Relationships trump moral rightness

January 24th, 2007

Last week a group of friends were discussing homosexuality as we work through the Speaking My Mind by Tony Campolo. I noticed most of us had quandaries at one time or another not just with homosexuality, but with other issues where moral rightness clashes with relationships. For example, Would you go to a gay marriage if you believed homosexuality was wrong? Cindy and I were put in this situation a couple years ago. We actually couldn’t make it, because Micah had just been born, so the decision was taken from us. I remember back then thinking that I’d love to go. I believe that moral rightness is trumped by relationships in the world of a Jesus follower. Of course, when harm is being done to others then morality and justice combine and something has to be done, but if it’s just “a matter of principle” then to hell with it.

Two Reasons: First, I’m not the judge. God is. Who am I to judge when it comes down to a matter of principle? I’ve found that more often than not, I’m wrong. Jesus came to save and give life. And he’s the one who will judge - NOT me. Secondly, if Jesus isn’t afraid to be looked down on based on people he associated with, am I better than Jesus? I think that alot of what drives me to not associate with unsavory fellows, is because I’m more worried about what others might think, when I should be more concerned with being a light in the world.

Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?”