Critique of Morality as Law

I have always had trouble reconciling my feelings about homosexuality as a Christian. I have friends who are homosexual and I love them just as much as my friends who are heterosexual. I know what the bible says about same sex relations, but the bible says a number of things about a number of sins. I suppose that's why I always get an uneasy feeling when trying to choose which "side" I'm on. Let me explain.

The Bible says that marriage should be between a man and a woman, that homosexuality is a sin. Agreed? The bible also says that premarital sex and worshiping other God's, etc are sins. But which do we choose to vilify and which do we quietly sweep under the rug and why? In the US sex sells honey. It's in every TV show, movie, magazine, book, webpage, etc. And let's not even touch the fact that we worship a myriad of God's in the US ---MONEY being the most widely worshiped. 

Hot or Cold. You know the verse, Revelation 3:14-21 where Jesus says He'd rather you be hot or cold but not lukewarm. Being completely for Him or not for him at all is better than one part believer, one part unbeliever. Do we uphold the word of God to the fullest extent or don't we? This is my problem with all the religious people out there crying "This is death to marriage and its sanctity". If you're ready to go to "war" for homosexuality:

What about all the other sins that we let loose? Why is homosexuality more important than them? What if we start making premarital sex illegal? How many of us would be in jail RIGHT NOW! Lbs---The bible says no sin is greater than the other and the only unforgivable sin is denying the Son and therefore denying the Father.

So what's right? What should we do Jasmine? Let people indulge in all the sin they want because we don't have a grip on them all? Should we go on a religious crusade to enforce the Word? Pump the breaks shawty. I'm not even going to pretend that I have the end all be all answer to that question. I am still wrestling with it. But in my fight I have come up with some resolve for where I stand.

MY THOUGHTS ON HOMOSEXUALITY AND CHRISTIANITY

My pastor just finished preaching on how Christianity is not about Religion (Laws, Mandates, THOU SHALL NOTS) but it's about a relationship. We were freed from the Law of the old testament through Jesus Christ. Now as Christians we follow the law of Christ: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you fulfill these two commands then you will be fulfilling all of the law past, present and future. 

Your relationship with the Son and the Father is key. If you love Jesus and accept him as your personal Lord and savior and you believe he is the Son of God then you good. You're in the club, here's a t-shirt. And nothing can take you out of the club not premarital sex and not same sex marriages or homosexuality. Our relationship with Christ is all about what he did for us. His grace. It's not about what we can do for him. You couldn't do enough "good/holy/sanctified stuff" to get into heaven. You aren't holy enough on your own to get into heaven. But it's because of his grace that you are saved. 

Does that mean because you're saved you can do what you want? No. We are still required to follow the law of Christ. Plus there are consequences to sin. However, Christians don't resist sin because we are trying to get into heaven. Again his grace does that. We keep ourselves from sinning by our LOVE for God. If everyday you're loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, you won't be killing, stealing, lying or indulging in any and everything you want.

MY THOUGHTS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Something always made me uneasy about religious leaders and followers who condemn homosexuality to the point where their hatred is apparent. And then when we talk about civil liberties and the rights that should or should not be given to those in same sex relationships, I get even more uncomfortable. And I've finally figured out why.

There is something disturbing about putting sin on trial. I realize some sins deserve to have laws and mandates (like killing and the such) but when we talk about putting peoples habits and hangups on trial that's when things get scary. What's wrong with merging sin and the gavel you ask? Well honey, we all sin. And I don't know about you but I don't want my sin in the SC's lap. Imagine having the thing you suffer with the most being something that is illegal. Just take a trip down "imagination lane" with me real quick. Fornication, adultery, greed, selfishness, pride, anger, gluttony, etc. What if all of these sins were on trial? What if SCOTUS wanted to take away your rights and civil liberties based on your inability to control your sin? Well darling we would be in all kinds of trouble. You would feel outraged, perhaps betrayed by your country. What if people vilified your sin?

That's what makes me so uneasy about this whole thing. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let he who wouldn't mind their hang up being condemn by the state or the country step up to the mic. You have the floor.

Additionally, God already proved that the Law does not save or reform. All the law does is point us to our deep need for Jesus. Why then are we trying to mandate Laws on state and federal levels that don't work? Why are we even introducing biblical laws when there's supposed to be a seperation between church and state. That's not the "American Way."

RIGHTS FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGES?

OK so you don't support homosexuality and you don't want it to be legalized and you don't want people to get governmental or state benefits because of it. If you are a Christian then your issue is with the sin, not the person right? But are we attacking the sin or are we attacking the person when we deny them civil liberties? Are we addressing the root of the problem or are we just issuing out consequences of the problem?

Every Christian knows, if you want to get rid of sin, the change needs to come from the heart. You can't force someone out of their sin, you can't force a change of heart. God knows that, which is why he gives us the choice to come to him. He doesn't make us obey him, he touches us, softens our hearts and we let him in; giving him permission to change us for the better. 

You aren't going to stop homosexuality by condemnation, strict laws, or by denying people rights. All that does is harden their hearts to you and your message and gives them an even more stern resolve to see that they get what they desire. 

When it comes to combating sinful behavior I think we should take a lesson from the master in matters of the heart, Jesus. Jesus excepts people the way they are. He loves them as they are. He meets them where they are. No doubt the disciples had their issues, sins that they fell to, but do we see Jesus yelling at them with contempt? Do we see Him taking away from them or adding to them? And what is their response? The disciples flourish, they do great things, they become great men. But most importantly they develop great relationships with Christ and that's what it's all about. That's all that matters.