Why some churches support gay marriage

#986 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Oct 2014.

Discussion on same sex marriage has caused tension in the community and the church. Much of the Christian community has sought to uphold marriage as presently practiced and legislated.

But increasingly Christians have gone silent or appear to support the push to legalise same sex marriage. Baptist minister Karl Faase suggests three reasons for this tension.

Over the past 25 years, the church has emphasised the love of God. To reject a gay couple’s love would be a greater sin than the physical expression of such love.

The church has grown in its commitment to justice, and saying no to gay marriage is seen as condoning injustice.

And there’s the fear of being unpopular, out of touch, “on the wrong side of history.”

Jesus perfectly balanced the tension between love and judgment, mercy and truth. And his radical ideals met real needs, and proved to be both popular and enduring. Let’s keep the focus on Jesus.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.