a powerful christian concern for equality

...The following was written by a friend of a friend of mine... "I felt I needed to share this with people because I couldn't think of a more perfect way to say exactly how i felt about Prop 8 passing. So listen to Hmy friend and please pass it on if you wish."

I have never posted anything like this but I feel I must now. As most of us know, Proposition 8 passed and eliminated the rights for homosexual couples to marry. With all the debates and slander spoken among many friends and colleagues the last few days, one bible passage comes to mind,“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how you will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13: 34-35

It saddens me when I hear friends that disapprove of same-sex marriage because it is against their religion. I would consider myself Christian and I can’t understand why another Christian would show such hate and intolerance towards another of God’s creatures. Would someone explain? I mean honestly tell me what gives us the authority to judge someone in such a way?I don’t mean to attack anyone, but I feel attacked as a Christian who is supporting the stop of this injustice.I understand if people are uncomfortable with homosexuality. It’s only been around for the past 3,000 years. But I ask you not to strip someone of a right because you are uncomfortable with it.
For those who say the bible forbids homosexuality, let me remind you of a few things. It also says that a man shall not divorce his wife, shave his facial hair, have sex with a woman while she is menstruating, masturbate, talk ill of his neighbor, lust for another, use birth control, or work on the Sabbath. Where are the laws on this? If we allow religion to rule, there is no government.
Again I don’t mean to offend. I have been a Christian all my life and would just like some answers in a time of confusion.Let me close with the following passage,“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in you brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam in your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”- Matthew 7:1-5I don’t know about you, but I’ll probably spend most of my life removing MY wooden beam."

This is perfection in my mind. thanks for reading.