Category Archives: Faith

I cannot hide what I am

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It’s something I feel strongly about, I am a Christian, and I believe most of what I try to do is stand on biblical truths as I live my life. Children deserve to be raised in a family of a man and a woman, because both bring something different to a child’s upbringing. Nora Brooks – Vote for Marriage NC, Chatham County coordinator

In my short 33 years I’ve found the awesome responsibility of marrying a couple into God’s everlasting love to be the most humbling and rewarding experiences in my life (including the picture below). The outcome of today’s vote will not stop me from that duty. A duty that calls me to fight.

I fight AGAINST Amendment One for these people.

I’m a child of a non-traditional heterosexual union. And if you listen to the proponents of Amendment One – I, for not having a married father and mother, am the scourge of society. That’s right, the scourge; not worthy of recognition. Not worthy of validation in North Carolina’s Constitution, where only “pure” children are afforded protection?

As Shakespeare’s Faulconbridge the Bastard affirms, “And I am I, how’er I was begot.” I have forgiven God for my given circumstances – I pray you will too.

I challenge anyone to compare their son to my Momma’s only child. For someone who shouldn’t be here, I’ve accomplished quite a bit. Perhaps I’m most proud of pumping hundreds of millions of dollars back into my hometown’s local economy? No, the best thing was buying my Mom a home. From the ghetto to a front porch with rocking chairs. I apologize for not living up to everyone else’s expectations.

I’m no different than anyone else. I’m alive and successful because of love. A love without exclusion, without discrimination. Discrimination and inequality are the greatest of sins – denying God’s creation at hand – the Kingdom of Heaven is upon us which we bring it about in our own hearts. Discrimination and inequality lead to exclusion and hatred – a path my faith will not follow.

Amendment One supporters have asked for prayers so that “God’s definition of marriage” will prevail. I’ll answer their call. My prayer to them is this, “Sorry for being me. I cannot hide what I am. Love always, Andrew.”

10 Appalachian Ministers take out ad against Amendment One

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Add High Country United Church of Christ to the list of faith leaders taking a stand against Amendment One. They seek to live out Christ’s “radically inclusive love and abundant welcome for all” by voting no on May 8th. They have even taken out newspaper ads encouraging their neighbors and congregation to do the same.

Photo credit: m0yashi (Reddit)

The ten High Country ministers aren’t the only ones taking out ads. The High Country church website features five other advertisements of traditional families, from Boone to Blowing Rock, who are voting against Amendment One. Bobbie and Mitchell Willard of Boone, N.C., sum it up best with their list of reasons to vote no:

  1. God’s love is unconditional; ours should be too.
  2. Codifying discrimination directly into our state’s Constitution is not a legacy we ought to create.
  3. We want our state to treat all people with dignity, respect and equal protection under the law.

See more of the High Country church advertisements and hear directly from the church why Amendment One is bad for our beautiful state.

 

Jesus on the Impermanence of Marriage

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A lot has been said about protecting the “institution” of marriage. I say “institution” because marriage, even successful ones, are temporal arrangements. Even Jesus Christ himself spoke of the impermanence of marriage.

In Matthew 22:23-30, Christ is harangued by the Sadducees regarding a widow who, having no children, is betrothed to her husband’s brother upon her husband’s death, as required by Mosaic Law. Her second husband also dies, so she again must marry the next brother in line. Unfortunately, the cycle keeps repeating for this poor, nameless woman. In the end, she is widowed seven times, marrying all seven brothers before dying childless.  Since she birthed no children for any of her seven husbands, the Sadducees ask Jesus, “Now at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” Jesus replies, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”

As traditional marriage vows go, it is until death do we part. Marriage is a construct of the now and is of no permanent concern for Christ or His Father. We are not man or woman, husband or wife. We are “like the angels in heaven.”

Amendment One supporters, you are like the Sadducees: “in error because you do not know the Scripture or the power of God.” I believe come May 8th, when North Carolina turns down this divisive, ill-conceived piece of legislation, you will be like the onlookers surrounding Jesus in Matthew 22:33: “When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.”

Prepare to be astonished by North Carolina.