Let Me tell You about My Son!

Anthony is 17 years old. He is a highly intelligent young man with a quick, sharp-witted sense of humor. A practical joker, he keeps me laughing all the time. He is well mannered and considerate and respectful of other peoples feelings and beliefs. He is an independent thinker, and will not settle for easy, cookie-cutter answers. He is a non-conformist. He can spot a hypocrite or phony a mile away. He cares about his friends and family and his future. Of course, being his mother, I could go on and on.

Him and I had a conversation earlier today in which he posed this question to me...
"What's the difference between smoking pot and eating McDonald's?"
(Did I mention that I love him?!)

My answer was:
Nothing.

Of course, smoking pot has, what seem to be, more dramatic consequences than eating McDonalds...However, I think Anthony and I are both in agreement that "sin is sin". Anything that we do in opposition to God's will, God's order, God's command, is sin. I think it is our desperate need to rationalize our own sin that causes us to begin to make classifications.

Like...
Gossiping about my neighbor is not AS BAD as killing my neighbor.
Judgement and hate are not AS BAD as Abortion or Prejudice.
Heterosexual sin is not AS BAD as homosexual sin.
Polluting the earth is not AS BAD as polluting the mind with...
(whatever it is you think the youth of today are polluting their minds with)
Filling our bodies with junk food is not AS BAD as smoking pot.

I'm so glad that Anthony is thinking, questioning, willing to explore what he believes and why. I'm glad that he will not settle for an empty, rootless faith. I believe that in time, he will find the answer he's looking for. I believe he will come to the inevitable conclusion that there is one constant truth and order for all of the earth. The unshakable truth of the living God of creation who is close and active in our lives.

And did I mention that I love him?

John 8:7
...If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone...