There are some Christians tired of hearing the Bible and the God of love used to bash gay and lesbian people, said Presbyterian minister Dr Margaret Mayman in the face of black-shirted Destiny Church protesters who surrounded a group of civil union supporters on the steps of Parliament. "Opposition to civil unions sends a message to gay and lesbian people that we do not matter, that our relationships do not contribute to the social fabric of Aoteaora, that we do not deserve respect. The social costs of homophobia, like any prejudice, are enormous," Mayman said. "Nobody living now can interpret the Bible literally. The earth is not flat. Women are not the property of men. We do not keep slaves. People who quite the Bible against homosexuality ignore all the scientific evidence that homosexuality is part of creation. "But the Bible does show us what God wants for us in the person of Jesus, who broke the rules of his religion, who challenged the oppressive powers of the state, who welcomed and broke bread with anyone who was committed to living God's way of love."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 24th August 2004 - 12:00pm