Today was a historic day as President Obama publically expressed his personal support for legalizing gay marriages in the U.S. He is the first U.S. President to do so. Reactions to the “annoucement” grew like a tidal wave with people passionately weighing in and speaking out on both sides. For myself I admired what he did not only because of WHAT he said, but the WAY he said it, and HOW he got there:
(1) He took his time and acknowledged it was an “evolving” process. In his interview, he acknowledged as he has done before that this was something that he struggled with, and that his position and his views had “evolved” over time. I think this is an important lesson for all of us to learn. I am a Christian, and I have long been troubled by the way the church has handled the homosexual discussion. Whenever the issue of homosexual rights comes up, usually in some political arena, we are often encouraged by our church leaders to speak now, speak loud, speak to whoever will listen, write letters, sign petitions, flood the offices of elected officials with phone calls, etc. The President taught us today that there is a need to take time, to think, to reflect, before speaking. Yes, the “Christian voice” is needed in our society. But without the “Christian mind” and the “Christian ear” being engaged, more often than not the “voice” ends up being anything but “Christian”.
(2) He wrestled with the issue until he can reconcile his view with his Christian worldview. I was ESPECIALLY encouraged by the fact that the President openly declared that he has come to a place where he felt comfortable with his support for gay marriages being harmonious with his Christian identity and worldview. This was important to me. Not just because of his position on the issue, but for demonstrating that as Christians, our worldview should be growing and evolving rather than being a static system of dogma.
(3) His arrived at his position from interacting with people, not just wrestling with competing ideologies. He spoke of his daughters, his friends, veterans he spoke with, and so on. Real life, flesh and blood people. I was touched when I heard that part of the interview because I resonnoate with that journey. My own views and position on this was drastically influenced and shaped by my experience with the LGBT community. When I volunteered to serve AIDS patients and spoke with many from the homosexual community, when I photographed the PRIDE parade and listened to some of the dialogue, the issue no longer rested on the level of ideology. I wish more Christians have had the opportunities that I had, of meeting and speaking with people from the LGBT community, to listen to their stories and their experiences, many of them rather heartbreaking. Perhaps if we speak less, or at least speak a little slower, listen more, and become “passionate” slower about this issue, we will act differently. Perhaps we will come across a little more wisely, with a little more compassion, and ultimately a little more Christ-like.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” James 1:19
