Feb 28, 2015 2 min read

A Nicholas Kristof column in the Feb. 13 Observer-Reporter, “Two different stories illustrate the importance of resisting bigotry,” compared the intolerance of ISIS with the intolerance of “extremist” Christians who do not believe in same-sex marriage.

May I mention that less than six years ago, President Obama did not favor same-sex marriage either, but he was not called “extremist” or “holier-than-thou” or “hypocritical” or “intolerant.” However, I am primarily focusing on Kristof’s reference to Jesus’ teachings.

First, I agree that it is absolutely wrong for a Christian to hate anyone, even if we disagree with what they do or say. We are to love them as God loves us all, as Jesus taught us. He also taught that we also are to love even our enemies. Violence in the name of God is never right. Sadly, some so-called Christians have not followed Jesus in these important issues.

Kristof asserted that Jesus said nothing about homosexuality. But Jesus did define marriage as between one man and one woman in The Book of Matthew, when he said, “Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh…”

As a Christian, I will lovingly adhere to the teachings of Jesus, who did not follow the opinions of the majority of his day, and so by that definition, he was “extremist.”

Grace E. Roofner

Waynesburg