A truly excellent post! The 'gluttony' you mention most likely reflects something in your genes. I suspect that most 'preferences' we have are genetic in origin. Having them is not wrong; it's yielding to them that is. That would be allowing our animal bodies and instincts to supersede the image of God stamped within us.
I had the same thought the other day! I was contemplating the "born this way" argument in favor of homosexuals. And it hit me: We're ALL born sinful! There is a strong case to be made for a wide variety of sins being genetic. We talk about homosexuality, gluttonous tendencies, alcoholism, anger management, etc., in the context of genetics. Beyond genetics, the Bible says we are all born fallen (sinful). But that does not excuse us from the legal or eternal ramifications of giving those sins unfettered access to ourselves!
I read a letter to the editor by a Catholic priest. There had been an article about being prone to violence possibly having a genetic base. The priest said in his letter that this is not surprising...it's called a sin nature!
The catch here is that if you are not Christian (or even if you are, depending on the denomination), you may not perceive homosexuality as a sin. It's not a clear detriment to personal or social health the way gluttony, alcoholism or anger are. And other than one statement by Paul, the Bible has nothing to say on the subject of female homosexuality - and not all Christians abide by Paul's teachings (particularly the one about allowing women to teach or have authority over men). It's one of the drawbacks to living in a free, multicultural society. You have to accept that sometimes "sin" is in the eye of the beholder. (There's a woman a few blocks away who always wears a burka - I'm pretty sure I look like quite the sinner to her, in my shorts and t-shirt, with my hair uncovered!)
@MegCanada there is actually another reference is direct condemnation of any homosexual behavior in the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. The most obvious one to me though is the fact that God created woman as the help-meet for man. The way He originally designed the family involved a man and a woman and He has never wavered on that. There are actually health issues associated with it as well when one looks at the higher rates of suicide and depression in the gay community. I have friends that are gay and although I don't condemn them, they know I don't approve of their choices and that's okay. We have moved past that in the name of friendship. I agree with what was said earlier about our choice to partake in sinful behavior that is within all of us. That's what is so amazing about our nature vs. that of animals It just breaks my heart to know that so many are potentially lost eternally because society deemed their behavior acceptable or not acceptable instead of what our Father has told us is acceptable. His ultimate goal is that "not one would be lost", but sadly human nature is all about what feels good right now instead of eternal treasure.
But if you won't accept it, what are you going to do about it? Can the lady down the street force me to wear a burka? Can I force her to take it off? Can I make her hide so my kids don't ask awkward questions about her lifestyle? I don't want to live in a country where other people's religious beliefs dictate what I can and can't do, even if it's something I don't personally approve of.
The question is are there things that are ABSOLUTELY "right" or "wrong". If you say no, then ANYTHING is justifiable and morals do not exist. How can you, as a parent, tell a child that it's "wrong" to hit his brother? If the child can justify that behavior, what authority do you base telling him it's not acceptable? As the Bible says, the people "did what was right in their own eyes".
Yes - some things are absolutely right or wrong: murder, rape, cruelty... But same sex people living in a loving and committed relationship aren't so easy to categorize as "right" or "wrong", especially if your religion doesn't condemn them. Just because people don't agree on what is absolutely right and wrong, doesn't mean they have no moral standards at all. I've always thought the "right in their own eyes" quote was a warning to all of us - just think of those horrible Westboro Baptist folks. No one is righter in their own eyes than they are! Pride. It's a sin!
The Bible mentions several times that homosexuality is a sin. So it is. It doesn't matter if you believe it is or not, it is. Pride has nothing to do with this discussion because there's no room for personal inference: Scripture is clear and pointedly says that homosexuality is an abomination. As to what I'm going to do about it - Same thing I do with all sin. Pray for those who are lost, love my friends who are sinners (Christians included), and share the truth with those who are open to it.
Yes, pride is a sin. But that phrase isn't about self-righteousness. It's about what we called "situational ethics" when I was in the classroom. It's about being able to justify your own actions, and feeling that you cannot "judge" anyone's actions. The best example I found of it is in Peretti's book "Pursuing the Darkness". A woman had killed her child, but felt she was justified in doing so. The court didn't agree with her, but she held that the courts had no right to judge. You state that murder is wrong, yet is murder acceptable in self-defense, or in defense of your loved ones? Just how "threatened" do you need to feel to make it acceptable? What about ladies (or children) who have been repeatedly abused and decide they can't take it any longer? Morality MUST have its basis somewhere that is UNCHANGING.
For me, it is answered by where does absolute truth come from....the Bible.. if that is so, and that is what you base your beliefs on, then there is no room for "what's good for one, etc.." There is right and wrong. Personally, I am glad I don't determine it!
In a secular space where people of different religions and beliefs are welcome, I think Meg is right. In your personal life and how you conduct yourself, I'm on your side.
One of the most important principles I've learned in life is that the Old Testament law is not so much a prescription for living as a description of a person. When we read "do not bear false witness", for example, this is telling us that God will not deceive us and his promises are secure. This explains Jesus' words that he didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Whereas the laws was a pointillist image, Jesus was a much clearer picture. Another way to put this is that the personality of God is the very definition of morality, which makes it absolute and not relative. I still disagree with 'Christian culture', though, that discriminates against some groups based on their genetic makeup. Why should anyone look down on an individual who is gay, and try to take away his/her rights, when a serial adulterer gets a free pass? It's just hypocritical. And that's just one example of many. People's behavior will change once they are a 'new creation', not before.
All of the talk on homosexuality being a sin is neither here nor there on the bigger issue. That's the view of some (not all of course) Christians and I won't try to argue that you don't have a right to that view and by all rights you should live your life in a way that reflects that but the library is a secular space that's funded by the tax dollars of gay people as well as more Conservative Christians. Secular space has allowed many countries to have a level of freedom of religion unprecedented in history. While that sometimes means you'll be confronted by a Gay Pride banner it also ensures you're allowed to be the kind of Christian you feel called to be or be a Christian, period. I don't have any problem with my children seeing a Gay Pride banner but if I did I would very much hope that I would view it as a demonstration of the same rights that allowed me to live my life as I see fit.
I do agree with this to a point (which is why I endorse the wide variety of books). However... if our local library had a Christian rights display, the community would go berserk because, as you said, it's a secular space. If you are a government-run building, you must remain neutral on hot-button topics.
Which is why I have many (and I do mean many... I work in theatre, after all) gay friends. I also believe serial adulterers are less friend-worthy than homosexuals. That's a personal issue, but unless God spoke directly to me to befriend someone, I can't tolerate being around an unashamed/unrepentant adulterer.
