This is an extremely touchy subject I have chosen to write about. And needless to say, I am nervous about sharing my voice. However, it is something that I feel very passionately about and have been wanting to share for a long time. I just haven't been quite sure how to.

I have always been taught about and have grown to love the concept of traditional, heterosexual marriage, between a man and a woman. It is a beautiful picture in my eyes, and always will be. However, within the past four to five years, the concept of marriage between a man and man, and between a woman and woman have been brought into the picture with a much stronger dynamic than ever before. Our president has even helped in making it legal in every state to allow this situation to be an actual ordeal.

The concept of gay marriage is something that is confusing to me for many reasons. One, because I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ and I base my morals and values off the Bible. And two, because I can't imagine myself ever beginning to feel romantic feelings toward another female.

I know that in this day and age, my stance would get an immense amount of hatred and my opinions and beliefs would be considered wrong. However, the media truly knows so little about people and Christians that share similar beliefs as myself. The media seems to put out the image that all Christians are gay people haters and we do not see them on the same spiritual level as ourselves. This is not the case at all.

I do not support gay marriage in the same way I don't support stealing, cheating, adultery, selfishness, murder, sex before marriage and other sinful actions. Does this mean that I myself have never cheated, gossiped, been selfish, or lied to someone? No, not at all. So why would I shun someone for being gay, something that falls into the same category of sin, if I am guilty as well?

We, as Christians, are not called to persecute other sinners, but to love them and share with them the hope, love and forgiveness that we have found in our Lord and Savior. Being involved in homosexual actions is something that is forgivable as long as one asks sincerely.

I think the feeling of being gay, of wanting to be involved romantically with the same sex, comes from a much deeper hurt inside of someone. I do not believe that any person has been or will ever be born gay. Jason Koebler writes from the U.S. News and World Report that scientists have found that "homosexuality seems to have an epigenetic link, not a genetic link." This means something that has arisen form non-genetic influences, or is formed later on in life. So no, I do not believe that God brings people into their life as already gay. It is just not in our genes and hormones. With that being said I do think homosexuality is a real thing and there are definitely people that do develop these feelings and lifestyle. How people go about handling these temptations is what it really comes down to.

It is one thing to try to hold back when having homosexual temptations than to flaunt it, engage in it and protest that everyone should accept it. If we are truly free individuals and can believe in what we want, why can Christians not have the right to believe homosexuality is wrong? People say that being gay does not hurt anyone. What these people do not realize is that they are hurting God and other's around them that do not believe in this practice of life. Unfortunately, it has become common to judge and hate on individuals who do not support homosexuality. It is something that has become so extremely acceptable in today's society.

However, since it is very all right, what if everyone was gay? Just all of humanity would cease to exist, no big deal. This is a huge reason as to why I am not an advocate for gay rights, because it is just not how things are supposed to be. A man and a man can not bear a child together. A woman and a woman can't get pregnant with each other. A same sex couple cannot make human life together. This is physically impossible. Apart from having children, a man and a man, and a woman and a woman, can't even have sex together. One of the most, if not the most celebrated, anticipated, fulfilling actions that people around the the world recognize, cannot happen between a homosexual couple. What I am really trying to get across here is why we as Christians do not believe in this type of lifestyle

Like I said before, just as I am not an advocate for gay rights, I am not an advocate for any type of sin. Because I do not support this lifestyle does not mean I will not love an individual claiming to be homosexual or neglect a friendship with someone because of their sexual orientation. Almost every single one of my friends have engaged in sexual activity before marriage, which is something that I do not believe in as a Christian, and I love them all to death, just as God does. I have people in my family that have gotten divorced, another type of sin, and I love them dearly, just as Jesus loves them. I sin almost every day. I fully believe it is not right to be rude, mean, or hostile to individuals who struggle with a different type of sin than my own. It should not be a Christian's goal to neglect love and compassion to these individuals but instead, to welcome them into our homes and show them kindness so that they might someday see salvation in Christ as we see. That there is hope and forgiveness in any situation.