RIGHTS

RIGHTS, YOURS VERSUS MINE.  My father used to comment on peoples rights to do something. One of his comments that sticks in my mind, even all these decades later was his comment on the right to swing your fist.  He said you have the right to swing your fist, but that right ends where my chin begins. So it is with many rights to which we are entitled. We do have the right to do any number of things, but when what you are doing begins to trample on my rights, then your rights will end.  On that note, let us look at a few things that are going on in the world today.
First, I want to emphasize my status in relation to God. I know He is the creator of the universe, which includes the world we live on. And as the creator, he designated men and women, or, if you like, male and female. And He instituted marriage between these two sexes. On that basis, I do not believe in same sex marriage. Period. However, that is God's law.  Man's law is interfering with that and as a result, the rights of many are being trampled. To show this I will mention a couple of examples. Or three.
1. A few years back, a woman who has a photography business in Albuquerque, New Mexico refused to photograph the wedding of a same sex couple. To do so was against her religious beliefs. The couple sued her, and won in court, costing her a lot of money in fines and compelling her to change the way she does business in order to stay in business.  This, in spite of the fact that the couple quickly found a different photographer who was willing to photograph their wedding.
2. I don't remember the details on this, but a baker or bakery was also fined for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple. Again based on their religious convictions. They were also sued and fined, even though the couple were able to find another bakery to make them a cake.
3. A couple in Idaho, who are pastors in a church, have refused to perform same sex weddings. As a result, they are in trouble with the law and threatened with jail time and a fine of thousands if they continue to refuse to perform these weddings.
These are just a few of the things that are going on in this regard.  
Now, I expressed my opinion at the beginning of this post. And I stick by that opinion. Having said that, man's law has said that people of the same sex can marry. While this is being contested in the courts, what ever happens, man's law will prevail as far as the court system is concerned. I do believe, however, that individuals, or couples, if you will, should not have the right to force their beliefs on some one else.  The photographer, the baker nor the minister's were not denying the people from getting married. They just didn't want to participate in it. Since there are other photographer's, baker's and ministers who are willing to perform these services, those who do not should not be taken to court and forced to comply with someone else's opinion or face legal action, fines and even jail time.  That's like swinging your fist past the point of my chin. And you don't have that right.   
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK