March 05, 2005

The news is full of people screaming and cursing about this proposal to prohibit the "marriage" of homosexuals via the Constitution. A lot has been written about this subject from the standpoint of that abuse of the Constitution and the relationship of prohibition to liberty, but one whole aspect of it seems to have been completely overlooked.

Christians supposedly base their faith and decisions on the Bible. It is guidebook and inspiration as well as the law of God. It is considered by most to be the infallible WORD OF GOD. It lays out the story of God's relationship with mankind and His plan for salvation.

I've read straight through it many times in my life. I've read almost every version ever made, and I believe it is the most important guide and map for life we have... but there are a few things I can't find in there. Maybe someone would be so kind as to point out a commandment to compel unbelievers to accept the Bible, Christ or anything else. We must certainly hate the sin, but we are commanded to love the sinner. We ARE commanded to be good examples, to "Love your neighbor as yourself", to pray for those who hate and abuse us. We are to preach and witness, but I can't find a single example in the new testament where Christians were told to FORCE unbelievers to do or not do anything.

One of the greatest impressions I've always had from my reading of the Bible is the universal and endless rejection of God and His laws by people from the dawn of time. Even Moses displeased God at one point and was forbidden to enter the promised land because of it. There are NO perfect humans except Jesus Christ. Never have been, and never will be. "Sin" is anything that separates us from God and His will. ANYTHING, including our petty bickering, self-righteousness, gossip, backbiting, hatred, cheating, lies, murder and all the rest. The witness of the Bible is that the smallest lie or cheat is just as much a sin as the worst murder or rape. It all separates us from God and requires His saving grace to repair the breach. That's why He sent His Son.

So, those who stand before TV cameras, march around in demonstrations and scream about God's hate for homosexuals might do well to shut up, go home, read the "Good Book" and deal with their own sin instead. They might examine how "sacred" their own marriage is, and their example to their children. As St. Paul said, we must all work out our own salvation. It isn't something we can do for anyone else, no matter how much we love them -- let alone when we hate and revile them.

We will all eventually have to face the judgment of God for our sin, but none of us have any right to judge the sin of anyone else on this earth. Jesus said it very plainly, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". And to the adulterous woman he said, "Go and sin no more".

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