It truly amazes me how many so-called Christians are so filled with hate. Certain churches are all about teaching hate. Their mindless automatons spew hatred. Their "educated" twist God's Word, incorporating a hate-filled interpretation to justify their abuse of others.
God is Grace. God is Love. Why would we not be the same way? Just on principle alone (i.e. God is love, therefore we should be also) we should want to be this way. But, if this isn't enough, Jesus Himself commanded it.
There are many verses showing the importance of showing love. These are only a few...John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Romans 13:8 - 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Matthew 22:36-40 - 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
No where does Jesus say "Condemn the homosexuals!" or "Bomb the abortion clinics!" On the less extreme side... no where does Jesus tell us we should gossip about the poor family on the corner with 5 children they can't afford to feed. No where does He tells us we should speak ill of the teenage, unwed mother. No where does He permit us to turn our back on the father who stumbles home drunk. Additionally, He doesn't give us permission to hate the neighbor who rapes our wife or kills our child.James 2:8 - 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
I'm not saying any of this is easy for us. I, for one, am really bad at not condemning those who hurt children. There are times I hear these stories on the news and think to myself "I hope he rots in hell." Does this person's actions make it right for me to think this way? No. I am going against Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us murder includes being angry at someone.
But what amazes me is all the people - often headed by the church - who will grab Scripture text, out of context, and use it to justify and promote hate. This is not Christian. This is not following Jesus' commandment. This is these people and the church saying "to hell with what Jesus says!"
Now, you may try using the argument, well if we don't hate homosexuals or murderers, we're saying "to hell with what God says!" But, this is not true. Why? Because of verses like Romans 13:8 and James 2:8 above. Jesus' command to love one another - neighbors and enemies alike - surpasses all other laws.
Stop being a lemming to the churches and leaders who are telling you to go against Jesus. Stop being mindless automatons, following the orders of those who would dare to say "to hell with what Jesus says!"
The Bible is fairly clear that homosexuality should be punished with Romans 1:27 & 1 Timothy 1:9-10, but I agree that many Christians seem to focus on the negative bits of the bible instead of the positive parts.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment...
DeleteI'd really like to know what Bible you read which says homosexuality should be punished. Romans 1:27 does not. It says they were punished... it does not say they should be. And it definitely does not say we should be the ones doing the punishing.
Additionally, if you read The Message version of the Bible, which gives an understandable summary of verses...
Romans 1:27
The Message (MSG)
26-27 Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.
I have read many other commentaries as well which explain this verse in context. It is not against homosexuality in general, but rather is about raping someone of the same gender.
The 1 Timothy verses you bring up say absolutely nothing about punishment... and again nothing about US doing any punishing.
This is the problem I see - too many people applying their own interpretation to verses to twist God's word. God does not give us permission to punish homosexuals.
God DOES give us permission.... or rather, COMMANDS us.... to love one another. End of story.
I love this message. I was delivered from a church/cult that marched with signs that read "God hates homosexuals", but He does NOT hate homosexuals and you are absolutely right that we are never to be the ones to judge or punish anyone! Thank you for a great article as we are reminded that God loves all of us with the same love--the love & the blood of Jesus which was shed for homosexuals and murderers alike. And may we as "Christians" love as He loves us. Thank you for your insight. God bless you. ~
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! I disagree with any church that spreads hate towards anyone. I just can't understand how a church can teach that. Of course, most try to hide behind the phrase "God hates the sin, not the sinner"... but their actions speak much louder, and that isn't what the actions are saying.
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