Yep, practicing homosexuality is a sin. The bible says so. The bible also says that lying, gossiping, getting drunk, sex outside of marriage (or during marriage with someone other than your spouse), saying God's name in vain, putting other "gods" before Him (i.e. money, sports, children, jobs), lusting after someone who is not your spouse, and hating someone are sins. And that is the short list.
Who are we, as Christians, to say that one of those sins is more unacceptable than the others? If we refuse to allow someone who is practicing homosexuality to speak at an event or to teach our children about math, we must be fair and also shun everyone who lies to their parents, drinks too much on occasion, works hours upon hours at work to the point that they are too tired to read the bible or go to church, stares at pictures of women (or men) and imagines what it would be like to be with them, repeatedly says "Oh, God" every time someone says something funny or shocking, or is found talking about her coworker and the trouble he got into over the weekend.
We all have things in our lives of which we should be ashamed. How would you like it if people used those things against you to make you feel like you were less of a person or more unworthy to be loved or respected than the man next door who is cheating on his wife or the woman down the street who has a huge group of friends because they always count on her to know everyone's business and share it? Heck, half the cast of the Disney Channel should be on your chopping block because I hear the phrase "Oh, my god" more times than I can count.
I guess what I'm saying is that we should either love the one who practices homosexuality just as much as we love the "good Christian woman" down the street who secretly never reads her bible because she's too busy watching her favorite show on HBO every night, or we should shun them all and there would be nobody left to speak or to teach...or to preach for that matter.
I am not saying that sin should be accepted. It shouldn't. We should pray to God for help in overcoming them all. What I am saying is what Jesus himself said: get the rod out of your own eye before trying to remove the speck out of eye of your neighbor. Once you are perfect and free of sin, you can go to your brother in Christ and attempt to help him with his. Goodness knows I would love for someone like that to come help me with mine. But as long as you are struggling with sin yourself, stop telling someone else they are less worthy of love and respect than you are. God sees us all as the sinners we are and wants each of us to love Him enough to get those sins out of our lives. I know I have a long way to go. What about you?
Monday, June 22, 2015
No Stepfather's Day
I wrote this in a note on FB two years ago....it's more true today.
Tomorrow is Fathers' Day, a day to celebrate the men who gave us life. My father, Harry Osborne, is one of the best. He is sweet, funny, and loves me more than life. So, of course, each year when I realize Fathers' Day is approaching, it is my "Deddy" who comes to mind first. But this post isn't about my wonderful father; it is about my wonderful husband. As I am typing this, he is cooking shrimp scampi (it is 9:21 p.m.) because Sydney requested it...even though he has already eaten dinner himself and she is really the only one who is hungry. This is quite typical of Kyle--doing all he can to make each of us girls happy, no matter the time of day or the level of difficulty the task. In the short two years we have been married, he has cooked countless dinners, cheesecakes, loaves of bread, fried eggs (over medium), and grilled cheese sandwiches. He has mowed the lawn, cut down trees, mulched gardens, and planted flowers. He has moved Taylor into...and then out of...her first dorm. He has chauffeured Sophie to gymnastics, Sydney to her friends' houses, and all of us to Orlando, church, the beach, school, the mall, and the grocery store. He has helped with homework, projects, essays, and research papers. He has helped teach Sophie how to ride a bike and Taylor and Sydney how to drive a car. He has built two loft beds, a headboard, and a mirrored jewelry armoire...all for my girls who have come to expect that he can and will cook, build, or do anything they desire.
Tomorrow is Fathers' Day, a day to celebrate the men who gave us life. My father, Harry Osborne, is one of the best. He is sweet, funny, and loves me more than life. So, of course, each year when I realize Fathers' Day is approaching, it is my "Deddy" who comes to mind first. But this post isn't about my wonderful father; it is about my wonderful husband. As I am typing this, he is cooking shrimp scampi (it is 9:21 p.m.) because Sydney requested it...even though he has already eaten dinner himself and she is really the only one who is hungry. This is quite typical of Kyle--doing all he can to make each of us girls happy, no matter the time of day or the level of difficulty the task. In the short two years we have been married, he has cooked countless dinners, cheesecakes, loaves of bread, fried eggs (over medium), and grilled cheese sandwiches. He has mowed the lawn, cut down trees, mulched gardens, and planted flowers. He has moved Taylor into...and then out of...her first dorm. He has chauffeured Sophie to gymnastics, Sydney to her friends' houses, and all of us to Orlando, church, the beach, school, the mall, and the grocery store. He has helped with homework, projects, essays, and research papers. He has helped teach Sophie how to ride a bike and Taylor and Sydney how to drive a car. He has built two loft beds, a headboard, and a mirrored jewelry armoire...all for my girls who have come to expect that he can and will cook, build, or do anything they desire.
And yet...there is no Stepfathers' Day.
Tomorrow we celebrate the men who gave us birth or the men who have adopted us as their children-- our legal and/or biological fathers. But what about stepfathers? They must be recognized as well. My husband must be recognized as well. Because, although he has not fathered a child biologically, he is one of the best fathers I have ever met. He is patient, kind, hardworking, sincere, sensitive, helpful, sacrificial, and loving. He is everything a father should be.
Kyle, I love you more and more every day. Thank you so much for taking care of me and the girls. You make each one of us feel protected, loved, and cared for, and I could not ask for a better stepfather for my children. (And I'm sorry for the picture, but I couldn't help myself) :)
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