It seems as though Christians are only lately making the news for bad reasons. With the Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage and the Kim Davis controversy (and as a Kentuckian, I am doubly sorry), the Planned Parenthood problems, the Josh Duggar disaster, every Republican candidate contributing their political thoughts on abortion to the Bible, and feminism in general, it seems like Christians and all of Christianity is just a big fat mess with people who aren't full of love. And I am so sorry for that.
But especially when it comes to the issue with Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious beliefs and was ordered to jail on Thursday, it just sends the message that Christians are people who love to hate, and it's simply not true. I can't explain the number of sentiments I've read or heard from Christians who are simply spewing hate in the name of the Lord, and it really hurts my heart. There are many explanations and things to rant about for the issue, but a friend from high school put it very eloquently:
"Kim Davis can believe whatever she wants, because of whatever. That's not what she did wrong. What she did wrong was that when she was faced with something she, based on her beliefs, could not do, she not only refused to do it (regardless of the judicial precedent that put it in place) but she also refused to delegate the task to someone who would. She couldn't do her job, but rather than simply delegating the job to someone else in the office (whether or not they would have done so is another matter), she staunchly refused someone their rights, based on the decisions made by the judicial system. Putting her in jail makes her a martyr and allows people to say she is persecuted for her religion, when in reality the case was that she was put in jail for refusing someone else their right to be married and as a government employee, refusing to follow the law." -Sarah Laytham
I am a Christian who believes that a) homosexual people should have the freedom to marry whomever they choose to and that they are still children of God, b) even if you're a Christian who doesn't believe that, the church shouldn't have a say in government decisions, and c) even if your religious beliefs don't align with the law, you still have to follow the law and do your job.
I'm not saying that to act as someone up on her high horse; I'm saying it because I know many other Christians feel the same way. There are times where it feels as though only two groups exist: hateful Christians that root their political beliefs in the Bible and non-Christians who are all in favor of same-sex marriage and other similar issues. But these two groups don't have to be exclusive of each other. I'm writing to say that you can be a follower of Christ and someone who promotes love for all, whether that's someone who's homosexual, someone who's in the horrible position of considering an abortion, someone who's been sexually assaulted and doesn't want to be told that their attire wasn't "praising the Lord," or other issues that seem to make Christians notorious.
I just want to say that on behalf of the majority of us, we're sorry, and we love you. And we're here for you and want to fight for the oppression you've faced as someone who's involved in the church. We want to be the face of love no matter what and show you that you can be your true self and that you are still loved by the Lord and by many others. And I'm not going to write that I hate Kim Davis. Because I don't. She is a Christian woman who has made mistakes (P.S.--calling her out for her divorces is not a good way to argue against her... we've all sinned and that's incredibly hypocritical), and maybe her vision will open up and realize that her beliefs shouldn't interfere with her job. And maybe not. I may not agree with her views against gay marriage or her decision to violate the law, but as Christians, we vow to love everyone. God is love. God's plan and wishes for us is to not actively hate people, but to spread the word that God is love and there's a light that you can follow.
