The flap over “gay marriages” leaves me wondering where we went wrong, after Jesus so carefully repeated the message: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If this is truly our very first order of business, then we need to understand and love our neighbors in the so-called “gay community.”
One problem is our ancient bigotry, which keeps these folks “in the closet.” If you do not know anyone in this persuasion, you are probably so strongly prejudiced that “they” will never let you know their feelings.
My son had this problem. He told me often, and convincingly, that he never ever would have made this “choice” — it was part of his inherited nature — not subject to debate or change.
He introduced me to his friends: bankers, an editor for a Baptist publication, airline employees and accountants — solid taxpaying citizens who do not put demands on the schools.
As for the Scriptures, Leviticus would also have us buy our slaves from our neighbors and kill all manner of transgressors. The letters to Corinthians and others from Paul carry Paul’s devotion to the old laws and frequently distort the words of Jesus.
Let us go back to the one and only dictum — love our neighbors, all of them. And provide them with equal protections under the necessarily secular laws of the land.
Frank E. Hancock
Madison, Ala.
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