WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? -- ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE

On his birthday, it would be interesting to ask What Would Jesus Do?   What would Jesus do about same-gender marriage?

It is, of course, risky to put words in the mouth of deity --- though humans have been doing that since the beginning. 

The New Testament gospels suggests that Jesus was an orthodox conservative on sexual behavior.   He was also orthodox conservative on the issue of divorce.   He did not do complex rationalizations on either point.  

On the subject of homosexuality, the New Testament records no comments from Jesus.  The Bible has seven references to homosexuality, but they are found in the Old Testament and in Paul’s writings. To put this in perspective, the Bible has hundreds of references to economic justice and the laws governing the accumulation and distribution of wealth.   The Old Testament required a death penalty on dozens of activities —  not just murder and homosexuality.  

The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants are both silent on homosexuality.

Acts 17 may hint at how Jesus and his associates in the Godhead might view this development in human marriage.   The King James version renders it this way –

29 “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

This is how the New Standard Revised version renders the point –

29 “Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.

30 While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

“God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, but now he commands all everywhere to repent . . . .”    

Dr Andrew Weil, from the scientific medical perspective, put ignorance of human sexuality this way: 

“We think about sex a great deal, yet live in appalling ignorance of its nature and best uses.   Even on the most practical level, there is little information to assist us.  Most if us struggle to come to terns with this drive without help.  Trustworthy guides are seldom found.”      – Habits chapter of Natural Health Natural Medicine, p. 161

We wonder and speculate.   If and when alien beings arrive on Earth, will they understand the concept of male and female and marriage?   Would aliens understand a distinction between opposite gender and same gender sexual activity?  

We wonder and speculate.    At what point does God considers a couple married ?  Why does God see a distinction between married and unmarried sexuality —  and why?   Does God see a distinction in heterosexual and homosexual sexual activity?  Is some of sex or all of it “Ick Factor” to them?

The answer to "What would Jesus Do" in this situation is the same answer to the question in all other situations.  The answer is not found in old books, but in the process of continuing revelation.   The

God’s love for us is unqualified.  However, unqualified love does not mean God is under any particular obligation to like everything we do on any particular subject.   This is why “judgement” gets mentioned in scriptures often.   This helps explain why the afterlife reward system comes with varying grades and types.  That we will get what we want in this life and beyond is a good blessing for this Christmas day.