An Observation

Today, many of my friends have headed to the poll-booths around town, to caste their vote one way or the other in regards to same-sex marriage. Obviously, in light of previous posts, you might have guessed the political bias of the majority of my friends.

One of those friends even called to remind me to make sure and go vote. I've learned in life (especially during bridal showers) that a good rule of thumb for all relationships is: pick your battles. So, I chose not to let on that I had no intention of voting today.

So, all that to say - this is my observation. Take it or leave it. It is pretty well-known that evangelical Christians, as a generalization, cause quite an uproar in conversations regarding free will vs. election/predestination. Many place high value on the theology that centers on man's free will to choose whether to live "rightly" or "wrongly". To choose to "follow Christ" or "sin". How often have I heard that God's relationship with man hinges on the understanding that we have the power to choose or reject him. And that it was incredibly important to God that we have that freedom.

And yet, today, those same evangelicals are fighting like crazy to prevent that same mankind from really having that option in regards to the kind of marriage relationship they choose. How many evangelicals (and others in the Christian community who might not classify themselves as such) are making this decision an important, landmark statement of faith. To prevent their fellow human beings (Christian or not) from having the freedom to choose what Christians would say is God's ideal for marriage. What they believe to be "right".

I just find it an interesting observation, that these Christians don't want to allow one another the same freedom they will fight like crazy to maintain is central to God's character.

So that's why I'm not voting. (If you're curious about the matter.) I don't think it's my place to decide whether or not someone is revoked of the freedom to not choose God's way over their own. (Of course, it's an ironic statement because I lean more toward calvinistic theology than my friends.) It's not really that I agree with the other side. I just don't think the decision as a whole is my business. It's not my call. Each person has a choice to make every day. To develop intimacy with God, or not. And I believe that intimacy affects the choices we make. I can't make that decision for them. And I can't tell them which one to choose. I can express the joy I've personally experienced from choosing God's way over my own. But the decision is entirely theirs, and the consequences, blessings, and results of that decision are theirs also. It seems out of line to take it upon myself to limit their freedom.

So, that is my two cents on that subject. Maybe it gives you a new insight to chew on, maybe it makes you incredibly mad. Either way - you're thinking about it!