The Bible is commonly used to guide one's moral compass in order to honor the love of God. Many people, however, take this "guide" as a "rule book." The problem with this, however, is two things:
1. The Bible contradicts itself -- constantly.
Not everything in the Bible can be final because most commands contradict one another. For instance, "love thy neighbor as thyself" is contradicted by God commanding his followers to turn away physically and mentally handicapped people from the church.
2. The Bible was written thousands of years ago.
This is a no-brainer, but many fail to realize how this fact impacts the way we should interpret the Bible. We cannot hold back a generation from progressing based on out-of-date commands in the Bible. Times change, and so do social and religious norms. Many things that were accepted at the time the Bible was written are seen as twisted, sexist, and even just unnecessary today.
Why, then, do many use the surface of the Bible's meaning as a reason to oppose non-heterosexuality in political situations? Those who merely argue, "Because the Bible speaks against it," obviously have no other argument to cover up the fact that deep down, they oppose non-heterosexuality because it is unknown and therefore uncomfortable. There is absolutely no way to argue that God's command against homosexuality is accurate, but other absurd commands are not. Which means, if you are someone who argues against homosexuality merely, "because The Bible says so," then you better be ready to follow these commands with just as much vitality:
"Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die” (Leviticus 10:9).
"Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments" (Timothy 2:9).
"The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me" (Leviticus 25:23).
"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives" (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
“Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee” (Leviticus 19:19).
"A bitched shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:2).
"I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men; she is to keep silent" (Timothy 2:11).
"But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you" (Timothy 2:11).
If you cannot devote yourself to arguing for every single one of these commands, then you might need to really dig deep into yourself to find out why you are really opposed to homosexuality.
I am not arguing to not follow the Bible. I follow the Bible as much as I possibly can in my everyday life. If you disagree with homosexuality because of some deeper meaning of the Bible, then your opinion must be respected regardless of if it is a popular opinion. I just implore all of you to remember that our country is a secular democracy, which means you can agree with the necessity for equal rights/opportunities for non-heterosexuals politically without morally agreeing with the concept.
