If you don’t support same-sex marriage, you probably hate gay people. And any race other than your own, and anyone from a different social status than you and anyone whose shirt isn’t your favorite color.
At least, that’s what it seems is being said of people who oppose gay marriage. I personally believe in marriage as God defined it, between one man and one woman, and there is nothing anyone can tell me that will change my mind. So I suppose you could say that I am close-minded in that sense. But does that mean I hate everyone who doesn’t think, act or look just like I do? No.
Because I am a Christian, I should accept and love everyone, and never judge someone for his or her choices, right? Absolutely wrong! We should not tolerate any form of sin, because we should strive to be like Christ, and God hates sin. But if all sins are equal in God’s eyes, should we not detest homosexuality equally as gossiping or stealing? These are all specific sins God condemns.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
I do not know a single person that is not guilty of at least one of these sins. How can I condemn a homosexual person but not condemn someone engaging in premarital sex or someone who gossips? All of our sins are equal in God’s eyes. The problem is not that people are “judgmental” or “intolerant.” The problem is that we pick and choose which sins we deem to be socially acceptable.
My church preacher shared a conversation he had with a woman who worked at a church that had rainbow LGBT flags hung outside. He asked the woman why the church supported same-sex marriage. The woman replied, “Because we believe in tolerance and loving everyone.”
So, like any good evangelist would do, our preacher asked the woman if her church would accept child molesters, rapists or murderers. Of course the woman answered no.
When the preacher asked her how the church could accept homosexuals but not people guilty of these other sins, the woman ended the conversation and asked him to leave.
My point is not to preach to you on the evils of homosexuality. My point is that homosexuality is just as wrong as any other sin every one of us is guilty of, and, as far as I know, God judges all sin equally.
That being said, I do not believe the church has an obligation to “accept” homosexuality. I believe homosexuality is a lifestyle choice (emphasis on the word “choice”) and should be treated the same as any other sin.
Has it ever occurred to you that it is completely possible for you to disagree with someone’s beliefs or choices but still love them as a person and strive to share the Word with them? I know people on our campus who struggle with homosexuality and even people who are open about being homosexual. Do I agree with their lifestyle choice? No. Am I going to treat them like lepers and refuse to befriend them? No. I am going to treat them with the same respect and kindness I would treat anyone else.
We are never commanded to accept sin, but we are commanded to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). Homosexuality is a sin, but so are many other acts.
We do not have the authority to say it is worse than any of our own sins, for all authority is from God (Romans 13:1). On our own judgment day, will we be judged any differently for our sins of greed and gossip than someone who is homosexual?
0
0
Be First to Comment