In response to the debate going on in the USA Supreme court as well as the court of the public forum about homosexuality I want to re-post this post.
Reprinted from Original post by Hunter Baker
Please Read the whole letter to Understand
To the churches concerning homosexuals and lesbians:
Many of you believe that we do not exist within your walls, your schools, your neighborhoods. You believe that we are few and easily recognized. I tell you we are many. We are your teachers, doctors, accountants, high school athletes. We are all colors, shapes, sizes. We are single, married, mothers, fathers. We are your sons, your daughters, your nieces, your nephews, your grandchildren. We are in your Sunday School classes, pews, choirs, and pulpits. You choose not to see us out of ignorance or because it might upset your congregation. We ARE your congregation. We enter your doors weekly seeking guidance and some glimmer of hope that we can change. Like you, we have invited Jesus into our hearts. Like you, we want to be all that Christ wants us to be. Like you, we pray daily for guidance. Like you, we often fail.
When the word “homosexual” is mentioned in the church, we hold our breaths and sit in fear. Most often this word is followed with condemnation, laughter, hatred, or jokes. Rarely do we hear any words of hope. At least we recognize our sin. Does the church as a whole see theirs? Do you see the sin of pride, that you are better than or more acceptable to Jesus than we are? Have you been Christ-like in your relationships with us? Would you meet us at the well, or restaurant, for a cup of water, or coffee? Would you touch us even if we showed signs of leprosy, or aids? Would you call us down from our trees, as Christ did Zacchaeus, and invite yourself to be our guest? Would you allow us to sit at your table and break bread? Can you love us unconditionally and support us as Christ works in our lives, as He works in yours, to help us all to overcome?
To those of you who would change the church to accept the gay community and its lifestyle: you give us no hope at all. To those of us who know God’s word and will not dilute it to fit our desires, we ask you to read John’s letter to the church in Pergamum. “I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore!” You are willing to compromise the word of God to be politically correct. We are not deceived. If we accept your willingness to compromise, then we must also compromise. We must therefore accept your lying, your adultery, your lust, your idolatry, your addictions, YOUR sins. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
We do not ask for your acceptance of our sins any more than we accept yours. We simply ask for the same support, love, guidance, and most of all hope that is given to the rest of your congregation. We are your brothers and sisters in Christ. We are not what we shall be, but thank God, we are not what we were. Let us work together to see that we all arrive safely home.
A Sister in Christ
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Christians: Haters of All Mankind? Part 2
In the first post we looked at Love and what love is according to well the culture and the Bible. But I want to expand on what I said earlier about Judgement.
People always say, "Don't Judge ME! Don't attack me, my beliefs, thoughts, who I am!" because they do not like to be burned. No one like to put out themselves their true self out there only to be squashed by judgmental, sarcastic people. They do not like being judged because in reality they do not want to be condemned to be on the outside looking in, condemned to be a loser, a freak, or a weirdo, condemned to never belong, condemned to be who and what they are forever.
So the whole "Love me for what I am and don't try to change me" is just a defense mechanism, a way to say I am who I am and that is fine by me, and I don't care who or what I hurt being me. If they can't deal with it that's there problem.
Christians have been known ton be Judgmental and have probably added to the mess that has started this movement. As Christians we are told to Judge not or lest we be judged and we are also told to judge sin as sin.
Conflicting messages all around of if we, Christians, are to judge and if so what to judge.
The best way to look at this is to look at what Christ did when he was on earth:
One Passage is the woman caught in adultery. The woman caught in adulatory who, by the Jewish Law, was yo be stoned is brought in front f Jesus. Instead of giving the okay, Jesus says something to the crowd, or rather mob, eager to have justice. Jesus says "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." and the crowd leaves one by one starting with the older and wiser ones down to the young men till no one is left. Jesus says to he woman, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She answers, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Wow Reconciliation and Grace and no condemnation.
The Pharisees and Religious Leaders: Jesus always did this through the power of parables. Best one to look at is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Everyone knows this story but the older son is suppose to represent the Religious Leaders. Go back and reread the Passage. Jesus through the story Judges the religious leaders to come and rejoice in the lost that was found and to stop laboring for the wrong reasons. Come Join the Family Feast.
US: God spent all of the time post Gen 3 to redeem and reconcile us with Him. Back to the Garden State, the way it is supposed to be. That is why Christ dame, why He healed, Lived as man, died, and rose again. For Reconciliation of mankind, marred by the sin of their own hands, back to their God. Let me explain further in a Question, How Great is God that He not only Wipes the slate clean but throws it down to the Ocean Floor, Forgotten?
What did Christ Do he Judged them not to condemnation but to reconciliation... that's right Reconciliation!
As Christians, Little Christs, Children of God, Followers of Jesus, We are to Judge in Love to bring people to Reconciliation with God.
So Do Not Condemn, its not your Job or Place; Rather Go forth and Love and bring the lost back with you.
People always say, "Don't Judge ME! Don't attack me, my beliefs, thoughts, who I am!" because they do not like to be burned. No one like to put out themselves their true self out there only to be squashed by judgmental, sarcastic people. They do not like being judged because in reality they do not want to be condemned to be on the outside looking in, condemned to be a loser, a freak, or a weirdo, condemned to never belong, condemned to be who and what they are forever.
So the whole "Love me for what I am and don't try to change me" is just a defense mechanism, a way to say I am who I am and that is fine by me, and I don't care who or what I hurt being me. If they can't deal with it that's there problem.
Christians have been known ton be Judgmental and have probably added to the mess that has started this movement. As Christians we are told to Judge not or lest we be judged and we are also told to judge sin as sin.
Conflicting messages all around of if we, Christians, are to judge and if so what to judge.
The best way to look at this is to look at what Christ did when he was on earth:
One Passage is the woman caught in adultery. The woman caught in adulatory who, by the Jewish Law, was yo be stoned is brought in front f Jesus. Instead of giving the okay, Jesus says something to the crowd, or rather mob, eager to have justice. Jesus says "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." and the crowd leaves one by one starting with the older and wiser ones down to the young men till no one is left. Jesus says to he woman, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She answers, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Wow Reconciliation and Grace and no condemnation.
The Pharisees and Religious Leaders: Jesus always did this through the power of parables. Best one to look at is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Everyone knows this story but the older son is suppose to represent the Religious Leaders. Go back and reread the Passage. Jesus through the story Judges the religious leaders to come and rejoice in the lost that was found and to stop laboring for the wrong reasons. Come Join the Family Feast.
US: God spent all of the time post Gen 3 to redeem and reconcile us with Him. Back to the Garden State, the way it is supposed to be. That is why Christ dame, why He healed, Lived as man, died, and rose again. For Reconciliation of mankind, marred by the sin of their own hands, back to their God. Let me explain further in a Question, How Great is God that He not only Wipes the slate clean but throws it down to the Ocean Floor, Forgotten?
What did Christ Do he Judged them not to condemnation but to reconciliation... that's right Reconciliation!
As Christians, Little Christs, Children of God, Followers of Jesus, We are to Judge in Love to bring people to Reconciliation with God.
So Do Not Condemn, its not your Job or Place; Rather Go forth and Love and bring the lost back with you.
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