As the conflict rages on about religious freedom versus the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans; it underscores the problems created by a la carte Christianity.
A la carte Christians choose which doctrines within the bible that they want to follow, all the while ignoring passages they don't like, or worse, those that apply directly to them. When presented with a menu of biblical teachings, these a la carte Christians ignore the uncomfortable fact that adultery and lying are part of the big ten: the Ten Commandments. When ordering from the menu, these Christians seem to say: "I'll take the Ten Commandments, hold the adultery, coveting and lying. Can I have 'keep holy the Sabbath day' on the side? There's a game on Sunday."
The Ten Commandments are a summary of the teachings in the Old Testament. The first four commandments deal with man's relationship to God, and the last six deal with man's interpersonal relationships with one another. While many Christians believe all of us are sinners, why such a focus upon the Leviticus passage, "If man lieth with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination"? Why is that particular sin worse than the sins highlighted in the Ten Commandments?
Some a la carte Christians suggest that the focus on the Leviticus passage is because "homosexuality" is an abomination, and therefore the worse of all sins. Yet, the Bible also says:
These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
There are many passages that list other abominations including adultery, improper animal sacrifice and dietary restrictions. You get the point; many acts are an abomination according to teachings in the bible, not just "homosexuality." So the a la carte Christian's argument that somehow that Leviticus, or any other passage about "homosexuality," has some special heft, simply does not hold weight.
Either you are a prix fixe Christian, taking everything on the bible menu, or you are a Christian who believes that passages cannot be taken literally, and often are not what they seem. What a la carte Christians must accept is that all sin is the same, no worse, no better. They ignore the sins they want, others ignore the sins they want. to do anything else would be completely hypocritical.
Can someone please explain to me why the LGBT community is singled out as a special class of sinners? Please don't quote bible verse because that argument cuts both ways. After all the Bible says: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..." I'll happily provide the stones; I dare anyone to pick one up.