Editor's Note: This reader-submitted photo that appeared on our Facebook page went viral, with more than 75,000 views, 885 likes and 333 shares.

This sign, which Milligan Assembly of God displayed last week, also raised plenty of debate on gay marriage and faith in North Okaloosa County.

Here are featured comments from that discussion.

Disagree with church's approach

A church should be known in the community for what they're for and not always what they're against. No one who's homosexual will step foot into that church — and rightly so.

I guess that's what they wanted.

Sheena Ratliff

Don't try to change others' beliefs

I'm all for supporting equality when we're talking about being legally equal but I don't think we should try to change someone's religious beliefs…

I would oppose this if they said something negative towards gay people themselves but they just stated their opinion about marriage, not about gay people.

April Chestnut McPherson 

Not a judgment

It's a matter of standing firm in your belief. I don't think it's a judgment of any kind.

Crystal 'Crowe' Sullivan 

Wishing for a new world

I can't wait until we live in a world where a person is not defined by their sexuality. Instead of "Oh, the gay couple," it will simply be "the couple."

Eboni Smith 

Times don't really change

We all love to think about the Jesus that ate with the sinners, but want to disregard his words on the things that don't line up with our 2015 thinking. I think that is probably one of the things that made him look on the people with pity.

Times don't really change and, if we think we have anything on folks back then, we are kidding ourselves.

John Edwards 

Talking down is talking down

It's not my place to judge; however, it is my place to know the scriptures and attempt to live up to the standards that have been given to all.

To talk down towards a person who disagrees with homosexuality is the same while doing so to a supporter thereof. We all need to stop judging, and act more in accordance with his example.

Frank Staudt 

That's not Jesus' style

I follow Christ Jesus and believe what the bible says — but to advertise and spread hate instead of just simply loving you like I am called to do, no matter how you identify, is wrong.

That's not Jesus' style. Jesus loves everyone and calls us to respect everyone.

Alley Baya 

Questions to ponder

How does this message further the Kingdom of God? How does this show love? How does this make homosexual human beings feel like they'd be welcomed and loved in this church? How many homosexuals is this leading to trust in Jesus?

Cam Milligan Sasser 

More sins to consider

If we go on the path of "The Bible says this, this and this are wrong," I can ask you, have you ever had sex before marriage? Eaten shellfish? Had a divorce? Are your clothes of blended material? All those are considered sins.

Jasmine Ashley Peterson 

Sign turns people away

I fully support their right to not marry homosexuals (while I do personally disagree), but by posting this on a sign in front of the church you automatically turn people away from your doors, whether that is the intention or not.

Roderic Mouer 

Too fabulous for this church

I hate to break it to you, but most homosexuals are way too fabulous to get married in that church anyways.

Chelsea Cutchins 

Bigot for expressing belief?

How does refusing to go against their beliefs make them bigots? (Isn't) judging people for what they believe (just as bad)?

Joe Spooner 

Standing up to political correctness

Bravo for standing up for what you believe, despite the backlash and being politically incorrect. Political correctness is highly overrated.

Dawn Merritt Onuffer 

Sign doesn't seem unwelcoming

They haven't judged anyone. It just states they don't marry homosexuals in the church. Nowhere on that sign says they're not welcome there.

Carla Kelley 

Quote the Bible instead

I think perhaps quoting a bible verse that pertains would have been in better taste… as if there were a line of folks attempting to wed here.

Marsha Fuqua 

Non-Christians could see hate

To a non-Christian, I think this sign looks like all Christians hate gays. I'm sure that's not the message the church was trying to send, but it could come across as hate to a non-Christian.

Jeremiah Dowd 

Don't worry about heaven

Stop worrying about being saved all the time and whether there's a place you don't even know exists, and just do good in your lifetime.

Pay it forward today for a veteran that's paid the price for your freedom, visit a sick child in the hospital dying of cancer, or walk a dog at a shelter.

Karen Copp Phillips 

Freedom of speech for all

Either you believe in freedom of speech or not. When only one side gets to reign supreme, then all liberty is lost.

Here is a suggestion for both sides: How about you live your life the way you want to live it.

Alyce Cawthon Coker 

Judge the sin, not the person

If you know the Word of God and believe in Jesus Christ and truly have a relationship with Him, then you would understand why pastors must not marry homosexuals. It has nothing to do with the individual.

Many people use the "judge not" (line from the Bible) out of context all the time because they don't know the Word. We may judge "the sin." That does not mean we are judging the person.

Dianne Cannon Nestle 

Join the conversation on our Facebook page>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Weighing in on church's anti-gay marriage sign

Looking back on 2014, God has brought me through a trying time. However, I’ve been blessed because He never brings you to anything that He will not carry you through.

There is turmoil and chaos all over the world, and our leaders in Washington do not agree on anything.

Americans are fighting and killing each other daily, and this must stop. 

I am praying to God that each city in the United States can come together and figure out a way to have better relations between the races.

That can start with each one of us: the citizens of Crestview.

Town hall meetings can be a start, but the discussion and working together must go beyond meeting walls.

Cities run well when the mayor, council people and the chief of police work hand in hand with the citizens, religious leaders and business leaders. 

Everyone — regardless of status, title, age and race — has an impact and valuable insight into making this city great. We are all God’s children. 

We may not agree about everything, but we can still have open dialogue with love.

We have good leaders in Crestview, with open doors to the public, but we all have to be willing to walk through them with love; to not just talk, but also have our actions back it up.

I think often of my little town of Crestview. It sits upon a hill and can be a beacon of hope, love and right relationship between all races to the rest of the world.

It starts with me showing love.

It starts with all of us receiving love and looking at others who are different from us not with disdain, but with willingness to learn about them.

It starts with all of us being one family and not divided by "us versus them."

Crestview's becoming a true beacon of all things good starts with you.

Will you join me?

Wishing you all the best in the New Year, and continued blessings from our Heavenly Father.

Mae Reatha Coleman is a Crestview resident and the recipient and namesake of the Mae R. Coleman Citizen’s Award.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet us.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GUEST COLUMN: Crestview's goodness starts with you

Editor's Note: Same-sex couples now can marry in Okaloosa County. Here's what our Facebook fans are saying about the issue. Featured comments are the most thoughtful or eloquently stated comments from our Facebook page and crestviewbulletin.com and do not necessarily reflect the newspaper management's views.

'Till death do us part'

We are all humans. Regardless of who we love, we all deserve to marry the people we love!

That's what marriage is about: making a commitment to the person you love that you will be with them for eternity.

"Till death do us part" — not till death do us part if we're straight!

•••

Brittany Cross

'Suddenly religious' when issue arises

I wonder what the country would look like if as many heterosexual couples exerted the effort to preserve a happy, healthy marriage in their own home, rather than exerting all of their effort to prevent others from marrying.

Also, I think it's so interesting how many of those who oppose same-sex marriage are suddenly religious when this particular topic is at hand; however, the last time they probably uttered a prayer was when they were clutching a Florida lotto ticket and finding out the current numbers.

Heather Lameda

•••

Proud of clerk's decision

I'm proud of you, Okaloosa County. Yes, (the county clerk) will still have to issue the marriage licenses, but this way they are not forcing clerks to perform same-sex marriages which are against their religious beliefs.

Erica Mason

•••

Does separation of church and state apply?

How is the clerk of court's religious beliefs interfering with their legal responsibility? Isn't that listed somewhere under separation of church and state?

Allana Kortlever

Join the conversation on our Facebook page>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: 'Till death do us part,' proud of clerk's decision

For several months, one issue has driven a wedge between residents of the closely knit Baker community.

Exodos Ministries, a six-year-old Christian substance abuse rehabilitation ministry, wants to house men with drug, alcohol and sex addictions on the agricultural-zoned Buck Ward Road.

The goal is to build a house that initially serves eight men and eventually can minister to 16 men, according to Kyra Crowson, Exodos' admissions director and secretary of its board of directors.

But that's too many men with serious problems, and it's too close for comfort, according to nearby residents.

VIDEO: Watch commentary on this issue>>

Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles will facilitate a 6 p.m. public meeting Thursday at the Baker Recreation Center so residents can finally hear more about Exodos' proposal, and both sides can have their say.

At least, they can offer feedback directly to Exodos Ministries board members and Buck Ward Road residents, as our readers have certainly made their views known on crestviewbulletin.com and on Facebook.

That was in addition to protest signs lining residents' properties and at least one assembly beckoning the two groups to find peaceful resolution.

I've covered this issue, as a reporter, from day one, and won't take a side in the debate, but will offer some analysis.

Several Buck Ward Road residents have expressed concerns about having an alcohol or sex addict receiving Exodos' services on their street. But Exodos supporters say that even if the ministry moves somewhere else, that doesn't ban addicts from residential areas.

Indeed, anyone can travel those roads, and there's no scarlet letter or bad seed icon branded on people who've lost their way. So you won't necessarily know whom to avoid.

In many cases, you may be unable to tell who's battling the bottle or abusing prescription drugs. They go to work, go to church, and you see them cheerful and friendly around town, but behind closed doors it could be a different story.

That's why they call them high-functioning alcoholics.   

In addition, "sex addict" is not synonymous with "sex offender." Rather, the term — whose legitimacy, granted, some psychologists question — refers to someone who battles anxiety, depression or other problems with high-risk sexual activity, according to WebMD. 

These typically are people who seek release to cover sorrow, not people who seek to prey on others.

So, knowing that Exodos doesn't minister to sex offenders or men who have committed any violent act, and knowing that their clients are HIV-negative, readers' remarks about fearing sex addicts are puzzling.

These aren't pedophiles; they're sad people finding other sad people for consensual sex. They're not predators; they're human beings with weaknesses.

That said, I also understand those who oppose the ministry's proposed location.

People often fear the unknown. If you don't know someone who has suffered from any kind of addiction, or if your only frame of reference for these behaviors is connected with criminal activity, it should raise concern.  

And those fears can snowball and create, in the mind, a bogeyman that doesn't fairly reflect Exodos' good aim of helping lost sheep.

Or those fears could be legitimate.

What if someone who isn't just a high-functioning alcoholic or run-of-the-mill Craigslist sex addict entered Exodos' doors?

What if a pedophile sought spiritual guidance months or years before a law enforcement official learned about his behavior, before he could be locked up, and thus denied admission to Exodos?

If you were raising a family on Buck Ward Road, would you really want to take that gamble? 

There will be no easy answer here.

But there will be an opportunity for your voice to be heard, this Thursday. 

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: No easy answer in Exodos debate (VIDEO)