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Most of us are aware of Miss California’s statement about Gay Marriage. But how many of us have heard what Miley said just days after? Read below… because I want your feedback!
It all started when Miss California, Carrie Prejean, answered a question about same sex marriages. I quote:
“We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what in my country, in my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be, between a man and a woman.”
You can read all about it here.
As a guy who is very sensitive about this issue (because we as Christians have really messed up and said hateful and judgmental things), I was actually really pleased with Miss California’s response. I think she was not condemning, and at the same time, she shared her honest opinion based on her Biblical values. She has come across really strong through this whole ordeal.
I’m not going to debate the issue in this blog. I’ve shared my two cents on the homosexuality issue before in blogs and articles. But I was very interested in Miley’s response to this whole thing.
I keep an eye on Miley because… well… most of the young girls of this nation are doing the same. Miley has had some ups and downs in the press. She is a proclaimed believer, and I think she’s been a pretty good role model overall.
A couple days after Miss California’s comments, Miley twittered about the subject. Her words:
“Jesus loves you and your partner and wants you to know how much he cares! That’s like a daddy not loving his lil boy cuz he’s gay and that is wrong and very sad! Like I said everyone deserves to be happy. I am a Christian and I love you — gay or not. Because you are no different that anyone else! We are all God’s children!” (MTV News)
Hmmmmmm.
We, as Christians need to follow Christ’s example on this issue. That means
1. Showing love and compassion.
2. Pointing to the truth in love (not changing our morals to be politically correct)
Unfortunately, we (Christians) have failed on both extremes in recent years (you’ve heard me rant about this recently).
Where do you think Miley’s comments fall?
Posted in Faith, News, Sexuality, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment
This is a hard one to comment on, because I neither seen her supporting gay marriage, which the media has now said she does, but I don’t see her “pointing to the truth” which God’s children should. I agree that Christians are not showing compassion, as Christ did, but are judgmental. Not all, but most. It is true that God loves you no matter what. God’s Word is very detailed about homosexuality, but even more empowering is God’s Word on LOVE. It is just like the old saying, ‘love the sinner, hate the sin.” And that goes for all of us, cause even though we are saved in Christ Jesus, we are still born sinners, and there is sin in my life, just as much as there is sin in anybody else’s life. This is tough for me cause I have two family members that choose to live this way, and I love them with all my heart, but don’t agree with how they live. It doesn’t change my love for them. The only thing I diss agree with Miley’s comment is that not all of us are God’s children. I think that phrase is thrown around too much in Hollywood and this world. The Bible is clear that one becomes God’s child through our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks of our life a lot before we were one of God’s children (John 8:44) But, just like every other human, Miley will fall just as much in this life as I or you will fall. We are human. I still think Miley is a good role model and pray she continues in that way.
I believe that Miley missed the boat on this one. Yes, God loves us. Paul talks about how Christ died for him, the chief sinner of sinners (my paraphrase of course). So yes, God loves gay people. BUT… the whole comment about “that’s like a daddy not loving his son b/c he’s gay”. She needed to keep going with that statement. For one, I am a father. If my son grew up and told me he was gay, yes I would love him. For two, I am a father, and i love my son no matter what, which means, I would not want him to live a life that is contrary to God’s standards. if he was gay, having premarital sex, a liar, etc… I would try to point him in the right direction w/ love and compassion the way Christ did (which sometimes called for harsh words and measures). So would I love my son if he was gay, yes. Does God love his children even if they’re gay, yes. Would i WANT my son to be gay? No. Does God want us to be gay? No. As the old saying goes, God loves us just as we are, but he loves us enough to make sure we don’t stay just as we are.
I agree with what was said above. I just wanted to add that this is one of the downsides of trying to analyze something done via twitter…you only get 140 characters, she really couldn’t say a whole lot more there. She erred on the side of grace.
That being said, I don’t know what the rest of her thoughts are and it sounds like she is pro gay marriage anyway.
Yes she fell down on this one, but she is 16 and like most she is caught up in the theology of our culture.
“Everyone deserves to be happy.”?????????
Show me where that is in the Bible. Our culture believes it b/c it is in the constitution, “…to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” but it is not found in Scripture.
We are called to live lives of holiness while in a passionate pursuit of Jesus. That will mean some pretty tough choices w/ some hard consequences socially, AT LEAST.
We are not all God’s children. I know Alan Jackson and Miley and many others believe this, but that doesn’t make it true. We are all Gods creation. Those who have repented and given their hearts & lives to Jesus are Gods children.
What I see here is a perfect modern day example of Judges 11:29-40. Great faith, and bad theology. Faith is honored and right theology is disdained b/c it is intolerant or closed-minded.
Let’s also remember that Miley is 16, and her comments reflect her age. Very few people ever really learn to think through the logical end of their beliefs. I pray that she does.
Wes
The initial media reaction was so strong against Carrie Prejean that I think everyone in Hollywood felt like it would be career suicide to agree with her. From a Christian perspective, I can totally agree with Miley’s statements. Jesus does love both straight and gay people, we should too, and we are all God’s children. From a worldly perspective, I can see how some people have interpreted her comments to mean that she supports gay marriage. So kudos to Miley for trying to both express her views and not commit career suicide, but it’s clear that in our culture the fence is shrinking.
The issue here is not loving of not loving Gay people, it’s the gay marriage thing. I think Mileys comments are right but she doesn’t really confirm her feeling about same sex partnerships. She does infer that God thinks it ok because he Loves both partners. I don’t think we (christians) are called to point out whether someone is right or wrong that’s not our job. We are called to Love everyone, Gay, straight, married, single, living together, whatever. Jesus teaches us to Love more than anything else He doesn’t teach us to pick fault with other people, in fact he warns against it. So, thinking about it, i don’t think Miley is far wrong, God loves you end of story.
Yes, Jesus loves us all, that is why he died for us, but he HATES sin and that is in his word and it will not change!
Unfortunately I am not surprised by Miley’s response. I also have been following her for quite a while now. I am very thankful to you, Jonathan, since you have been a tremendous help in this. I have been following her for 2 reasons: 1. I am a youth pastor and do my best to maintain a good understanding of our current culture and how it is affecting our teens. 2. I have a 9 year old daughter who loves everything to do with Miley Cyrus/ Hannah Montana. So far I haven’t had too many concerns to talk to my daughter when it comes to Miley, except that she acts very rude and childish in her show. I remind my daughter that she is an actor and that we should not immitate the behavior that sems to get her in trouble. Instead she needs to always watch to the end to find out what she should do in the first place so as not to fall into the bad choices that Hannah gets involved in.
The reason I am not surprised is simply because of her popularity. She has many adoring fans and that feeds the human desire to be liked and wanted. There is always a fine line here that can be crossed easily even though we have the best intentions behind our choice. As I read her tweet, it seems she is really trying to appease both sides of the fence here with the hope of pleasing God by letting people know He still loves them. This is a common phenomenon in our Hollywood culture today, and they push that agenda into a lot of our kids minds. Just look at Oprah and where she has gone in terms of her belief.
I will use this oppurtunity to remind our teens and my daughter that it doesn’t matter how popular a person is, or what they say they believe, they are human and prone to the fall: Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 7:14-25. My prayers will continue to go out for Miley. I would hope that she would be convicted to see that she needs to stand on all of God’s truth not just the part that fits her agenda. I will also be praying that her father, Billy Ray, will be the man God has called him to be and that he would also be aware enough to help her understand the scriptures truth as it tells us God does love all of us, but cannot have relationship with those that continue in their sin, until they repent. This isn’t only for those that are gay, but those that are addicts, abusers, liars, thiefs, cheats, murderers, haters, and much much more, which I am also a part of without God’s grace.
you get the best of both worlds!
she certainly sat the fence on this one, but she is … what? 15, 16 years old?
i think, all things considered, that she handled it pretty well.
Great comments so far. I’m glad to hear so many people extending Miley grace also. Let’s be honest- she is just a kid. And yes, she does sound much like many of the kids raised by this “American Dream” culture.
It is hard to determine someone’s theology in 140 characters or less (a twitter). I guess I’m glad that she seems to want to show compassion in the name of Jesus (not a real popular thing to do). I would hope that doesn’t give license to “do whatever feels right, and that’s okay,” a belief that sometimes goes hand in hand.
Just my two cents.
Sigh. I need to point out that that saying God loves all of us is the point. How can we say that whether or not God loves us isn’t the point. Isn’t that the cornerstone of every element of the Christian faith? God’s unconditional love for all of us? Too often, many Christians use God’s word and our Christian beliefs as an excuse and a validation for hatred and bigotry. Miley gets it right here, because it isn’t about Gay Marriage; its about God’s love. And its that love that will allow those who have sinned and fallen away to be able to come back and be saved.
Regardless of rhetoric about “hate the sinlove the sinner”, how many gay people feel loved by the Christian community? I think most will agree that the answer to that question is very, very few. And that represents a great failing on the part of all Christians. Jesus called us to love those who have fallen away the most, because they need it the most.
She’s 16 years old; her viewpoint on Gay Marriage should be irrelevant. But the message her young fans get through this message is that God loves everyone, and its not ok to hate anyone. Sounds pretty on the spot to me.
My first reaction is like most i want her to stop talking because i feel she is doing more damage than help. But like you said i realize she is just a kid who is trying to stand in an adult world more than most teens. They tend to not really think through everything they do. (neither do i for that matter) But it is such a touchy issue that really no matter what you said it was going to be interpreted in more ways than intended. I pray that Miley picks up the Word and really seeks God in figuring out what she believes. Thankfully that never changes.
Miley is 16, I don’t expect to hear extensive wisdom from her. All in all, I am pleased with what she said. Her response was better than many of those I have heard by long time Christians.
I’m also saddened by the elevation of homosexuality as opposed to other sins. Sin is sin, regardless of political hot-button issues. The lies, pride, gossip, etc. in our churches/youth groups are not handled equally by most Christians. When was the last time you saw Christians organizing and protesting about gossip newspapers or tabloids? If a gay couple were to enter any of our churches holding hands, what would be the response? Sadly, in most evangelical churches they would be mocked, avoided, and perhaps even confronted. Folks, the homosexual community is well aware that most Evangelical Christians believe that homosexuality is sin. They do not need us to remind them of this. What they do need is people to reach out and love them, build relationship with them regardless of their choice to agree with us or not. Then, and only then, is there even a chance of speaking to them about this issue. Homosexuals are no different then you or me, they have sin in their lives. Let’s start treating them accordingly.
Me Personally I don’t think Miley is a good Rolemodel at all. If I had children they would not be allowed to watch her. Seriously EVERY TIME I HEAR HER I WANT TO THROW UP. Her Little half nude pics are like ones step up from kiddy porn I think Disney needs a make over. They may say they are clean but they Wink at the adults all the time.