I must say I was pleasantly refreshed to read Jill Jensen’s recent column (March 2) on homosexual marriage. It is gratifying to see someone so young take on such controversial issue, and do it eloquently. Jill, you reminded me that our future is in good hands with today’s young people.

Although many well-meaning adults may disagree with Jill’s perspectives, it is still encouraging to see this inspirational young woman grounded in research, compassion, truth and common sense as a high-schooler.

While many twice or three times her age are still quoting a 5,000-year-old image of God that Jesus worked so hard to show us was inaccurate and outdated, this young woman and many like her enlighten our sometimes fearful responses to a clearer understanding of God’s compassion for his creation.

Jesus came to fulfill the law many quote in the early chapters of the Old Testament, and replace it with a new one found in Matthew 22 that shows us a much more inclusive and loving God than Jews were used to before the time of Christ. Homosexuals who live out who they are through expressing love seem a lot more aligned with Christ than heterosexuals who judge and exclude their brothers and sisters, and then assume that Jesus would do the same.

It’s been 2,000 years now since Jesus taught us about including those on the fringes and welcoming those some people of faith (whether pharisees of old or Christians of new) can tend to judge. I know many God-honoring people are trying to do the right thing by standing for a literal interpretation of the Bible rather than following the Jesus to which the Bible points. One of Satan’s favorite tricks is getting Christians to make an idol out of the Bible, replacing a commitment to the “Word made flesh.”

Whether or not Jill is a Christian, I do know she shares many signs of following the God (I John 4: 7, 8) of Jesus who calls us to exchange our hate for love, our prejudice for acceptance, and our fear for compassion. Jesus would not condone discrimination in any form, and whether Christian or not, Americans should be caught using the freedom they are blessed with to grant freedom to others, not try to control them.

Although the God of the Old Testament was one of punishment and judgment, Jesus, in his treatment of lepers, tax collectors, adulterers, women, Samaritans — anyone judged by religious people — showed us the reflection of a God that is merciful and filled with love for anyone alienated by society or the church.

May we all strive to see with the clarity of Jill Jensen. Love trumps every judgment, and acceptance is the way to peace.

David Larson

Albert Lea