A Right Response to Sin?

The following is a post left on a community website I occasionally visit. The first part was written by a member of an ELCA church and is a request for guidance in how to respond to what her local congregation is currently going through in response to the ELCA decision to ordain active, practicing homosexuals for ministry. (for more on the decision, click HERE or just Google it.)

The second part is the response I left on the website, one of 50+ comments, from a fairly wide variety of opinions.

PART ONE
Churches leaving the ELCA
I currently attend a church whose Pastor is working actively to get the congregation to approve leaving the ELCA after the recent acceptance of Gay Pastors. I personally feel that this goes against the Lord as it is against rule number one, Love thy neighbor. This seems so much like people judging others and I say, let he who without sin cast the first stone. I also believe that the Lord created each of us in the manner that he wanted and he or she does not make mistakes. That being said, we are all his children, and we didn't get to decide if we are straight, gay, blue eyed, blonde, transgendered, etc, it was decided for us and we are the way we were created for God's reasons.
So with all this, how can I support my church financially when I cannot agree with their actions. I am going to find another church that loves all of us as we are. So where should I place my financial support until I land? Do others feel as I do

Here is my response:

PART TWO
Great dialogue, what does the bible say about it?
Very interesting dialogue going on here. I commend everyone for the civility with which you have expressed your opinion. This issue is not personal to me, for I am not a member of the ELCA. Nonetheless, I believe that it is important for all to be wrestling with this issue.

For me, the question Rachael raises in her original post is, “What does it mean to ‘love thy neighbor?’.” Is love and accept the same thing? Does love mean we overlook all wrongs? On the surface the answer should be an easy "YES". Yes, we love everyone, the way God has loved us, unconditionally. Yes, we accept people just the way they are, warts and all. Yes, we overlook their shortcomings and offer them grace, knowing that we too need grace and have shortcomings.

But the discussion can't end there.

The truth is that God loves us and accepts us, but does not overlook our shortcomings. He loves us unconditionally, but he accepts us on the basis of the Son's righteous death. It is the blood of Christ that makes me clean and whole and acceptable in God's sight. And the greater my sin, the greater his grace. Does that mean I should keep on sinning all the more. Of course not (see Romans 6) for in Christ I died to sin. Do we all agree that SIN is always bad? If so,the the real question becomes, "Is homosexuality a sin?" Some say no based on the evidence that people are born that way. I have been told the same is true for alcoholics and drug addicts; that there is a natural propensity to become such based on genetics. If we do something "by nature" does that make it acceptable in God's eyes? Your answer to the question may depend upon your view of the nature of mankind. Are we by nature sinful? In other words, do you have a sinful nature? Scripture teaches that you do. Therefore it is un-biblical to state that because “we are born a certain way” it is acceptable and right to act on. Scripture treats homosexuality as sin that needs to be repented of, just as all sin does. Repentance means we turn from the old way and live in the new way.

Personally, I would welcome some input on how so many can justify accepting homosexuality as a "designed by God and therefore is good" activity.

What do you think about the discussion as a whole and when you form an opinion, what do you rely on as a basis for that opinion: your leaders (government, church, parents, etc.), your experiences, expert testimony, Scripture, or something else?