To the editor:
The continuing, contentious moral divide between adherents of traditional Judeo-Christian moral belief and others equally committed to advocacy of LGBT and gay marriage moral/legal rights clearly begs for at least some partial resolution. As a believer in traditional Judeo-Christian moral values, I feel some progress might be made by restatement of basic Christian belief in the critically important distinction between human behavior and human value.
It should not be considered judgmental for a Christian (or anyone else) to state that humans are flawed and do in fact indulge in actions that are in violation of natural and/or divine law. This is simply a fundamental statement of Truth. On the other hand, true belief in Christ’s teachings cannot co-exist with hatefulness toward — or lack of love for — any other human being regardless of a behavior that God alone may ultimately judge with justice tempered by mercy.
For example, providing advertised services to persons in the LGBT community should not necessarily compromise the Christian business owner’s fundamental moral belief, provided the owner honestly acknowledges God’s demand to love and respect all members of the human race.
The moral divide might be further reduced by recognition within the LGBT community that those of strong Judeo-Christian belief should be accorded that same love and respect demanded by God. The sometimes hateful criticism of the Christian believer as judgmental, exclusive and irrelevant would seem to be at odds with Christ’s exhortation to “love one another.”
David A. Nealy
Greenwood
