Kim Davis: Why Her Actions Against Gay Marriage Are Unacceptable [Video]
The topic of gay marriage has been controversial for a long time, but as laws have been passed in favor of legal marriage for the gay community, passions have run high on both sides of the debate.
Kim Davis is a Rowan County clerk in Kentucky who gained fame when she refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. As a Christian, the reality of gay marriage does not mesh with her belief that homosexuality is a sin.
NBC News reports this battle has been ongoing since June, when the United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
When accused of discrimination against the gay community, Kim decided to refuse marriage licenses to everyone. It is easy to see why she has become the center of a heated debate.
As a Christian myself, I understand Davis’s view on gay marriage. The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin. The Bible also says that gluttony is a sin, and I am guilty of overeating on nearly a daily basis.
More importantly, Jesus came to love us and lead us from sin, not to berate us for it. John 13:35 is a perfect example of the love of Jesus, and how we are to behave as well.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Unfortunately, many people choose to concentrate on the rules of the Bible rather than the love of Jesus.
So while I understand where Kim Davis is coming from, in my opinion, her actions of refusing to allow marriage licenses, gay or straight, is unacceptable. Why? The answer is simple. Because that is her job.
Since Kim was elected to her post, she cannot be fired. Like it or not, gay marriage is a law in Kentucky, and as a government employee, she is bound to uphold the law. If her religious belief prevented her from doing her job, then she should have stepped down and allowed someone to replace her.
I am not condemning Kim Davis for standing up for her beliefs. In fact, I applaud the stance she has taken, in her opinion, for God. But if she could not perform the duties of her position, then the position should not be hers.
After spending five nights in jail, Kim Davis has returned to work today. Though she is not personally issuing gay marriage licenses, she has allowed the deputy clerks to fill that role. This is a great compromise. Davis can keep her job without betraying her religious convictions. This is what she had to say before returning to her job today.
“I’m here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice that I do not wish on any of my fellow Americans. My conscience or my freedom. My conscience or my ability to serve the people that I love. Obey God or a directive that forces me to disobey God, even when there are reasonable accommodations available.”
According to the Washington Post, Shannon and Carmen Wampler-Collins were the first gay couple to file for and receive a marriage license this morning from the office of Kim Davis, amid a circus of shouts from supporters as well as anti-gay marriage activists.
What do you think about the actions of Kim Davis?
[Image credit: Ty Wright / Getty Images]
