Picketing Our "Pet Sins"

The Big Issue

There is a lot of talk in the news this election year about the big issues. I generally don't  pay that much attention, as I don't really expect any significant changes to ever take place. 

There is one issue that seems to take center stage; however, amongst Christians. I submit that there may be more to the issue of same-sex union from a Christian perspective than what many have considered, and that by not exploring it fully, we set ourselves up for hypocrisy. 

I won't sit around debating whether or not I think the Bible condemns this practice. In general, I would say it does. The Bible condemns a lot of sin, and it is important Christians do not lose sight of this fact. I hope that this post will focus more on the "sin for what it is" aspect of the topic, than just sitting around complaining about same-sex union the whole time, which is not my intention in writing this. My intention, rather, is a call to Christians to practice what we preach, and approach those outside of the faith with the love of Christ, first and foremost. It is for us to be salt and light to the world, so they'll know we are Christians by how we live and treat others, not by how many causes we rally against politically.

Some Background

Beginning in Genesis, God sets the stage for marriage with the first union between Adam and Eve. He tells them to be fruitful and multiply. God establishes the union of two people, physically, spiritually and mentally. The idea is that it is a lifelong commitment. 

Fast forward to after the fall, and the world is completely and utterly depraved. God sends the flood against all but one righteous man and his family, and begins fresh. 

Then, when the world is completely depraved and in idolatry again, God sovereignly elects a man out of that idolatry, Abram, to begin a nation that will be set apart for God, and through whom the world's savior will eventually come, erasing the trouble Satan caused in the garden.

Abram's nephew Lot has the first Biblically acknowledged encounter of men wanting to rape other men, when God's angels come to visit him and his family. The men of the city mob Lot's house, demanding they be allowed to "know" these strangers (angels) whom he is entertaining. 

Historically,  from my reading of other sources, this was common practice in certain cities, and after some battles of the day. The ultimate insult to your enemy was raping him (source check). 

I think we can see that while that act itself is abominable in God's eyes, it is not this specific story that should be solely used as a proclamation against the homosexual lifestyle. 

The New Testament View

When we get to the time after Christ's resurrection, we get a little more insight into the subject from Paul in his writings. In Romans Chapter 1 starting in Verse 26, Paul says this: 

26 For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural:

27 And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing.

28 And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;

Verse 26 refers to women changing natural sexuality into that which is unnatural. Verse  27 elaborates saying that the men were giving up the natural use of women in favor of sexual encounters with other men, and were "burning with desire for one another."

Biblically we infer that the "natural use" is that which God had intended from the start: Man with woman. 

Genesis tells us he created them Male and Female. Just looking at our bodies, we see the design inherent is suited to a male and female partnership. Paul covers this topic elsewhere in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, starting at verse 9:

9 Have you not knowledge that evil-doers will have no part in the kingdom of God? Have no false ideas about this: no one who goes after the desires of the flesh, or gives worship to images, or is untrue when married, or is less than a man, or makes a wrong use of men,

10 Or is a thief, or the worse for drink, or makes use of strong language, or takes by force what is not his, will have any part in the kingdom of God.

It is these verses I would like to look at closer.

Check out that list Paul gives. The first thing mentioned is "one who goes after the desires of the flesh." Before mentioning the act of making "wrong use of men," Paul mentions four other sins that keep people from the Kingdom of God.

It's the first one that this post is really about. If you've made it this far, welcome to the gist.

The primary sin that homosexuality derives from is the "giving into fleshly desires." It is the all encompassing sin of sexual deviance. And it's not just same-sex couples that Christians need to be concerning themselves about. 

If we as Christians are going to attack same-sex couples on the grounds that it is unnatural, we must also remember that any sex outside of the confines of God-given marriage, is technically just as  Biblically unnatural. It is helpful also to remember that all sin is equal in the eyes of a sovereign creator to whom sin is an abomination.

I may disagree with the homosexual lifestyle, but it is hypocritical of me as a Christian if I do not also disprove of all other sin. To focus and dwell on one specifically serves only to appear judgmental. 

Now some will say it is judgmental to suggest homosexual lifestyles are wrong, and to each his own. That gets more into subjective vs. absolute truth (a topic for another day). An individual, Christian or not, in sin, will always feel judged by someone rebuking them. We cannot get around it.

Where we get problems is when Christians who are clearly also in sin, begin to focus on specific sins, and condemnation thereof, rather than seeing their own. It goes back to pulling the plank out of our own eye before removing our neighbor's splinter. 

SideBar: Rebuking the Flock

Now, this does not mean as Christians that we just ignore blatant sin outright. It does mean we are called, as Paul mentions, to rebuke our Christian brothers and sisters in the name of spiritual growth and development. 

Paul's point is that a little leaven makes a change to all of the mass. A Christian living sinfully has the potential to draw other Christians towards their sin if not properly rebuked.

1 Corinthians 5:12 is a verse often taken out of context and used against Christians who are being judgmental. 

12 For it is no business of mine to be judging those who are outside; but it is yours to be judging those who are among you;

13 As for those who are outside, God is their judge. So put away the evil man from among you.

The context of this verse is in regards to the brother in Christ who is sleeping with his stepmom (a clear fleshly sin). The church in Corinth failed to rebuke him, and was simply tolerating this open sin (likely cursing sins of others in the meantime). Paul says, it is our responsibility to rebuke those brothers and sisters in our midst who are involved in obvious sin that could be detrimental to the body as a whole. It is not our job, he says, to dwell on judging those in sin outside of the body of the church. According to Paul's letter, God will be their judge.

As Christians we are called to be salt and light to the world. Our lives are to be examples. How then can we rightly sit back condemning certain sins, while still participating in our own?

Pet Sin Picketing or Your Sin = My Sin = Sin

The sin of fornication is not only related to same-sex couples. Any couple physically involved outside the context of Bible-based marriage could be said to be fornicating. A Christian couple who lives together while engaged or dating, or foregoes marriage altogether, is in just as much sin as the same-sex couple down the block hoping to marry. 

While I don't believe the same-sex lifestyle is to be condoned, I also don't believe it is really an issue most Christians should be actively fighting on the basis of politics. The ruler of this world doesn't care that you disapprove. He uses your disapproval to paint Christians as judgmental and intolerant. 


Yes, we disagree with same-sex marriage. But that disagreement is based on our Biblical understanding of marriage. 

Applying that same Biblical understanding of marriage, we should technically also be picketing the houses of Christian couples living in sin, or Christian couples who meet together to fornicate in the name of love. 

The potential for hypocrisy and giving Christians a bad name is huge when we involve ourselves in the morality of the political climate of our country. It is out of our hands. God ultimately has control of the leaders that he sovereignly knows will be appointed. If he chooses to allow Satan to influence them, we can't do a darn thing about it but PRAY. 

I am of the impression that Satan probably LOVES the fact that Christians have taken to “gay-bashing” because it serves his purpose of painting the faith as something illegitimate. What better way to make us look bad than to point out that the very sin we are judging is exactly as bad as the current sin we are committing.

Have you lied today? Have you taken the company stapler home without asking? Have you been angry with someone? Have you not forgiven someone today? 

Have you moved in with your significant other (engaged or not)? Have you had sex outside of marriage? Have you looked at pornography? Have you gossiped? 

The point of this is that while I personally would vote against same-sex marriage, it is not because I am homophobic or intolerant or whatever other color someone wants to paint me. It's because I understand that from my worldview, SIN as a whole is what we are called to stand firmly against, and same-sex marriage like many other things falls into that realm.

However, if Christians are picking "pet sins" to rally against, they are  missing the point of the Sin issue in general, and by relation, Christ's atonement. 

Christ didn't die so that Adam and Steve wouldn't get married. Christ didn't die so that Christians could rally against same-sex couples, Muslims or any other people. 

Christ died and accepted it ALL upon himself as SIN. It was all equal in God's eyes. 

I may not support same-sex marriage, but that doesn't mean I don't care about those individuals learning about Christ, just as much as I desire that everyone could know Christ. I don't support abortion, but I'm not going to attack a woman who has had one, in the name of the Bible. Christians should be implementing discernment and prayer on these issues. 

Now, it should be clarified that in the confines of the church there is no room for Pastors and elders to be involved in these types of behaviors. Someone called by God should not desecrate that calling by actively promoting sin of any kind. Ultimately they will have more to answer for in the end if they lead the flock astray with non-Biblical lifestyles. 

What Should we do? 

The WORLD supports all lifestyles, and the only way we are going to be able to change anything as Christians is to stop rallying against those people in hatred. Without resorting to the cliche of hate the sin, love the sinner, let's just acknowledge that I'm probably involved in just as much sin as "Adam and Steve," or "Eve and Eva" on any given day. 

Christians DO need to confront other Christians about obvious sin, in love and understanding, but with firmness of conviction as well. Praying about our own personal sin prior to ever attempting this is absolutely essential as well.

I do think the world is too tolerant. But I think Christians are beginning to paint themselves in a hypocritical light by fighting against certain sins, while actively engaging in others.

In Conclusion: 

If you are sexually involved or living with someone who isn't your spouse, the Bible calls it sin. If you are involved in a same-sex relationship or seeking to make that relationship official with marriage, the Bible still calls it sin. If you don't forgive someone who has wronged you, it's sin. If you deceive others and gossip, it's sin. 

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

There is only one remedy to the sin that pervades our world. Jesus Christ. He accepted God's wrath on our behalf, so that believing in him, we might have forgiveness of sin, and be saved from that same wrath. We are saved by grace from the wrath of a sovereign and holy God, who being perfectly righteous will not tolerate sin.

Let our focus as Christians then be to bring all about to Christ, through repentance and love, not to picket every pet cause we are against in anger and hate. 

I'll close in prayer:

Father, we acknowledge that we have all sinned and fallen short of your glory. We accept that nothing we can do of ourselves can ever redeem us from that sin. Help us as Christians to always be mindful of our place in the world, and our calling to be salt and light to a world in darkness. Let us present ourselves with firmness of conviction of your Word, but always done in the name of love, not hate. Help us to not be hypocritical by condemning the sin of another without first acknowledging our own failures and sins. Help our country to recognize your truth and morality, but allows us the comfort of knowing that you are in absolute control. The leaders elected answer only to you in the end, and you will bring about any evil for good, if not right away, then someday when every knee bows to confess that you are God. Thank you for forgiving us by the grace of your mercy, and by the blood of your sacrifice. Though we are not worthy of such a gift, we accept it openly and thankfully. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Be blessed my friends :)