Samuel Rodriguez: Support of Biblical Marriage is a Matter of Faith, not Politics

(EFE)

Will President Obama’s affirmation of same-sex marriage dilute his favorability in the Hispanic community? How should Hispanic born-again believers respond?

In order to answer the aforementioned queries, it’s important to understand the optic that guides our community.

First, as Christians, we must stand committed to reconciling the vertical Imago Dei, the image of God in every human being with the horizontal Habitus Christus, the habits and actions of Christ. This requires a new narrative, an alternative discourse where we stand for truth without sacrificing civility.

For the image of God lives in all human beings; black and white, rich and poor, straight and gay, conservative and liberal, citizen and undocumented. Our challenge is to see the image of God in the suffering, the marginalized, the oppressed and the hurting. Our challenge is to see the image of God in every human being including those we disagree with. Our challenge is to see the image of God in those that oppose us. Our challenge is to see the image of God even in those that persecute and slander us. Our challenge is to see the image of God in friend and foe, acquaintance and stranger, strong and weak, oppressor and liberator.

Correspondingly, as Hispanic Evangelicals, we stand committed to advancing not the agenda of the donkey or the elephant, but only the agenda of the Lamb. The agenda of Christ is one of righteousness and justice, sanctification and service, covenant and community, holiness and humility, conviction and compassion.

It is this agenda that provides the moral imperative to defend biblical truth with love and civility. While President Obama’s support of same sex marriage does not reflect the sentiment of the majority of African Americans or Hispanics and places him at odds with two segments of the electorate that celebrated his election in 2008, we must respond with civility and conviction.

To Hispanics, our support of the biblical definition of marriage is not a matter of politics but a matter of faith. It is our faith that compels us to care for the poor and speak against injustice. It is our faith that prompts us as Hispanic evangelicals to speak out against bullying and against the persecution of gays and lesbians in third world countries. It is our Christian faith that requires us to uphold the biblical definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman.

To our community, supporting the traditional definition of marriage is not about being anti-anyone or anything. We understand that a marriage with mom and dad in the home serves as the primary antidote against teen pregnancy, gang activity, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and many social ills.

Hence, the great concern stemming out of the President’s declaration is whether or not he will pursue federal public policy initiatives that in essence redefine a sacred institution whose definition stems out of faith and religious doctrine. This is of course in addition to the recent HHS mandate that requires faith organizations to sacrifice conscience on the altar of legal and political expediency.

At the end of day, Hispanics are both in support of biblical marriage and against homophobia. We desire that all Americans embrace life, enjoy liberty and pursue happiness; without exception. Yet, we also desire for our elected officials to engage in rhetoric and pursue policy initiatives that bring us together rather than tear us apart. We pray that President Obama will defend the religious liberties of Americans that because of conscience and conviction do not view this issue via the same lens he recently engaged. We pray that his support of gay marriage does not exacerbate the growing intolerance of a Christian worldview.  

Hispanic Evangelicals represent the quintessential swing voters. If we vote our horizontal cultural context , many may still support the President come November. But if we vote our vertical faith values, the President may have a difficult Hispanic hill to climb.