In my last blog post, I lamented the recent Supreme Court legalization of same-sex marriage in America (you can read about it here: https://www.ilovemuslims.net/2015/07/muslims-christians-sex-the-supreme-court-how-will-their-decision-affect-us/).

In my mind and heart, there is much to grieve about this historic decision and much to be deeply concerned about it. As Muslims and Christians, how will it affect us? This is a serious and sobering question.

But in this post, I want to ask a very different question. After what I have said above it will probably sound strange at first. Nevertheless, here it is:

“When we criticize the Supreme Court decision about same-sex marriage, are we being – at least a little bit – hypocritical?”

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Let me explain myself.

If we – both Muslims and Christians – believe that homosexual and lesbian sex is sinful in the sight of God, are we guilty of any sexual sins ourselves? As we (sometimes pridefully) criticize the lifestyles of the LGBT community, are we secretly involved in any form of immorality ourselves?

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Let’s ask ourselves the hard questions and be totally honest before God who will judge us on the great Day of Judgment:

Have any of us been involved in sex before marriage?
Have any of us looked at or been addicted to pornography?
Have any of us cheated on our wife or husband after marriage?
Have any of us even looked at a man or woman with lust in our hearts?

It is easy to arrogantly point out the sins of others and speak out loudly and vociferously against them.

But what about us? What about me? And what about you? What about people in our mosques? What about people in our churches? What about – dare I ask it – our spiritual leaders? Our imams and our pastors?

Who among us is totally pure – in our actions and even in our thoughts?

A man of God once wrote these incredibly convicting words:

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We might say that we have certainly not done these very same things but listen to the words of Jesus – Isa Al Masih:

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Jesus also said:

“How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (the Injil, the Good News according to Luke, chapter 6, verse 42).

I hope you can see the issue that I’m trying to bring up in this post. It’s not that I think that homosexual sex or lesbian sex is OK or permissible in the sight of God. Let me say again plainly that I don’t.

The point by now should be obvious: watch how loudly you hypocritically criticize others without looking at the sexual sin in your own actions and even your thoughts.

Contrary to much public opinion – especially at this time – it is NOT judgmental to say that a certain kind of sexual activity is sin. It IS judgmental to arrogantly and meanly criticize another for their sins without looking at our own sins and humbly repenting to a holy God.

This is the hypocrisy we must all avoid.

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