Why is it that religious organizations pick out homosexuality as the only sin?

Question

I am a gay Christian. Why is it that so many religious organizations/layman pick homosexuality as the so called sin to publicize? As far as I know the bible points out many more sins in a very straight forward manner (i.e. thou shalt not commit adultery). Yet you have a radical church group going to the funerals of military members (I just retired from the Navy) that have died in combat recently with signs of hatred stating the service member is gay and that's why God hates him and let him die.

First, my God doesn't hate. Second, the guys as far as everyone knows arent' gay. But what about the other sins? Are they ok now? Why the hatred? If you're so good then do as the bible states and "love thy neighbor."

It's not your choice if it's right or not; God has the final say.

Thanky you all for the answers so far. There was only one with no substance and I do read and hear what all of you are saying and am not afraid to hear others thoughts and opinions both educated and uneducated.

I guess I could have left out the gay thing as most seem to have interpreted that in a way I would not prefer. I have attempted to change myself, deny my desire etc. However, it's a difficult thing to do and I am sure 99% of people can't. The best example is lust. It's sin but most people do it when they see someone attractive. Trust me I pray and ask forgiveness, guidance and help everyday.

Thank you all for good, educational information. I'm grateful there's no bashing.

Answer 1

I think Christians attack homosexuals in our society more frequently than other people who do things against the scriptures is because right now in our country, this is hte most controversial issue. The church is just doing what the rest of the country is. They'r etaking the most profound issue and discussing it. You just don't like what they're saying. Just because they say homosexual behavior is sinful, that doesn't mean they hate you. A lot of poeple call themselves Christians, and don't even know the 10 commandments. You can't let those people get to you. Real Christians don't hate sinners because they know that they are sinners as well. All sins are the same. You say you are a Christian gay, which means you probably don't feel that homosexuality is a sin. That will definately make you look at the church's responses with a bias. Dude, i can love you, but that won't mean im gonna think ur right. just like a guy can rob a jc pennys and kill the clerk.. i can love him but i'm not gonna say what he did was write. those are all equal sins.. homosexuality, theft, murder. its all sin. buut.. u'll prolly ignore everything i said because ur not gonna wanna hear it.

Answer 2

I wish they didn't. It's rather stupid - being gay, as a sin, is the same as having a continual swearing problem, continual jealousy problem...
I wish that more Christians would realize that ANY sin that you continually do, even if you constantly ask forgiveness from God, is the exact same as a person who is homosexual who constantly asks for forgiveness from God.
That guy with his congregation/extended family is such a jerk.
To Nikki - I understand what you mentioned about not being proud of one's sins; that makes sense. But I think that being gay oftentimes is not something one can hide. Perhaps sometimes it is better to be honest with everyone about your shortcomings or pitfalls. If you hide your sins, are you deceiving others? I'm not sure about that. It's too complicated.
Those who mentioned that being homosexual puts a wedge between you and God are correct. That would be such a hard wedge to remove, don't you think? I do have pity on people who are gay for this reason: I really don't think that it is their fault that they're gay. I think that sin, throughout the millennia, has decayed the human body in many ways. Many Christians feel the same way. We are very far from the perfect original creation (I've seen the same statement several times on Yahoo Answers). Could it be so hard to believe that a genetic abnormality has occurred that alters one's hormone balance to the extent that you simply cannot find a member of the opposite sex attractive, no matter how hard you try?
Additionally, I would like to point out a section of humankind who everyone seems to ignore or be ignorant of: those who are intersexed. They are born that way through no fault of their own, and the variations are numerous. What would you say to a person who has both sets of reproductive organs, ot to a person who externally is female, but internally and chemically (hormonally) is male? Who should they get married to or have sex with? That can't be considered homosexuality - it's just a different kind of sexuality. And it was the way they were made.

Answer 3

It's because homosexuality is kind of a hot topic right now, what with gay marriage being legal then not. Plus it's it's a "sin" that is becoming more and more accepted as okay by society. And I don't have to tell you how much fundamentalists hate change and progressive thinking. Oh, and my favorite one is that they are actually repressed homosexuals themselves. Ahhh, I love irony.

But the main reason is because homosexuals posses a trait different from the majority, so (according to ignorant bigots) they must be evil. And they can't think of any legitimate reason for homosexuality to be wrong (cause there isn't any), so they have to rely on some obscure bible reference (which was actually added by some dude named Augustine several hundred years after the bible was written) that seems to support their unjust cause.

Personally, I don't care who you or anyone else has sex with. That's your business and no one else's. And I wouldn't want to worship a God that did care about that. Whenever I encounter these people, I usually remind them that they are supposed to love everyone, hate the "sin" and not the "sinner", and judge not less they be judged.

Answer 4

Sodomy is just like every other sin. When I got saved I had to give up the sin of fornication and adultery, and I have never gone back and done those sins again. A gay christian is a contradiction in terms as if I had said fornicating christian. You are very uninformed if you think that God doesn't hate, God hates sin but loves the sinner. God is also just and can not allow sin into heaven, so it must be dealt with here and now. Nobody is picking on you but if you don't deal with this sin you will never get to heaven. I have to deal with every sin in my life and you are no different. God will help you but you have to want to get out. There are lots of people that would help.. Hope that this helps.

Answer 5

Thank you for saying it like it is. I don't hear enough of this side of the argument.
I'm not gay and I am Christian. I teach Sunday school at my church each week with a sweet and loving gay man. He's one of the best teachers we have and I think we're lucky to have him.
I wonder the same thing you do about why people spend so much time hating others. We may never get the answer to that. I guess that Sex is SOOOOO impotent to everyone that they think they have to keep in under some kind of control. Even if that means controlling other peoples sex lives. Sad really.
Seems like they could find better and more loving things to do with all that energy. Like, Feed the hungry or shelter the homeless. How about child and spouse abuse. Surely there are more pressing matters to deal with as Christians than who's sleeping with who.
Thanks again for bringing it up.
Peace.

Answer 6

No it isn't the fact that organized religions pick on homosexuality, it's just that Gay Christians are openly defiant of God's Word, God has already had the final say buddy, the Bible says it is wrong. If you say you are Gay then you are saying that I choose to live in continual sin. All Christians must try to repent of their sins. God won't send you to hell or anything no matter what sin you've committed so long as you've asked for forgiveness and have Jesus, but he does look upon the heart.

Answer 7

As for that radical religious group carrying the Christian title.., they do not represent Christ but pure hate. While homosexuality is a sin - that does not give anyone license to hate and breed hate by harassing gay people or showing up at funerals of soldiers who died in service to their country. These particular religious zealots are sinning one of the greatest sin.., hate!

With that out of the way ..., Adultery, Incest, Homosexuality, Bestiality and ALL sexual sins (hetero or homo) are a sin against the body - and if we sin against the Body which is the temple of God.., God will destroy them who defile his temple.

Why many churches focus in homosexuality as the only sexual sin is anybody's guess. maybe they feel if they put the focus on gays, no one will notice their own indiscretions. But thats just a guess that no doubt at least true for some. (Think of pedophile Catholic Priests, or baptists ministers who chase the female treasurer behind his wife's back, etc).

If you are practicing the gay life style you can not be Christ like..., which is what Christian means. Jesus did not preach, "have sex with me...," his teachings were not about sex, but life and avoidance of sins. Sins were and will always be gaged by the Levitical/mosaic laws, though the ceremonial and rituals associated with them have been nullified.

Answer 8

Asside from the Lord referring to homosexuality as an abomination, it is also adultery. God never intended men to have sexual relations with other men, or for women with women. God gave us the gift of sex for the primary purpose of procreation. It is one way that we can participate in God's divinity and to gain a greater understanding of his creative powers.

You made the statement that God does not hate, but this is what is in the Bible.
Pro 6:16-19
(16) These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
(17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
(18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
(19) A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
(Pro 8:13) The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
(Jer 44:4) Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them], saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
(Rev 2:6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

These verses clearly state that God hates sin. I know that God loves you. He desires each one of us to turn from our sins. And as God hates sin, he has commanded us to do the same.

(Amo 5:15) Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
(Pro 8:13) The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

You are correct in your assumption that God does not hate people.

However you are incorrect in stating that homosexuality is the only sin that is pointed out. It gets the most attention because of the radical homosexuals who make their lifestyle a big deal. And it would not be such a big deal if you would keep your sexuality in the bedroom where it belongs. Lieing, stealing, and murder also get some publicity because they are crimes. Nobody has tried to make homosexuality a crime. The religeous conservatives only want to define marriage as being between a male and a female. Gay marriage has never been legel, and they want to keep it that way, but not make it illegal at which time it will become a crime.

You are right, God has the final say, so study for your self what God says about homosexuality.

May God bless you.

Answer 9

There is the high you get from God and turning your life over to his care. There are some sins that block us from Gods love every human commits them lust greed selfishness. If we each work on our own defects. Like Jesus tells us too. The log in our own eyes not the speck in your brothers then we will be OK.
There is another lower Power. Power is the most addictive drug on the planet. If I can get a person to feel bad about themselves then I can very easily manipulate them into hating someone else. If I can get people to look at the speck in there brothers eyes. Make them feel high from judging others. Then My basket gets filled with cash and I get on the news so I can make more money. At the same time I can keep every ones log in there own eyes so they cant see the Con.
Jesus said nothing about gays. He said allot about greed and not judging others and false preachers who like the pharisees at the time judged others.
Lust is a sin, Gay or straight. Love is not a sin. Gay or straight.

Answer 10

Try to change your life style...as God really abhors homosexuals...I am sure you are aware of that...

But more importantly...those so called Christian organizations you are citing, if that is the only sin they publicize, you better move away, as these are cults and have no scriptual foundation...look for a church which preaches that we are ALL sinners and that we need Jesus as our LORD and SAVIOUR in our lives...to be able to turn away from our sins, even though we will NEVER reach the state of being sinless, until we are in heaven...