Why the fuss?

There is a prevailing thought in America, especially amongst Christians that we have to "stand up for our rights".  People are afraid that if we don't take a stand that our freedom to worship and have churches will be taken away.  I pose the question does it really matter that much to you? People will respond a resounding yes, but I ask again does it really matter that much to you?  If it matters that much to you why do you not take advantage of that freedom and truly worship how we were made to.  Not, just on Sundays sandwiched between the start of service, the offering and the sermon. WORSHIP WITH YOUR LIFE.  Yes, I believe it is important to gather together as a body and that without that the road can be very difficult.  But the freedom you are complaining about is also contingent on you using it.  I know that each person is responsible for themselves and that only God knows their heart. There are times when I see people more willing to argue about something for the sake of arguing a point than really living out what they are standing for. I know it has been a hot topic lately and I'm not trying to start any debates of the "marriage issue" sparked off by Chic-Fil-A.  I decided to explore this issue further and see if there was anything that specifically speaks against homosexuality in the New Testament (due to the fact of people arguing about the validity of Levitical law).  I found a verse that I feel is pretty clear on the subject.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^{[a] 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I'm not posting this to bash anyone that struggles with any of the sin listed in the verse.  Just pointing out that it is clear that it is not something that is debatable according to scripture.  While reading information during the bashing done by both sides I found something that truly spoke to me that I wanted to mention.  The "Church" as a whole has ostracized people who struggle with sins that they don't.  It's perfectly fine, and we know you don't mean to be a drunkard but since we can understand that we can see past it.  But if someone has a different lifestyle than us the same rules don't apply.  I'm not saying that either is acceptable to God only that it's not my place to withhold love from them.  Why is it that as a society we preface everything said about gays and lesbians?  Despite our personal opinions and beliefs about their choices, they are people the same as you and I.  They do not have a virus that you will catch or secret powers that will change your sexual orientation.  Perhaps your own insecurities about your faith, what you truly believe causes you to want to avoid something you are not comfortable with.  Is it worth arguing over?  Again people will respond with a resounding "YES".  But I ask you again is it really worth arguing over?  I'm not going out of my way to find gays, lesbians, drunkards, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy, slanderers, or swindlers and tell them just how bad "I think" they are. Because if I truly understand the way God views it all of us don't measure up regardless of how acceptable our sin is in the eyes of society.

Romans 3:21-26

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in^[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[i] through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

As for my part going forward I feel that I must continually ask to see all people the way God sees them and not through the terribly distorted views we have put on people. I realize that I must worry about my life and what I am doing and ask myself if it is in line with what is expected.  I don't do this out of obligation at all though, I do this because I've chosen to and that is the truth in the entire argument.  I choose to live my life a certain way and so does everyone else on this planet.  I have things about myself which are destructive that I would love to do but I realize that they corrupt my body.  I have things that had become so ingrained in me that many think it defines me, but they were not of God and so I have chosen to remove those things from myself.  Not because I have to but as a decision I make from my love for God.  I would urge my fellow believers to do the same and to point me to any reference that states we should argue about political issues.  I would urge you to examine your own life and ask God to give you his eyes and ask for his love because trying to do it on your own is futile.