One thing I do not do is completely ignore others who are begging for answers or are wanting an opinion (even though what I give as my honesty may not be what they want to hear). I can, most whole-heartedly tell you that my faith and conviction shows me that homosexuality is a sin and same-sex marriage is not marriage at all. It's not normal. Don't even try comparing it to nature.
Jesus promoted salvation, but that salvation can't be had without repentence. Many people reference Jesus when he said "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her", saying we shouldn't be judging people. Yet, Jesus told the woman "go and sin no more." It has absolutely NOTHING to do with hatred, but rather the inability to recognize what is natural and sinful. I am born with the desire to sin. That doesn't mean I should be acting on it or disregarding the Bible's instruction (and there are many verses including Romans 1, Jude 1:7, and Hebrews 10:26-27). "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." Sin is anything that is contrary to the will of God. You can say homosexuality is not "wrong", but that doesn't make it not a "sin". And while marriage is not just about sex, I'm not sure how it's possible to "be fruitful and multiply" when with humans, to people of the same gender are incapable of multiplying (without scientific intervention obviously - you can get donor eggs/sperm). In addition, how is it natural to kill out one's species? People joke about it as God's way of creating population control, but that doesn't make sense as he clearly says in his Word that male+male and female+female relations are not natural and he has said more than once to "be fruitful and multiply", so why would there be a need for population control in the Bible (and homosexuality is clearly practiced by the heathens)? God doesn't contradict himself.
The Bible is consistent from the Old Testament through the New (yes, male+male and female+female relations are listed as unnatural in the New Testament). Everything must be understood in context. So if you want to get on the topic of polygamy (cause I know you want to go there), the difference is that in the OT, God doesn't really speak on it being okay, but in the New Testament you see a clear shift where elders should be the husband of one wife and Paul is always singular when he addresses husbands and wives, and when he is ever plural it is clear he is talking about groups (i.e. all the spouses in an assembly). Remember, God clearly created Eve for Adam, not multiple women. Childbirth was not the same pre-fall and we can't know what type of relationship they had, but we DO know they were made for each other. Anatomically MADE for each other. God allowed polygamy for a time (a variety of reasons could be assumed including increasing global population, protection, provisions, etc), it was not a part of his original design and definitely it is not insinuated in the New Testament as being something "okay".
I can't make anyone believe that homosexuality is a sin, no more than I can make people believe abortion is murder or that God exists. I believe that people's hearts are hardened. I am incapable of unhardening them. That must come through conviction by the Holy Spirit after the gospel has been presented. Then, obviously, some choose to ignore the conviction and go their own way. Just as wanting to help an alcoholic with their addiction, they have to recognize they have a problem before they get to the point where they want to do anything about it.
It's not hatred, it's love. I don't want anyone to go to hell. It's not intolerance. It's conviction. I'm not saying that same-sex people are incapable of loving each other and what they feel for each other is not real. I'm just saying I don't believe it's normal. You can legally have sex with a goat in 16 states. That doesn't make it normal (or right).
I'm also not being wishy-washy on how I feel. This is how I have been. Always. I'm not going to change. If anything, I'm only going to become more defiantly conservative.
Also, thank you for sharing. Let the whole world know I'm not afraid of my beliefs. I consider it empowering. +1 to God. I made an impact, however small, that drove you to share it.
Leaving the end of this with the Nicene Creed (and the gospel in a nutshell).
I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
