That might seem like a ridiculous question, but then again, why are some Christian groups trying to protect the rights of straight kids to do just that to gay kids?
Apparently, there is a school of thought that goes something like "toughen them up when they're young and they'll walk the straight and narrow when they're older."
If you have some doubt in your mind about the wisdom of that last statement (I hope you don't becuase I think it reeks of ignorance), then I refer you back to the original question:
Would Christ bully a gay child?
The answer is no, he would show him or her the same unconditional love he shows all the straight kids.
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How much more proof do we need that these radical Right Wing organizations that brandish the name of Jesus Christ have nothing whatsoever to do with Him or His teachings? When it comes to LGBT people, they don't hesitate to shamelessly break God's commandment that we should love one another as He loved us. The NARTH membership should feel fortunate that we live under the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, blasphemers and lawbreakers were often struck down in their tracks!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who identifies as a male to female transsexual, I vividly remember being bullied and made fun of because I wasn't quite boy enough. It hurt then and it hurts now to see these nutcases advocating something along these lines. While it's taken a long time for the scars to heal, my belief in God and knowing that Jesus woulldn't have done such things have helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteAs I like to say, Jesus is about love, compassion, understanding and open mindedness. Jesus loves us all, even those who do the most un-Jesus like things. I'm at peace with who and what I am and confident that Jesus stands by me.
Let's not forget that while Jesus was loving and compassionate, He was certainly NOT open-minded about sin. To the woman at the well He "snooped around" in her personal life, chastising her for her many marriage failures; to the woman caught in adultery He said, "Go and SIN NO MORE!"; and to the profiteers in the temple He screamed at the top of His lungs while brandishing a whip.
ReplyDeleteI'm not advocating bullying gays, but I AM SAYING that there's nothing wrong with confronting their sin. Jesus did it, so should we.
Of couse, one critical difference between us (ALL of us) and Jesus is that He had the authority, the moral high ground, to rebuke anyone and everyone for their sins. We'd all be better off if Christians spent less time rebuking and more time reaching out in love and understanding, allowing God to speak through those actions and not substituting man's judgement for His.
ReplyDeleteJim, you suggest that only Jesus has the moral authority to rebuke (which is an easy out for you, because since Jesus ain't here, no one can confront you). Apparently you need to review the Bible again. Let me help you:
ReplyDelete1 Tim 5:20-22
Those who are sinning REBUKE in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
2 Tim 4:2-3
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, REBUKE, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Titus 1:13-14
This testimony is true. Therefore REBUKE them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and REBUKE with all authority. Let no one despise you.
As Paul says so well in Romans 6:1-6, grace is no excuse for continuing to practice sin. In fact, he says "How can you who died to sin, still live in it?"
But apparently you guys think you can.
It's interesting, Anonymous, that you don't site the most important verse, as it appears in the Ten Commandments (unlike your emphasis on "judging" and "condemning): "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Exodus 20:16) Same-sex love is nowhere condemned in the Ten Commandments (or by the prophets or by Jesus. Indeed, it's not even mentioned in these contexts, and if were that important it would likely have been mentioned in these contexts. (I submit that it is nowhere condemned anywhere in Scripture, but I've already sent you an article I wrote on this subject that, apparently, you have yet to read.)
ReplyDeleteYour postings indicate such a deeply entrenched prejudice that I think any facts presented would be either ignored or "transcended" by you at the present time. I urge you to give yourself permission to examine "the other side" more assiduously and form your own conclusions, devoid of any preconceived ideas or prejudices.
If Conservative Judaism is likely to authorize same-sex unions and ordination of lesbians and gay men, it might give you pause as much of the "justification" for anti-LGBT rhetoric by professing Christians comes from the Torah, books dear to our roots in the faith.
(I submit that it is nowhere condemned anywhere in Scripture, but I've already sent you an article I wrote on this subject that, apparently, you have yet to read.)
ReplyDeleteOh, I've read it. You take some wonderful liberties in interpreting God's truth right out of existence. You and I both know that the ScriptureS DO speak very frankly about the sin of homosexuality. You have simply chosen to whitewash the truth to suit your own agenda, thereby erasing God's Word from His own Word.
((Your postings indicate such a deeply entrenched prejudice that I think any facts presented would be either ignored or "transcended" by you at the present time.))
Not prejudice, sir. Conviction, based on Scripture. I happen to have a gay brother-in-law whom I love very much. But that doesn't mean that I will accept his sinful lifestyle anymore than I will accept my sister's rampant promiscuity. I love them both dearly, but I certainly cannot love their sin.
((I urge you to give yourself permission to examine "the other side" more assiduously and form your own conclusions, devoid of any preconceived ideas or prejudices.))
You are making some LARGE assumptions: chiefly, that to hold my position means I am ignorant of "the other side", and that if I were to only read the other side I would most certainly come to the same conclusion as you.
Well, my friend, I have studied Scripture every day for 25 years at the professional level, and I can say with certainty that the Bible condemns homosexuality in the same way that it condemns my practice of murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and a whole host of other equal sins.
God's grace doesn't mean that He overlooks or re-interprets His own Word....it means that He offers me unmerited forgiveness, PLUS a repentant heart to boot.
Micky Cohen (the famous gangster) once asked: "Why can't I just be a Christian gangster?" The answer is that Christ in me produces radical change. Righteousness and holiness become new tools in my walk through life. And God has very clearly said that continuing to bootleg and kill people (ala Cohen) while professing to know Christ is a fraud. He could no more be a Christian gangster than you can be a Christian homosexual.
The clear difference between us is simply this: I accept God's Word for what it says about this issue; you don't, you choose to re-interpret it to say something OTHER THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS.
I am always impressed by people who show up here and other places knowing the "ultimate truth" and what is absolutely right and wrong in God's eyes. I am deeply moved that they take tiime to share their knowledge gained from moral certainty with those of us who are not blessed with the enlightenment they have.
ReplyDeleteOf course, no person on earth truly understands the fullness of God's will and plan for mankind. The people who act like they do only make their ignorance more obvioius.