tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2177116116955907629.post5008986428795199956..comments2023-05-27T06:19:59.183-07:00Comments on Life {Im}perfected: An uncharacteristically religious and political post...oops. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2177116116955907629.post-66552385909985429192014-08-05T18:27:27.257-07:002014-08-05T18:27:27.257-07:00I think I would respond to this in three parts.
1...I think I would respond to this in three parts.<br /><br />1) Your line of reasoning goes as follows: "This person was hateful against a Democrat, he must have been a conservative Christian." I think you reveal a lot of bias in that vein. Now, to be fair, roughly 75% of Americans identify as Christian, so it’s not entirely impossible that the people making those comments did so as well. On the other hand, when people wished President Bush had choked to death on pretzels, I doubt anybody thought, “Oh, those progressive Christians! So hateful!”<br /><br />The association would seem to be “Conservative = Hateful,” which is blindingly unfair. <br /><br />2) Let’s assume you’re correct, and the quoted writers do think of themselves as conservative Christians. They ought to be called on their sin and corrected for it. Bearing such hatred in one’s heart is no small matter (Matt. 5:21-26). Still, we all depend on the grace of God and the blood of Christ for redemption. My sins are not lessened because they aren’t as visible. Theirs are not magnified because I don’t struggle with those sins. Yes, we must confront sin, but we must do so in love, in an effort to help our brothers and sisters. Naked contempt does not go far in restoring a believer to right fellowship.<br /><br />All the same, perhaps these people do call themselves Christians fruitlessly. Jesus himself said many who called on His name would be cast away (Matt. 7:21-23). If this is the case, it hardly seems fair to condemn a group because of those who shamelessly abuse the name. If someone stole your car and then ran over pedestrians, should you be held accountable for their crimes?<br /><br />3) You say, “Christ accepted all.” I think you misunderstand Jesus. For example, Jesus was often condemned by the Pharisees for spending time with tax collectors and sinners. Yet Jesus responded, “It is the sick who need a physician, not the well.” (Luke 3:27-32) Note that he doesn’t ignore the sin of these people, but calls them to leave it behind.<br /><br />Consider also the case of Zaccheus. After meeting with Jesus, Zaccheus not only repented of his sins, but sought to repay those he wronged above and beyond what the Law required. (Luke 19:1-10) Contrast that with the money changers Jesus violently drove out of the Temple (John 2:14-17), or the Pharisees He regularly accused of being vipers. He did not accept all. He accepted those who believed in Him, those who turned from their sins. <br /><br />Yes, Jesus loved the whole world, giving His life for the sake of all mankind, and He calls on his followers to love all the same. Loving the way Jesus did does not mean turning a blind eye to sin. The world says that it’s hateful to condemn sin; in many cases the world even celebrates the very things God condemns in scripture. God had no kind words for those who would deliberately confuse good and evil (Isaiah 5:20). It’s not popular to recognize sin for what it is. We do a great disservice to those whom God calls to repentence when we ignore, excuse, or even celebrate sin.<br /><br />I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)<br />Halhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17985840356273623901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2177116116955907629.post-48598587409164839202014-08-01T08:28:21.323-07:002014-08-01T08:28:21.323-07:00Amen, Sister. This is exactly why I have my own is...Amen, Sister. This is exactly why I have my own issues with buying into any particular religion. I kind of think religion is the evil because people use it to justify their ill and hateful actions. Killing and terrorizing others in the name of their God. But I believe in God and I don't believe He will judge any of us for our religious choice as long as we live a life of compassion, love, and acceptance. Stepping into Motherhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278159650113398512noreply@blogger.com