THOUGHTS
This week I observed something in real life drama that I have read, observed in the media, and heard, but this time had the opportunity to be one of the actors. I was part of an auspicious cast: religious leaders from many denominations, scholars, lawyers, judges, elected officials and several people whose life experiences gave them the right to speak on the issue of the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. CWA of Kansas participated in a press conference about HCR 5033, an amendment to the Kansas Constitution that upholds marriage as being only a union of one man and one woman. Following the press conference, the Federal and State Affairs Committee of the House heard testimonies for and against the resolution. With many people in attendance at the hearing, it was a great exercise in citizenship.
The drama for me was not the normal legislative process; it was in the testimonies and those who delivered them. There was a clash in worldviews that one rarely gets to see on that scale in person. The clash became evident almost immediately when two people stood up and shouted that we had no right holding a press conference speaking about God in a state-owned building. The scene was set. Being one of the players in this drama afforded me an opportunity not only to state our position on this controversial subject, but also to get a glimpse of what this divisive issue is going to look like in the public arena. The emotional responses I observed in people are a microcosm of what we will see in our friends, relatives, co-workers and associates. I realized that each of us must be ready to defend our position with honesty and reasonableness that is based not on emotion, but on fact. This information must be delivered in love for it to have a chance to be heard.
Those who testified for the resolution, with one exception, did testify in love and with the attitude of what is best for all of our society. Hope was extended and love was offered. It was excellent testimony that dealt with the detrimental effect diluting the institution of marriage would have on society to excellent comments on the historicity of Biblical standards dealing with marriage. There was not one hateful remark made, unless you term disagreement with the opponent�s position hate. One testimony was clearly different: a preacher residing in Topeka who has participated in highly controversial attacks on the lifestyle of homosexuality testified in favor of the bill. He quoted the Bible - words that I know and believe - but there was a difference. His words hammered and bludgeoned; they did not heal or offer hope. When the preacher�s name was announced as one of the proponents, many of us sighed and prayed quietly in our seats, knowing his reputation. He is a lightning rod in every community he visits; recently I was accosted by some of his followers walking into a Billy Graham Crusade organizational meeting. My reaction was annoyance and anger to their placards and their yelling and can only imagine what must those who are trapped in the lifestyle of homosexuality feel when they are confronted with such animosity. Here is someone who represents God to them . . . and He looks like a punitive, unforgiving and wrathful being who does not offer love and hope.
The visceral reaction to this man and to others who couch their arguments with dogmatic theology unflavored with love and mercy is a problem that we are all going to have to face. After the meeting, a very nice-looking grandmotherly type of woman came up to talk to me. I was expecting a civil conversation, but when she began to speak her face changed and her words stung as if she had slapped me. Because I was testifying in a group that included this man, she told me that she would forever identify my organization and me with him, and then stomped off without giving me a chance to reply. We are all going to be facing that emotional response to the truth and we must be ready with reason spiced with love. The drama that is being cast in this country is going to be like a Greek tragedy and we want to make sure that we have the masks of love on our faces, because the other side will attempt to label us with hate and fear. We are going to have to go the extra mile and be willing to forgive and continue to love with the love that the Bible says has been poured out in us.
The opponents to the resolution talked about hate . . . a lot. Hate has become their mantra: if you disagree with me you hate me. It will be hard for us as Christians to respond to that with love, but we must choose to do so because God is love and He resides in us.
In Him,
Judy Smith
State Director