Where is the Love?

The story of Tyler Clementi, the guy who committed suicide after footage of him engaging in sexual relations with another man was released, is all over the media and social networking sites. My roommate and I were having a conversation about the issue, and she was telling me how a lot of gay people commit suicide because of the stigma associated with homosexuality.

Let me just say at this point that I do not support homosexuality. I do not think it is biblical or in line with God's intention for creation and I think Romans 1. However, let me also say that I'm a firm believer in Romans 2:

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ²Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"

I get really angry when I see people holding signs that say "God hates gay people" or something akin to it. I almost want to say it’s bad publicity for God. It’s like we take one idea and completely isolate it from the purpose and intent that God originally intended. We say God doesn't support homosexuality; therefore he must hate those who practice it, forgetting that we were loved even in our own sin:
^"6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. “(Rom 5)

As Christians, this should be our attitude to homosexuality. Not one of ignorance, lest we mock our faith by not knowing what is required of us as God's children; and not one of quick solidarity, lest we champion a cause we neither believe in nor understand. And not one of acquiescence either. Oh how we love to take sides on issues either to please a group or to please ourselves.

I think its time we the Church stood up and called out Love. Again, not condoning the sin but accepting the inner. Surely we can do that. Jesus modeled it for us…