Pew Research has released a new study that indicates Evangelicals are becoming a more accepting lot. True, the group has a long way to go, but the steady increase in support for gay marriage is a promising one.

 

As concerns religious groups, the majority of Protestants and Catholics (68 percent and 67 percent respectively) are okay with same-sex marriage, The majority of Evangelicals are not, with 59 percent being against gay marriage.

 

The good news: the acceptance rate among Evangelicals has grown 21 percent in the last decade. Back then it was at a dismal 14, but today it is hovering around 35 percent.

 

Even better, 47 percent of younger Evangelicals (those born after 1964) support gay marriage, which is up from 29 percent since 2016. During that same time, the older generation -- born between 1928 and 1964 -- saw an increase of just one percent.

 

“I think a shift is inevitable. It’s just a matter of how long,” said Julie Rodgers, a lesbian who once worked for Wheaton College in Illinois and had been part of an ex-gay ministry. “When pastors and leaders begin to come out [as LGBT affirming], people are going to move. They just need permission. It gives people another perspective and permission to say, ‘I feel that way, too.’”

 

Why don't we just settle this once and for all? Let's set up a meeting with LGBT and Evangelical leaders and invite Jesus to drop by and have the final say. What he says goes! And if he doesn't show, then he obviously doesn't think gay marriage is a problem. Done and done.