Both Mike and JD were raised in Christian homes and our Christian faith is important to us. That’s why we want people to primarily think of ours as a “Christian Marriage” – rather than a “Same Sex Marriage,” or simply a “legal marriage.”

At a time when less than 37% of Americans report regular church attendance, that may seem an odd thing for us to emphasize.  Unfortunately, when most people think of Christians today, the ones that come to mind are the extremists on TV who take a handful of scriptures out of context to support messages of condemnation and hate for all sorts of “others.” 

At the quieter core of our faith, though, you’ll find an ultimate truth that all people are made in God’s image and are loved by Him unconditionally.

In the entirety of his teachings, Jesus himself said nothing about LGBT people or their behaviors.  By volume alone, more than any topic in the Bible, Jesus speaks about love – a message that God loves you.  No exceptions. 

That’s why we’ve centered our wedding liturgy on a passage where Jesus speaks to those asking which religious law is the most important to follow:

Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

 

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.