Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

The Kansas House of Representatives just passed a bill that would protect those who refuse to provide services, accommodations, wedding cakes, flowers, etc. to gay couples who wish to be married in our great state. Granted, Kansas doesn’t allow gay marriage. In 2005, Kansas voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to make sure that wouldn’t happen in these here parts. But the ever vigilant House is preparing the good citizens of Kansas should the federal government declare the state’s constitutional ban invalid. This bill bothers me on many fronts, but like the battle over science standards in our state, it’s the bad theology and poor biblical hermeneutics at the root of it all that really drive me nuts.

I’ve heard Kansas State Rep. Charles Macheers' bill (HB 2453) referred to as a protection of “religious liberty.” In other words, if I’m opposed to gay marriage on religious grounds, I should be free to refuse service. No one should compel me to cater the reception or issue the marriage license. Rest assured, the bill states that if a government employee refuses to perform their duty to public service in these instances, every effort will be made to find someone who will. I’m sorry, but that sounds an awful lot like the “separate but equal” laws half a century ago. But I digress. As a Lutheran Christian, when I hear the phrase “religious liberty” I can’t help but think of Martin Luther’s treatise “Christian Liberty,” or “On Christian Freedom.” In this brilliant little work, Luther sets forth two propositions concerning Christian freedom and duty:

“A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”

The beauty of Lutheran theology is the appreciation and celebration of dialectic tension. We are at the same time saint and sinner. There is law and gospel. Lutheran theology celebrates the tension of and not either/or. Luther’s proposition reflects the words of the apostle Paul, “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them” (1Corinthians 9:19). It’s the second sentence in this tension that has been ignored and has made this new legislation, aside from discriminatory, bad Christian practice. Servant of all. Subject to all. One of the things that are contributing to my disgust is that those who have passed this bill are called “public servants.” Some will say “what about thieves or murderers? Do we simply condone their behavior as well?” We do, as long as they’re wearing three-piece suits, work on Wall Street, or play professional football. (Sorry. Feeling snarky today). The problem with heading down that trail is that there is overwhelming majority opinion along with biblical and theological basis for disapproval of murderous behavior and intention. Homosexuality? Not so much. I’d commend this article on recent biblical scholarship surrounding Romans 1:26-28. Most of what passes as biblical warrant for opposition to homosexuality is rooted in bad, or inconsistent biblical hermeneutics. For more on this topic, I suggest you check out Clint Schneckloth’s blog post “Holding the Bible Lightly.”

Paul writes these words to the church in Galatia: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:13-14). Jesus was once asked, “And who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus challenged the religious condemnation and discrimination of the Samaritans by the Jewish religious elite (Luke 10:29-37). I do find it interesting that we have named this parable “The Good Samaritan,” in spite of the fact that Jesus never makes this qualification. The essence of the law is not to determine who’s in and who’s out or who’s good and who’s bad, thereby granting us the authority to abdicate responsibility. The essence of the law is love. Love of God AND love of neighbor.With Valentine's Day happening tomorrow, let's take that law to heart.