"I'm not hurting anyone else"

The root issue in this myth is not whether gay marriage should be legalized but whether or not the nature of sin is as consequential as God's Word claims. We can live in naivete about sin only so long. When King Josiah discovered that the people of Judah had been living outside God's lay for years, he tore his clothes in anguish over their sin (see 2 Chronicles 34). Instead of reacting by saying, "Well, we've been doing fine all this time," he was swift to change his course. 

God says sin is so serious that the result is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). We tend to say some sins are not so bad. We use the same argument in a number of scenarios: Marijuana use is acceptable as long as it harms no one but the user. Addiction to prescription medicine is fine if it makes you sleep better. Cohabitation. Drunkenness. Pornography. Gambling addictions. We justify any number of seemingly isolated sins by saying, "But I'm not hurting anyone else." 

The only problem with this argument is that sin is like second-hand smoke. It leaves a trail of destruction. Friends and family of someone dealing with sin know the power personal sin has to hurt other people. Families grieve. Reputations are ruined. Family names are tainted. Future hopes and dreams are tarnished. Instead of isolationism, the Bible teaches our inter-connectedness:

• We are examples to one another.

{1 Corinthians 11:1} And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

• We are to carry each other's burdens and honor one another more than ourselves. 

{Galatians 6:2} Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
{Romans 12:10} Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 

• We ought to intervene with someone who's going astray. 

{James 5:20} you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

There's no such thing as sin that doesn't harm anyone else. Sin, even a seemingly private choice, affects others-ask Adam & Eve. And it has far-reaching consequences-as David. And it is deadly-ask Jesus. His precious blood was the only acceptable form of payment for the very sins we thought we inconsequential. 

"No man ever enters heaven until he is first convinces that he deserves hell." -John Everrett 

{Psalm 51:3-6}

3 For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

and your judgment against me is just.

5 For I was born a sinner—

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6 But you desire honesty from the womb,

teaching me wisdom even there.

{Romans 1:18}

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

{Romans 15:1-4}

1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 

2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  

3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”

4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.