Legislating Morality.

This blog is going to be a solid blog of solely my opinion. I know what I'm going to say will be controversial and that some people have some very strong opinions opposite of me, and I'm fine with that - so let me throw it all out there.

I think homosexuality is a sin. Let me clarify, I think acting on homosexuality is a sin. In fact I think a lot of things are sins, and ultimately - I think that it's something between each person and God.

Back in Biblical times, specifically Jesus' time, there were these guys called Pharasiees. These guys knew the laws of the Old Testament like grapes know the vine. Not only did they know it, they felt it was their responsibility to make sure everyone else knew when they were screwing up - and they were good at it. Another thing about these guys - Jesus couldn't stand them. They had become so legalistic that they destroyed the main thing that God wanted - a relationship. To sum it up, Jesus came, claimed to be God, claimed His sinless death would pay the price for all of our sins better than any amount of laws could, and then He died. Three days later He showed back up proved He was legit.

Now fast forward two thousand years. We're sent to the polls to tell gay people they can't get married - if they do get married it apparently ruins the meaning of marriage and will create more earthquakes - cause apparently that's how God does things. Prop 8 passes, gay people can't get married, and they're pissed at Christians - and rightfully so if you ask me.

To be completely honest, I voted yes on Prop 8. I believe strongly in marriage, it is valuable beyond words to me and I will fight to support it. That's what I thought I was doing. I likened it to a non-Christian wanting to get baptized, and that in some way that would diminish the value of my baptism. I now realize how ridiculous it is for me to believe that by someone with different values for these things taking part in them it somehow ruins it - I mean if that were the case then Christians have been ruining to value of marriage for years with the rampant divorce.

See, my understanding of Jesus is that He loved us all no matter how light or dark we were, no matter how manly or feminine we were, no matter how gay or straight we were - He believed His love could transform hearts. See, ultimately God is the one who decides the punishment for our sins, but the Pharasiees wanted to be part of that punishing too - and apparently so do some Christians today. I have never heard someone say how much they appreciate, love and respect a cop after they get a speeding ticket - but I've heard it tons of times when a cop saved a life. Jesus wants us to love, that's what will make people see how real He is and how much they need Him - legislating morality isn't.

To get back to where I started, when California, with great financial support from Christian organizations and churches passed Prop 8, we drove a wedge between us and the gay community. At the same time we daily open the doors to our churches and welcome every other sinner with open arms. We need to show them that we love them, and if you can't love someone that is gay - that's between you and God. Cause the truth is that Jesus loves me no matter how much of a mess I am - and I need to be striving to be more like Him - daily.