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First, let me say that while the brother is under no obligation to recognize the marriage since it conflicts with his religion, he should love his brother no matter what. I suspect there's a lot more to the story than the writer is revealing. My experience is that many gays are not content that Christians should love them, but hate their sin. No, they want us to validate their sin by saying it does not violate God's laws in any way. Sorry, can't do it anymore than I can claim adultery among heterosexuals does not violate God's laws. So, as a Christian, I continue to love gays but hate their sins. And that's what makes them mad. And has anyone else noticed how Margo's column is turning into a pro-gay agenda site? What's with that?

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Re: Pam. As a fellow believer, I'm with you one hundred percent and am as frustrated as you are. So many people seem to confuse acceptance of the person with tolerance of the lifestyle. Any minute, though, about six more posters will be coming along to chastise us for our "hate," "bigotry," and "judgmental behavior." Seems like today is a particularly bad day - both letters are from people who are rather, ah, confused.

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Christianity comes from the words of Jesus, and he never spoke about homosexuality. He specifically said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged, and "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." No Christian is allowed to make judgments for God. Therefore, Christians do not have a right to determine whether or not homosexuality is a sin. Since Jesus never spoke of it, Christians shouldn't try to make judgments about it.

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Re: Paul Actually, to be a Christian means that you are a disciple of Christ. Disciples of Christ follow all the inspired words of God, as did Jesus. Jesus quoted the Hebrew scriptures extensively and showed reverence for the word of God. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 4:4, saying "man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah's mouth." (Matthew 4:4) The Bible says that "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) To sin means to miss the mark of perfect obedience to God. 'We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.' (Romans 3:23) However, if we truly love and appreciate God, we do not attempt to excuse our sin, but correct it. We seek, through the help of God's holy spirit and the power of prayer, repentance and redemption. We strive in every moment to live up to Jehovah God's righteous principles. He is the One 'teaching us to benefit ourselves, the One causing us to tread in the way in which we should walk.' (Isaiah 48:17) "For this is what God wills, the sanctifying of you, that you abstain from fornication; that each of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite such as those of the nations have which do not know God." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) We have all seen the massive human suffering that has resulted from unfettered sexual gratification and perversion. Our loving Almighty Father desires to protect his children from this suffering. Only our Creator has the wisdom, wherewithal and foresight to know what is in our best interests. It takes a great deal of humility to submit your life to the will of God, to let His will supersede your own. However, it also takes a great deal of pride to declare that you know what is good and bad more so that the One who in his infinite wisdom, abundant power, unparalleled love, and superlative justice created the universe and all that which exists within it. (Revelation 4:11)

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Words spoken by man over 2,000 years ago, or Science. It is still amazing that this is a problem today. As my friends used to say "no sin is worse than a sex sin"...and Jesus said no sin is worse than another. But, if you are going to go by words written BY MEN, over 2,000 years ago, then I supposed it makes sense to pick and choose what to believe more (or less). The LW brother is CHOOSING not to go to the LW house. He was not asked to kiss a man or lay down with one. God didn't TELL HIM NOT to go. When people don't CHOOSE to USE their own minds OR even to "love one another" as they are TOLD to in the Bible, then families are hurt and ripped apart. WWJD?? Did he STONE THE PROSTITUTE? No. I feel bad for you "Christians" and will con't to pray for you.

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L#1 Dear Southern D, I agree with Margo – your father and younger brother are truly graced with the universal love which is the true essence of Christianity as well as other religions. Are you as expansive as your father and younger brother? What I am about to suggest may not go down easily but I feel that it is surest path to expanding your older brother's understanding of the principle of Universal Love and healing the pain you feel. Find a way to forgive your brother and make it so that your husband can easily do the same (stop badmouthing your brother to him). If there is family gossip going back and forth – put an end to it and put everyone on notice that you are content, that you've forgiven your brother, that you love him and are not going to speak badly about him. Keep reaching out to your brother (even if it this remains a one-way venture) – when you hear any news about him/his family send a little note to let him/them know how happy his good news makes you (send encouraging notes for bad news); send him updates on what is going on with you (good and bad) before you tell anyone else so that he's hearing directly from you and not secondhand; send him birthday/holiday cards – just keep the connection alive and loving. Find ways to make it easy and irresistible for the family as a whole to go on with family events and celebrations. Personally I wouldn't alternate get-togethers with your brother – I'd go to every single one. This is an opportunity for you to transform and expand onto a higher plane and by doing so draw others to follow you on that path. Even if your brother never grows beyond his ignorance and fear you can be sure that others will. Make a path. L#2 Dear Pink, I agree with Margo 100%. Be grateful for your mom and cut her some slack as she learns to get with the program. Use positivity to gently guide her to a more complete understanding of your experience. Please realize that this is just as much a period of transformation for your parents as it is for you.

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I have become frustrated over time with this columnist. I read the column faithfully (no pun intended) and find the advice very solid....EXCEPT when the issue is related to homosexuality, or perhaps more accurately christianity. Not sure if it is ignorance or an agenda, but I have seen this columnist state, as fact, that individuals are "born" gay...and further consistently chastises those with christian beliefs as "close minded" or "intolerant". The idea that people are born gay is a theory, which can (and should) be debated, however should not be put forth as "fact", when it is merely an "opinion". Why is your opinion more valid than mine or anyone elses? I am a Christian, who wholeheartedly believes what the Bible says about homosexuality, which is that the act is sinful. This sin is not more or less sinful than any other sin, which is why I love the passage that says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Anyway, I'm hoping that this is more ignorance than an agenda. That would be a lot easier for me to swallow since this is an advise column. ...my 2 cents.

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First, I'm not here to chastise anyone for their "hate," "bigotry," and "judgmental behavior." I am here to enlighten (a little). It seems to me that the main issue with homosexuality is the idea among many Christian groups that it is the worst sin, and that it is somehow greater than all of the other sins in the bible. Most of the gays I know don't care if everyone validates them, they just don't want to be a target. They are tired of people driving by screaming obscenities to them when they are with their partners... So, I've created a small list of sins. Showing the idea of picking and choosing that most Christians do. it's very easy to target and place a lot of focus on homosexuality, but what about these other equal sins??? 1. Women must be submissive to men. They are never to teach or usurp men. "A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:11-15) 2. God hates Shrimp (well, anything in the sea that does not have fins or scales) and pigs. "Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you." (Leviticus 11:12) "And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you." (Leviticus 11:7) 3. No wearing clothes of mixed fibers.... darn you poly-blend!!!! "Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." (Leviticus 19:19) Ok, I'm going to stop at three.... Basically because you can go through most of Leviticus and find that there are a lot of sinful things. Among them, Liviticus also says "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (18:22) among these many sins. I've never seen anyone yell out their car window at a stranger for eating shrimp, wearing poly-blend clothing, or at being a female teachers.... I have, however, seen and had friends get injured and harassed for being gay. Hope that helps... better go to confession and repent for all the lobsters I've enjoyed throughout the past 30 years~

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Re: Josh: priceless! thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! for years I've rejected Catholicism because it denotes that homosexuality is wrong and sinful. To me, gay-bashing is certainly more hurtful than what goes on between two consenting adults in their own bedroom. The brother should be ashamed for judging his brother's lifestyle choices. His brother found someone to love, many people in this world don't have that. Jesus would not have acted this way. There's something alot of people seem to lack these days: common sense and class.