Christianity and Marriage Equality?

[My opinions on this have changed drastically since I wrote this.  Perhaps look at my entry "Pure of Heart" to get an idea of how I view sexuality in general.  I do not really feel like taking the time to outline every single argument here.  Maybe someday I will.]

So, marriage equality is the topic of the week.  Here are my thoughts in two premises.  Pardon the length and inevitable grammatical mistakes.

My first premise is this: I consider myself a Christian, and therefore strive to follow a “Christ-like” way of life.  It is obvious to me from studying the Bible that God desires his followers, if “they cannot control themselves,” to have sex only between two people after they are married.  (1 Corinthians 7:1-15)  I can’t tell you that it is “immoral” to have sex with someone of the same gender, or even, for that matter, to have sex before marriage.  I simply know that, as a Christian, if I am to have sex, it is to be between a man and me only after we have been married.

This does not mean that I don’t want sex before marriage, because—let’s be honest—of course I want to have sex.  Is God going to condemn me for wanting to have sex?  No, because I am human, and it is natural.  That’s just how we are.   

However, God expects his followers to take control of their bodies: to not submit to “the flesh.”  So, because of my love for God, I will strive to be sexually pure and not give in to lust whether that means abstaining from premarital sex, homosexuality or even masturbation. 

Another way of putting it is this: if God would require Christians to not eat bacon, I would not eat bacon.  Of course I would have an incredibly hard time with this because I love bacon.  Am I a sinner because I love bacon?  No.  And am I damned because sometimes I mess up and have some bacon?  No.  Jesus preaches forgiveness and urges us to strive to perfection.  That doesn’t mean that we’ll instantly be perfect and without struggle.  It means that we have forgiveness as we strive to follow his example.

And then, if you aren’t one who strives to be like Christ, I don’t really see any reason why you should follow these rules, and I apologize for those who have told you otherwise.

My second premise is this: I am, in this political matter, of a libertarian stance.  That is, politically, I think that people should be allowed to make their own decisions as long as they are not harming another person—that is not violating another person’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Also, this nation was founded on the ideas of separation of church and state and freedom of religion.  Of course, the meaning of these can be debated and the “original intent of the Constitution” will be argued, and I don’t mean that I want to keep Christian principles out of the government (I mean, not stealing and killing are primary examples/basic moral laws that should be followed), but when it comes to mandating religious laws in a nation that is living on the principle of freedom of religion, I have serious reservations. 

Putting these two premises together, I must then ask:  As a nation who claims to have a freedom of religion, and if not everyone in this nation aims to live a Christian lifestyle, then what right do we have to say that certain people may not live out their selected path to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

For those who ask, what about churches?  What if a church doesn’t want to marry a homosexual couple?  Here is where I will agree.  I feel like the government should not have restrictions on heterosexual or homosexual marriage, however, churches should have the right to permit the services in their buildings and with their pastors or not. 

So, back to the bacon analogy: the government can’t just outlaw bacon because a religion says that it is immoral (or will bring on great trials/tribulations/curse of the nation/fire/brimstone/anti-Christ—you name it)—especially if it claims to have freedom of religion and separation of church and state. 

So, there is my political stance as of my current level of understanding of theology, philosophy, and politically theory.  If I’m wrong or my premises are faulty, educate me.  Give me solid reasons.