Much of what drives modern
American Politics is fear - fear of people who do not look like you; fear of
people who do not sound like you; fear of people who do not love like you. And
fear has been used to control Americans since America was "founded" -
afterall, how many runaway slaves were turned over to slave hunters by poor
whites out of fear they would see their own farms burned?
Yet I would argue
politely that part of the loving and compassionate response to Kentucky Clerk
of Court Kim Davis’ fear that issuing marriage licenses to gay couples is a "heaven or hell" decision, is that Christ - whom she said she must follow since
she is a "Christian" - was very clear that we should both render unto
Caesar that which is Caesar's, and turn the other cheek to those who would
smite us. Like it or not that means she has a choice - a choice to do her
public duty as an elected official, or to leave her job.
What she cannot do is
commit the second biggest sin Christians are called to avoid, for when Christ
was asked what where God's greatest Commandments, He responded that 1) you
should love God with all your heart, mind, and strength and 2) love your
neighbor as yourself. These gay couples are her neighbors, seeking to render
unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (i.e. obtain a secular marriage license from
a secular state office). If indeed
Christian Scripture is right, she will be judged more harshly by Christ for
refusing to love them as she does herself by denying them the secular state
license to which they are legally entitled, then she will be for following that
same law as written in this matter – since Christ’s teaching are absolutely
silent on whom God will consider married.
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