Rejoice

From the LA Times -- Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio has become one of the most prominent elected Republicans to announce his support for same-sex marriage, a "change of heart" that he said began when his son told him that he was gay. --

Sen. Portman's rather remarkable declaration has led to condemnation from both sides. There are those among the tolerant angry at him for taking so long to finally get here and over his previous record. There are those on the conservative side angry him for having changed his position.

I'm reminded of Abraham Lincoln. There are those who criticize him for having taken so long to finally realize that abolition was an absolute necessity. And there are those, even in this day, who criticize him for offending the South's "right" to traffic in human flesh. In Lincoln's case, I'll agree with Fredrick Douglas. Douglas said that it was terrible that it took Lincoln so long to finally get there, but, he added, at least he had finally arrived and it was pretty hard to criticize that.

Senator Portman was lost, but now is found; was blind, but now he sees. Good for him.

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents. -- Luke 15:10