Counter Attack on Faith

 
Hebrews 11:1-3 AMP

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed)
                of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see  and  the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real
                fact what is not revealed to the senses].  For by [faith--trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of
                old had divine testimony borne to them  and  obtained a good
                report.  By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive
                ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose)
                by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are
                visible.

John 20:26-29 ESV

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
I was loosely engaged, recently, in a discussion (or better described as an attack) on the Christian faith. In this particular instance I chose to refrain, from defending the reason behind my faith and other believers, because in the moment, the more pressing issue was my friend's character coming under attack because he chose to take a stand and stick by it.
The issue in totality was that Amendment 1 was passed in our state, which defines marriage as 1 man and 1 woman. An immediate attack on Christianity and the people who walk under that covering was very blatant.
Anyone who voted yes or no, voted based off of a personal belief system, and what they felt was right. But Christians as a whole in the state of NC are now labeled a bunch of bigots, which is truly unfair. Standing by one's values and beliefs is not an act of bigotry, unless it is done with hateful and malicious intent.
I know plenty of individuals who voted yes, but they wouldn't treat a gay person in any less loving or kind manner than anyone else. They would never speak ill of them and they would likely come to the defense of someone under the attack of someone who is a true bigot.
Our faith and beliefs as Christians makes us no more likely to be hateful and nasty, as someone's sexual orientation would. In fact, if someone is truly walking in faith with God, they are going to be loving and kind, yet still stand up for what they believe in.
A statement was made that Christians mindlessly follow the flock. The act of walking in faith, believing in the word of God as inherent truth, going against your very nature and making choices that go against the mindset of the majority of your culture takes a alot of heart and mind.
Faith is defined as a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust". How can anyone mindlessly do that? Our nature and our culture thrives on proof  being a necessity. Having faith means you have to step outside your comfort zone and believe beyond anything tangible. As believers, our only "proof" is the way that God shows up in our lives through people and his miraculous actions. So Christianity is far from being a flock following activity, especially when our beliefs are constantly challenged by the world around us.
If you have a personal issue with how you've been treated by an individual group of Christians or 1 Christian in particular..I understand the resistance, but just like all whites, blacks, gays, straights, Jews, northerners, or southerners are not the same....neither are all Christians. Standing by our belief system is not hateful in and of itself, just like anyone else standing up for theirs is. The outward actions and words of an individual should define them, not their faith or orientation.
I will leave this Earth as a Bible believing Christian and you may not, but don't assume I or anyone else in my faith is a mindless bigot without being given a valid reason, and I will vow to be a loving, caring individual towards you, no matter if i agree with you or not. Disagreement should not equal hate, but unfortunately on both sides of the faith and orientation table, this is often the result.