Mariage.

Even while in France I've received news that Proposition 8 (a same sex marriage ban from just last year) was overturned in California by Judge Vaughn Walker, on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.

I'm not too big into politics, if you couldn't tell. Me & politics are like peanut butter and eggs. Combined, we induce pangs of vomit, and separated -- well separated we are just fine. And as such, I really don't have an opinion on the legalization of same - sex marriage. I'm not even just saying that to avoid being caught in the crossfires of passionate debate or to recoil in apathy -- I really just don't know. I'm neutral, you could say. The thing is, I think that when people argue about same - sex marriages (and yes, I used the word "argue" for a reason, because it always turns out to be an argument), they're arguing not just on one issue, but multiple issues disguised as one. I don't think it's as simple as saying, "Hey, marriage is to be between a man and a woman because the Bible says so and that's that." Or "Same-sex couples should be allowed marriage because they love each other." It's complicated.

And luckily while reading Boundless I stumbled upon some comments to a poorly written article that articulated my thoughts on the subject quite nicely. I love it when that happens. It just means I don't have to itch my brain for words to thoughts that have never fully been realized. These will, of course, be Christian perspectives because they are taken from a Christian blog, but I happen to relate to them:

In the same way that homosexual unions dishonor God, thousands and thousands of man-woman marriages dishonor God as well. Women that love their dogs more than their husbands, and husbands that abuse their wives dishonor God equally. Men that don't die to themselves for their wives dishonor God just as much as men lying with other men. They're all wrong, and that doesn't make any of them right.

The truth is, people in the judicial system don't love God anymore, and it's showing up through our laws and in the hearts of men. These guys can try to call what they're doing "marriage", and the world can try and call what they're doing "marriage", but it's really not... it's not what God designed it to be, so it's sinful.

I used to wonder what the difference was between a Christian marriage and Christians that marry. A Christian marriage IS marriage, and it honors God. Christians that marry that don't have a Christian marriage means that God's not honored.

We live in a fallen world, this shouldn't be surprising in the least. Public approval will follow in time as well... the votes have been trending that way for decades. I think the thing to take away from this is how we respond (hint, not throwing a fit). Think about it, nonbelievers want government approval - we don't live for that, we live for God's approval. Nothing can change that. I don't see how this changes a thing in our personal walk, our purpose in spreading the gospel, and how we engage people.