people going to Hell or anything vicious. Now he is being crucified in the media and by former “friends” for simply stating what goes along with his religious beliefs. Isn’t America a nation of religious freedom? What if Piers Morgan had asked a Jewish rabbi? Wouldn’t the rabbi have said something along the same lines? Would the media have freaked out on the rabbi for his beliefs? NO! What if an atheist was asked what he thought about Christianity? Would he have been persecuted for simply stating his beliefs? NO! So why is it that the Christian is always the one getting the verbal lashing all over the media? Why is what Christians think “hate speech” but anything against Christians perfectly fine?
Once again, NOT stating whether I do or do not support Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, etc. (you’d be surprised at my political beliefs) but anytime they speak on their Christian views they are relentlessly harassed and made fun of in the media. Things they say are taken out of context and twisted all around in political rhetoric that makes me want to vomit. The same thing was done to Bush. But President Obama- a member of the “United Church of Christ”- can talk about God all he wants in his prayer meetings and speeches to Christians and it doesn’t matter, because he is still pro-abortion and for “women’s rights.”
On a side note, I will say I don’t believe ANY person has the right to choose whether another person should live or die- from the MOMENT of conception or any other way. And I do believe each life matters- those in the womb, those in the ghetto, those in Cambodia, those on Wall Street. Every life matters. But that’s for another day.
Getting back… I know the Bible speaks of how Christians will be persecuted and abandoned, and that’s been happening since the beginning of time. What I do not understand is why in a country where religious freedom and expression is so fiercely defended, and where we celebrate differences, why then is ok for people to bash Christians and their beliefs, but not ok for Christians to disagree with things non-Christians believe. What’s the difference?
(I am NOT talking about the Bible beaters who scream at people that they are sinners and will burn in Hell. Those people ARE hateful and in no way exemplify the Jesus that I serve. I am referring to those who simply state their opinion on social matters related to the world today.)
Why is it not ok for Christians to disagree with a gay lifestyle, but perfectly ok for the media to bash a Christian belief system? Homosexuals state that this is who they are, it’s how God created them. Christians believe homosexuality is a choice. Christians believe that Christianity is who they are, and how they were created to be. Perhaps homosexuals believe Christianity is a choice. I just don’t get the double standard.
Personally, I know that Jesus loves all people. Gay people. Straight people. Prostitutes. Drug dealers. Stay at home moms. Working moms. Drunk people. Judgemental people. Christian people. Muslim people. ALL people.
I also know what the Bible says about homosexuality, abortion, gossip, judgment, hateful speech, creation, etc… I can’t explain it all and I don’t want to be able to. If I had all the answers then I wouldn’t need God, and goodness gracious- I need God!
I just want for Christians to receive the same respect that non-Christians do when they speak their mind.
Is that too much to ask?
I’d love to hear from you on this as long as we can keep it kind. Any vicious or mean comments won’t be tolerated here from EITHER side.
A few years ago I was contacted by a man compiling letters from other mothers to encourage his wife in her mommy journey. I wrote a letter about my (short) experience as a mother, and encouraged her as best I knew how- Presley was only a few months old. Recently the man wrote again to let me know that my letter was chosen to be part of a book with some of their favorite “Mother Letters.”
They’re also doing a photo contest that starts today that anyone can enter. Read about it and get to tagging with #MotherLetter.
