Homosexuality, a Facebook Post

From a Facebook post 

May 2013

Homosexuality. 

... so I just rode home on my bike. One more day of studying done. And I'm perusing the internet while my heart goes thud-thud-thud, and I stumble across news about one of my favorite authors.

It seems that Rob Bell has stepped out in favor of same-sex marriage. Connected with his new book, "What We Talk About When We Talk About God." He even has done an interview or two on the subject--and apparently upset a lot of church-going people that are trying to love Jesus.

Here's what struck me: why is it that homosexuality gets so much attention? Why is it that homosexuality gets such limelight, to the point that many of us are familiar with claims that it is the thing so many God-followers fear is "destroying the sanctity" of marriage?

During 4 years at Walla Walla University, I only heard one guy take on the issue of pornography with gusto. He talked about masturbation, and why he had come to the personal decision that it shouldn't be part of his life in Christ.

He called porn the "Goodyear Blimp in the room." Said it was so large, that most of us had our chins forced 90 degrees in either direction, making it difficult to look at the issue. He even suggested that porn creates, single-handedly, the driving separation for men from the church--that is, the large gap between female and male church attendance. Matthew Gamble's word pictures are awesome. And it seems I remember him citing a survey of men at a marriage conference for church leaders (these are church leaders, mind you), that over 60% labeled themselves as addicted to pornography.

Didn't Jesus speak on divorce? "And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful."

And what about affairs?

What IS purity, in practical terms? What IS sexual immorality?

And what about the pleasure that God created sex to be? At what point does sexual pleasure become something that destroys good things in life, as sin does?

Perhaps it's just me, but I feel so much of healthy sexuality is in the gray. And I don't feel the church has said many meaningful things to me about all this gray. Purity, pleasure, when, why, pitfalls, what Biblical principles guide this topic, and how culture affects the application of those principles. I'd be excited if these became as popular as discussions about homosexuality... 

So. To practical matters.

I'm not homosexual, but I've still got piles of work to do to figure out this sexuality thing, and how God makes it beautiful. Therefore (for me currently), getting overly worked up about homosexuality for the sake of my brother/sister seems a bit silly. If they love God, seems He'll work on them, like He's working on me. And perhaps we can discuss what we're learning together... which probably requires trust and friendship, and perhaps even a bit of niceness/love. And actually meeting people that happen to be homosexual.

And love probably doesn't center around avoiding, disliking, or casting quick and easy judgments. Darn. I am so good at that.

So why does homosexuality get so much more attention? Seems it's hogging the spotlight, and my problems are getting jealous.