The following is a guest post by an American reader who wishes to remain anonymous.
Country superstar Carrie Underwood has gone 180 degrees against the Country current by endorsing gay marriage. In an interview with The Independent UK, she had the following to say on the matter:
“As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love, and want to marry,” she said. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.”
“Our church is gay friendly. Above all, God wanted us to love others. It’s not about setting rules, or [saying] ‘everyone has to be like me’. No. We’re all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.”
I am not pro-gay marriage. Not for religious reasons but for reasons I will talk about later on.
The responses her endorsment has been getting are mixed between those who approve based on liberal ideologies and those who disapprove based on a twisted understanding of the bible.
The infamous verse that is quoted nowadays is Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Bible-nazis are taking this sentence and flaunting it around. If you don’t follow it, then you are not a proper Christian.
Well, I’ve got a few words for them. And what better words than from the Bible itself.
Exodus 21:7: “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.” Would those Bible-loving men and women sell their daughters as servants? I don’t think so. That’s one thing of the Bible they wouldn’t abide with.
Leviticus 25:44: “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.” According to another Leviticus passage, I’m allowed to have slaves provided they are from neighboring countries. Does that mean illegal Mexican immigrants are our slaves now? The Bible says so. It must be. No?
Leviticus 11:10: “And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.” The Bible forbids me from eating things coming out of the Sea. But I’m a seafood lover. Do you eat seafood? If you do, then you must stop. Immediately. The Bible demands it.
Leviticus 19:27: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” This states that men are not allowed to cut their hair nor shave. Do you cut your hair?
Leviticus 19:19: “Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” To the awesome Americans of the Bible-belt, many of you have farms, right? Do you have different types of animals in your farms? Do you grow different crops? Because if you do, then you are committing blasphemy, in which case Leviticus would also demand that the entirety of your town comes forward to stone you.
The thing about Leviticus, my fellow Christians, is that it is part of the old testament and it is what Jesus Christ came to Earth to change. The thing about Leviticus, my fellow Christians, is that the only part of it that you know is the part pertaining to homosexuality.
When it comes to my Christianity, it’s about the message Jesus wanted to bring forward: a message of love.
Jesus Christ forgave those that were killing Him before he died on the Cross. Leviticus would call upon those people to be stoned and burned. Jesus Christ called on those without a sin to cast the first stone. Jesus knew that none of us is without sin. Jesus knew that when it comes to life, compassion is the most important emotion to get us by. Compassion makes everything else seem so small.
So next time you want to quote the Bible to prove a point, make sure you quote the part that makes you a Christian today: the New Testament, whose pages are all about the redemptive power of love.
When it comes to me, I’m not pro-gay marriage but that doesn’t mean I’m against those who are homosexual. How’s that? As I look around, I see families crumbling around me. The concept of a family sticking together like my grandparents did, for more than fifty years, is becoming more and more nonexistent. My parents got divorced when I was ten. My cousins’ parents divorced when she was twelve.
Out of my high school friends, at least half of them came from houses where they were raised by a single parent – and not because “death did them part.”
With crumbling family values and surging divorce rates, I don’t approve of adding another portion of society to the whole mess of marriage because, like it or not, homosexuals feel the way we do and they change their mind. And because the notion of marital love fades away after the initial infatuation and many are left wondering: Is this really what I signed up for?
Moreover, you don’t want the kids gay couples will adopt to be more disoriented than those of heterosexuals couples as well in case of a divorce.
And as a cherry on top, I think there are way more important issues that are worth the discussion today than this. Just a quick question to illustrate this point: how would any married couple, regardless of what that couple is, have an optimal marriage in the horrid economy we live in?
When it comes to Carrie Underwood’s comment, I am neutral. I like what she said because it doesn’t seem forced. She’s not telling people what to believe like many other celebrities do. She’s stating her belief. On the other hand, in a time when much more serious things are happening around the world than accepting gay marriage or not, I think other stances precede this in importance. And for an artist who had publicized her refusal to comment on anything of a political nature, regardless of how she spins it, I wonder what changed her mind.
There will be backlash. It has already started. It won’t be pretty. But kudos for Carrie for saying what she believes in, despite it coming out of the blue.
To conclude, here’s a quote for you all:
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Mahatma Ghandi.
You have your Christianity and I have mine.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
Pingback: A Comment on Carrie Underwood Endorsing Gay Marriage & the Backlash
Wow! I definetely agree with you. I’m against same sex marriage but it doesn’t mean that I don’t like gay or lesbian . They’re also a human beings with feelings. I was raised and came from a conservative family. I have friends and co-workers that are Gay. I don’t care if Carrie supports a Gay marrige, what I care is her song and music. I’m amazed and impressed of what she said
in the interview,that’s not only showing that she’s really a good person and not hypocrite, She doesn’t care if people won’t like her, and her career will go down the hill. I’m proud of her for saying what she believes in Fan fOREVER. Amen.
.
LikeLike
Why do you want to stop me from marrying the person I love?
LikeLike
I don’t think it was out of the blue. She was asked the question and she answered it with confidence and grace. Wasn’t the New Testament written over 1800 years ago? The world is far different now compared to back then.
LikeLike
of course the point is that Jesus didn’t mention it in the NT. It was only the OT that it was mentioned. Jesus FULFILLED the law meaning it had a time and place and no longer does. We as Christians don’t live by the law we live by grace. No matter what we do we are not beyond saving: yes that means murderers and rapists too. If they are saved they are born again as we all are. Homosexuality is no worse sin than lying to your boss why you are late. I am not perfect I sin. I have NO right to judge.
LikeLike
Why do you think its ok to be against gay marriage?
LikeLike
This is what so many people need to read! I wish there was a way to get this out to more people because there is so much hate and venom coming from so-called Christians that I am embarrassed to also say I am a Christian.
LikeLike
Elie, I wished there are more people like you who can express a different opinion without cursing and damning the opposing person to hell. I’m sick and tired of people claiming they know God, then spread hate with their next statements.
Well done Elie. I would hope for more people like you out there, but I may be too optimistic.
LikeLike
Elie, thank you so much for this article. As always, your articles are right on point & written in a gracious way. If people do not agree with the opinion Carrie expresssed, that is fine. What is not fine is for people to say horrible, ugly things about Carrie – yet, claiming they are children of God. God will judge…no one else.
I hope people realize one opinion of Carrie Underwood does not make her this horrid person and not a Christian. Carrie does so much for so many and in so many ways. Carrie touches people with her kindness and her voice. I am very, very proud of her!
LikeLike
People have been slamming Carrie as if they are the last saints walking on the face of the earth. They should be ashamed of themselves for judging her based on a single opinion that does not represent the totality of what Carrie has done in her entire life. I respect Carrie’s opinion because it is an opinion of so much respect for gays and lesbians. I have my own opinion, too–I do not support gay marriages because it is extremely prohibited in my religion. But I will never act like I was somebody who is so squeaky clean and go out and lash out at homosexuals and condemn their “forbidden” love. It is really up to God, Himself to make the final decision on two people who simply want to love, marry and spend the rest of their lives with one another. Let God be the judge for is He not the best of judges?
LikeLike
Well, your argument sounds nice, but doesn’t hold water. Society enforces moral decisions every day of your life. Try to marry two or three men at the same time and see what that gets you!
I take it your religion is most likely Christianity? If so, look at Jesus cleaning out the temple, or calling Pharisees vipers and hypocrites. Didn’t make him very popular, but he was a man of action. He also reserved his harshest judgment for anyone who would harm a child– better to jump into the sea with a millstone around your neck than to harm one of these little ones. How would you like to have had Frank and Mike as your parents rather than James and Barbara? Do you love your mother and have you benefited from her instruction and care? Why would you stand by and deny other children the benefit of that stable home environment? Buck up! If you say you believe something, then stand up for it! Otherwise, it’s just a bunch of religious talk.
LikeLike
Nope. I am a Muslim actually.
LikeLike
Extremely well said. I’m not familiar with the whole debaccle but I’m pretty sure I can imagine what type of people would elicit such a response.
This anonymous American needs to post more often.
The American Bible belt makes me ashamed to say I’m a Christian. That is a fact.
LikeLike
Never be ashamed to be what you are.
LikeLike
my comment has nothing to do with her comments as I could not care less what she thinks, however, I concerns me that site like this pretend that they are an open exchange of ideas yet they always seem to print only the pro gay comments. Why can we not discuss any issue without the hate and the silly referrance to only old testament {written to the Jews not Christians} quotes that are completely out of any context for Christian beliefs today.
LikeLike
I’m not censoring comments. The comments you see are the comments this post got.
Detractors of Underwood are using Leviticus to “prove” their claim. So the author of this post used Leviticus to tell them exactly how silly they are doing so.
LikeLike
I respect your opinion but I think your argument is flawed. You don’t think gay marriage should be allowed because today people get divorces? So why should anyone be allowed to have kids? If your gay parents get divorced then you live with one parent, like any other kid from a divorced family would be. It’s up to the individual and we shouldn’t deprive a couple (who may not get divorced) from having something beautiful like having a child.
I am not gay & my parents are divorced & I believe this is only fair. I just don’t feel it is my right to be able to stop a loving family (of 2 men, 2 women, 2 whatever you want) from living a happy life where a child could potentially have a happy life just cause other people out there decide to get divorced.
Thanks for sharing a unique opinion though.
LikeLike
I agree with J. You’re free to believe/support whatever you want, but the argument you used about kids didn’t make sense to me. In Lebanon we still have a long way to go in accepting gay people, let alone couples, as a society, but personally I’ve seen a lot of improvement over the last few of years.
I have a bone to pick with you concerning this “With crumbling family values and surging divorce rates, I don’t approve of adding another portion of society to the whole mess of marriage because, like it or not, homosexuals feel the way we do and they change their mind. And because the notion of marital love fades away after the initial infatuation and many are left wondering: Is this really what I signed up for?
Moreover, you don’t want the kids gay couples will adopt to be more disoriented than those of heterosexuals couples as well in case of a divorce.”
“homosexuals feel the way we do” => since they’re just like straight people, shouldn’t they have the same rights?
Some people divorce after 5 years, some after 50! One simply cannot know when it comes to these matters… I’ve once read a quote that stuck with me “you marry one man, but you divorce another”. Some people change, some don’t.. being gay doesn’t make you any different in that area.. if you don’t approve of gay people adopting out of fear that they fall out of love, then the same should be applied to straight people (aka: not allow them to have kids).
Having married parents doesn’t necessary translate into stable well-adjusted kids.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Ritachemaly's Blog and commented:
A Comment on Carrie Underwood Endorsing Gay Marriage & the Backlash …. My religion is about Love, point, ca vous plait, ou pas, je suis supposee vous aimer! rita
LikeLike
I have Bible verses to Mr. anti Christian.
Matthew 24:14 Many are called few are chosen.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the
one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name
and in your name drive out demons and in your
name perform many miracles?’ Then I will
tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from
me, you evildoers!’
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to
those who are perishing. The god of this age
has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that
they cannot see the light of the gospel that
displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God.
Luke 13:24
“Strive to enter through the narrow door.
For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will
not be able.
LikeLike
The world that touts the love of Jesus so loudly when it comes to gay marriage is the same world that crucified him because they, being darkness, hated the light. Do not be surprised at spiritual blindness as our besotted culture relishes the night and rejects the fundamental truths of life. Sow to the wind, reap the whirlwind.
LikeLike
Yes, Jesus loved, and he enables his disciples to love in the same way. But Jesus did not love half heartedly. He loved people through to the end– so much so that he refused to leave them in a sinful state of spiritual darkness. Instead, he shone the light of truth on them.
Examples? Consider the woman at the well– “Woman, go call your husband”, response: “Sir, I have no husband”. Jesus: “Yes, you have spoken the truth, because you have had 5 husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband”. The woman wanted to get into a religious discussion, but Jesus honed in on her true problem– her condition of sinfulness before a holy God. Jesus forced her to deal with the problem whereupon living springs of spiritual water began flowing within her! What a beautiful picture! What of the woman caught in the very act of adultery? Yes, Jesus said he did not condemn her– he came not to condemn the world because the world was condemned already. But he did not excuse away her sin– he said, “Go thou, and sin no more”. Do you see that love and truth and righteousness and holy standards are not exclusive of each other? Please try to think a little deeper about these things, and actually read the Bible. Jesus himself said, “Enter in at the strait (constricted) gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… narrow is the way which leads to life and few there be that find it”. But the good news is that if the woman at the well could find life, then you and I can also! Oh, dear Jesus, please open blind eyes and deaf ears, including my own and help me to see you as you really are!
LikeLike
Right on, David.
Christ does love us and wants us to show love. But He did not and does not want us to show love by embracing sin. He knows what our outcome is going to be if we are sinners. Because He loves us, He doesn’t want to send us to Hell. However, He has no choice if we remain in sin. It is sadly so prevalent for folks to focus on His love and ignore His judgment.
LikeLike
Here’s some New Testament for you, author:
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:26-27)
Also: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: BUT YE ARE WASHED, BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED, BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Also: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
You can spin what Carrie did any way you want to, but it won’t work in the long run. I think she stamped DONE on her career because too many of us know that homosexuality is wrong and will never accept it in any way, shape, or form. Homosexuality is a sin and God will never be okay with it. It is against what He created; it is against His nature. Carrie can say she’s a Christian until she is blue in the face, but her actions put the lie to her words. I was a huge fan of Carrie. Not anymore.
LikeLike
Amen!!! Well said!
LikeLike
You’re correct, Christians are no longer under the Laws of Judaism but under Grace, provided for by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus… However, If all you’re looking for is a New Testament verse that proves Homosexuality is seen as a sin, by God, under Christianity just as it was under the Laws of Judaism.. Read Romans 1:18-27.. It’s quite long so I’ll just post the last two verses…
Romans 1:26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
LikeLike