The power of an analogy

The debate that is raging at the moment about gay marriage across the world has thrown up an interesting issue.  In our attempt to understand complex issues, we often draw on analogies to help us get our heads round things.  Jesus himself often used parables.

In this debate, I have heard two different analogies, which lead to powerfully different outcomes.

The first, used by many conservative evangelicals and traditionalists, is that homosexuality is a departure from the "norm" in the same way that something like alcoholism is.  The argument follows that a loving approach to an alcoholic is to "love the sinner, hate the sin."  Ignoring for a moment the vocal minority of placard waving haters (you know the type... God hates faggots types, that have no knowledge of the message of Christ), we have many who would try sincerely to welcome and show love to a homosexual, while imploring them to turn away from a homosexual lifestyle in the same way we try to help an alcoholic find freedom from addiction.

Another analogy that is used by more progressive types (in the theological sense) is that sexuality is like handedness.  The majority of us are right handed.  A minority is left handed, a few are ambidextrous.

Go back in history and you will see that being left handed was sometimes a curse.  Teachers would strike a child using the wrong hand.  Even the Latin word shares the root of the word sinister.  There was something unnatural and wrong about left handed people, who were clearly not following the template of normality.

And here's where it becomes interesting.  When a sincerely loving alcoholic-analogy Christian meets a like minded handedness Christian, it's as if they are on different planets.

One hears the other saying "I don't care about alcohol abuse.  It's a live and let live society.  What harm is it really doing?  Aren't there more important things to worry about than if someone is drunk and addicted to a drunken lifestyle?"

The other hears a different message.  "I love you, but to belong to our family and have an active role in it, you have to renounce your left-handedness.  If you can't use your right hand (you know, the proper one that we're designed to use), then don't use any hand at all... That's a perfectly acceptable alternative.  We'll stand alongside you in your struggle."

Interestingly, these two Christians might stand shoulder to shoulder on so many debates and issues, yet the power of this one issue is so divisive as to make them feel poles apart.  One hears total disregard for sin and holiness, the other hears a complete lack of compassion and love.

Any read of previous posts will lead you to not be surprised to hear I prefer the handedness analogy.  No doubt if you prefer the alcohol analogy you will want to scream "but the plain reading of scripture says it's a sin!"  I understand and respect your view but on other posts we address the issue of what the Bible says, appears to say and how there are different interpretations that mean we need to take great care before condemning left handed people who use their preferred hand because they were born that way...