I would like to respond to the guest column from Jill Jensen that recently appeared in the Albert Lea Tribune. First, I would like to commend Jill for the courage that she had in posting her letter, especially on such a controversial and difficult topic such as homosexual “marriage.” I appreciate her passion and conviction even though I firmly disagree with her conclusions. 

As a Christian and a believer in the Gospel of life, my heart aches when I read that people are abused for any or no reason. No matter what a person’s race, religion or sexual orientation, I believe we were all made in the image and likeness of a loving God and deserving of the fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, with this liberty comes great responsibility. True freedom does not grant us the right to do whatever we want, but instead, to do the things that we should.   

After reading Jill’s guest column, I was disturbed by something so prevalent in our society today: the inability of some to admit that truth exists, that not all things are relative or subjective. Whether you believe in the Bible as the inspired word of God or not, one haunting passage came to mind when I read Jill’s column. It is found in John 18:37-38. It is the story of Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate, who would ultimately decide his fate. Jesus tells Pilate, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” And in reply, Pilate uttered those infamous three words, “What is truth?” I believe that many in this generation are uttering that same phrase deep from within their hearts.

Before we make the mistake of redefining marriage to fit our whims, or making other definitive judgments on morality, we need to know the source from which all truth comes. As a Christian, I believe that source is Jesus Christ, the son of the living God who is the way, the truth and the life. It really comes down to faith. 

It is not my intention to impose my beliefs on Jill or anyone else, rather, to offer them an invitation to continue on the journey toward truth with an open heart and an open mind. They will inevitably find out that truth does indeed exist and that the truth is not a something but a somebody and his name is Jesus Christ. Once we accept this truth, and the responsibility that goes with it, the difficult moral and philosophical issues of our time will begin to make sense.

Scott Bute

Alden