Hi Linear, I'm still gathering quotes for you from the other post. Excuse the length of time, I am useless with recalling quote and verse and always have to hunt it down due to my recall issues.

I do not endorse hate crimes against homosexuals, nor against Christians or anybody else. If one believes in the bible, they know that Christ loves all of us sinners and has told us to love our fellow-man (no exceptions). This may not be easy when people have such strong oppositional beliefs.

The sexual sins were clearly pointed out in both old and new testaments, then believers (true believers) ought to do what is pleasing to God and behave accordingly. The institude of marriage is for one man and one woman (under God). Anything outside of this is invalid, at least in God's eyes. It is meaningless in fact, because there is NO santification in same sex marriage. Even if in the "eyes of the world" it's "good".

Legalising homosexual marriage is an affront to God and His institute of marriage. Therefore harmful to us as a society, as much as legalising abortion. It is not enough to say "well it's going to happen anyway" to "ok" such practises. Yes people are not going to stop doing what they do, whether public or private, but okaying it (legalising) it, is the same as saying to God "we're going to ok it anyway, regardless of what you have told us, because we know best". They upped the drinking age in my country, because they said "its' going to happen anyway" and what happened? the problem has increased ten fold. They legalised abortion because of the few botch up backstreet abortions and what happened? it's now become common practice. An addition to this, I ask people read the abortion thread to find out how many botch ups are done even in clinics and what these babies are subjected to.

For some reason they think if it's done nicely and safely for the Mother, the act itself is "cancelled out". It is murder plain and simple and opens the door for any Mother to do the same and this is exactly what has happened. That way, she doesn't have to have blood on her hands, she can get someone else to do it more "safely". Well in God's eyes, all of us are precious, and with or without the white coat and plastic gloves and safety of a clinic, and instruments, she most certainly does have blood on her hands and all those involved do also. Legalised abortion makes murderers out of all those involved. You let an evil foot in the door, the door will be forced wide open everytime. Yes there are mitigating circumstances to every case, which only God can ultimately judge. However, endorsing/legalising such an atrocious act should never be allowed.

Linear, sometimes we do not see the harm immediately when we go against God's intentions/commands for us. It most definitely IS destabilising when we legalise something that God has clearly pointed out as being an offense/affront to Him. It does not mean you can stop what people are going to do regardless, but standing up for what's right is pleasing to God, even if we may fail. We have not failed in His eyes if we have done our part. We can feel like failures when we feel like the "minority", but not in His eyes. Prayer is extremely powerful too. That too is often something we may not see the results of immediately.

Allowances for these sinful things is most definitely de-stabilising. How can it not be? When He is source of goodness and stability? Why should God continue to provide blessings/protection to a society that endorses such practises? Unfortunately the repurcussions are often not always attributed immediately to God, but rather nature or 'accidents' (e.g. lightening strikes as a talk is given on pro abortion. Catastrophic disasters in an area where homosexuality is celebrated and ripe). Is it accident? Perhaps, perhaps not. Often the innocent suffer alongside the guilty, as they too exist in the same society too. One only has to recall Sodom and Gommorrah (with Lot and his daughters). And Christ Himself! Though you may not believe the stories from the old testament, I do. I believe they are also a lesson to future generations, should we repeat the same mistakes/sins. God does not punish immediately, He warns repeatedly.

If one takes a look at society as it is, we must ask ourselves, are we doing things that please the eyes of the world? Or are we fighting the good fight and standing strong with God's word? Are we going along with the tide as God said most would do. God has pointed out that the majority are of the world and not of Him. They make that choice.

It harms each and everyone of us collectively, as these abominations are referred to as 'alternative lifestyles", rather than for what they really are and on top of that, being an offense to the real intention and sanctity of marriage. This should be a lesson to us all who attempt to water down, or distort the fundamental truths of God's word:

in Isa. 5:20-23 with these words, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!”

I can imagine when anybody presents an argument in a manner to gain sympathy for sin, using extreme case scenarios to do so, Satan smiles. Anything to make God look "mean". They are often constructed with that intention in mind and the person will often cherry pick out of the bible and will not let on "why" it was done and how much mercy and patience God has given time and time again.