The Golden Rule
Yesterday, I was told by someone that they were thinking of quitting one of their jobs. As far as I knew, he loved this job and had at least as much fun at it as he had at his regular full-time job. Maybe more. Yet, there he was talking about quitting. I had to ask why.
It turns out he just discovered there were a couple of gay men working there. “Are you serious? You’re going to quit because of that?” I asked. “Well, I’m definitely going to watch who I work with.” Because they’re gay. He said he was going to have to watch his back from now on. I think one could drive a metal stake into the heart of the issue if one replaced the word “back” with “ass.” It was a blatant depiction of fear. I didn’t say anything to him about his code of ethics because it’s not really my place, but I was still blown away.
In spite of that, I have a few things I’d like to say here. I know that most of the folks who hate and fear gay people do so out of a misguided moral sense that they somehow derive from the Bible, so here’s some stuff to chew on:
1. “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 (That’s Old Testament.)
2. “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (That’s New Testament.)
3. “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (Those are the words of Christ.)
I am so sick of people who claim to follow an enlightened path of understanding and love displaying an attitude of intolerance and fear. Nowhere in any section of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth does he ever say it’s okay to hate. Nor does he imply that there is something unsavory about associating with any type of person apart from those given to hypocrisy. If Christians really followed Christ, then most of them wouldn’t be able to hang out with themselves.
As for the debate over whether it’s choice or genetic, neither possibility should have the least effect on how you treat another human being. It’s irrelevant. But that’s just my opinion backed up by common sense, logic, and Biblical scripture. Let me know what you think, people.
Mahatma Ghandi said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”