Originally posted by beanieboy
May I ask you a question?
Of those of whom you speak, they often quote not calling light darkness, and darkness light, to love what is right, and abhor what is evil.
But it seems that these people who claim this are actually doing that - calling love hatred and weakness, and calling callousness, hatred, death wishes, etc., love.
What do you think?
Read Romans 9. They take one verse... out of context... without reading the whole thing.
Living Sacrifices to God
Christians Should Lead Transformed Lives
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Behave Like a Christian
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
20 Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Please read the WHOLE passage. I am not defending you, beanie. You are not asking me to. I do not think that homosexual behaviour is God's plan for your life or anyone else's. I think you have sold yourself short of what God intended you to be and for that I am sorry. But my take on this is that I should continue to love you and to interact with you even if you spit in my face (which you haven't).
But they seem to think that calling you names or condemning you to death is going to scare you into the kingdom of God. Let love be without hypocrisy means not that we hate all people who sin because we would have to hate everyone including ourselves. It means we should look in the mirror before God and ask Him to cleanse ME... not the other guy. I can never live your life for you, beanie. I can't live it for Poly or for smaller or anyone.
But as far as it depends on me I can be at peace with God and with all people. They may reject me and my Christainity (many have). But I do not need to seek to be offended. That is masochism. That is unhealthy. Yes, I have suffered as a Christian, but I don't go looking to make people hate me. I try to build bridges to them rather than burn all my bridges behind me. I think that that (in context) is what the Bible teaches. It is very dangerous to just throw around carefully selected proof-texts that support one's point of view. That is why we have all kinds of abherent groups calling themselves Christians like the JWs and others.
I can still hate evil and love the person who does it. Jesus did it with every person he met. He loved Peter and hated his sin, he loved the woman at the well and hated her sin, he loved the woman caught in adultery and hated her sin, he loves me and hates my sin. He loves Poly and hates her sin. He loves you and hates your sin. If Christians can't love sinners, we have to hate every person on the planet and we would be the most despicable people in existence. But to a true Christian hate will never be love.
Well you ask for an answer and got a sermon... but I hope it makes sense.
Blessings.