Others say allowing the church to opt out of the law is nothing short of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
What do you think?
I would ask if the church adoption agencies receive public money in support of their budgets. If so, then I believe that they have a decision to make. Do they want the money the public provides to them to perform this service? If so, then they should be required to follow the law. If they do not receive public money, then I believe that they should be allowed to follow their conscience stemming from their understanding of Scripture.
But there is a bigger issue here that is indicative of most of our human interactions, which is the use of "force," as in Blair's decision to make the church agencies follow the new law, in our relationships. Using force seldom accomplishes the objective (see Iraq). This world is a broken mess of relationships, which are often broken because each of us try to "force" others to see and do things the way that we believe they ought to be. However, not one of us has the complete and absolute "answer" in this world. But all of us together can discover that answer.
In that process of discussing and disagreeing, we discover the way that God sees things and wants them to be done. That brings about reconciliation (which is the purpose of Christ, see II Corinthians 5:16-21) and is the way forward into a new day, where all people are heard and experienced as the beloved children of God they are.
But that takes effort, humility and time, all of which are in short supply in our relationships. And force is quicker and easier.
GALEN GOBEN
Foothill Christian Church
La Crescenta
