An invitation to come take a stand.

Won't be able to make it but please give my regards to Reverend Phelps.

 

Sorry Jailminister,

We'll be too busy here in Atlanta providing lemonade to the Pride marchers (and marching with them) to fly to Texas and contribute to your misrepresentation of the gospel.

Joshua

(who is, in fact, on his way to the print shop to pick up the Pride brochures)

 

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

Jailminister,
I will be praying for you and your group. I hope that many will be saved.

 

Why don’t you create some signs that say, “God loves homosexuals”?

That’s a better representation of the gospel.

 

Because that leads them to falsely believe that what they are doing is acceptable to God so why should they repent of their SIN.

 

Because that leads them to falsely believe that what they are doing is acceptable to God so why should they repent of their SIN. </font>[/QUOTE]It wouldn’t falsely lead them to believe that if you actually built relationships with people who consider themselves homosexual. Furthermore, don’t you think homosexuals have heard so much judgment from those alleging to be Christians that they might want to hear the good news that God loves them?

If you fail to tell sinners (and we are all sinners) about the grace of God then you are distorting the gospel and are doing more harm than good. And that's an abomination before God!

Romans 2
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

 

But that’s not the real issue here.

My point is that if you are going to state your position (allegedly speaking for God) with signs, you need to say more than just “Homosexuality is a sin”. You also need to say that “God loves homosexuals”. If you don’t, you have corrupted the message of the gospel and are undermining the kingdom.

I’m beginning to suspect that the real issue here may be that you actually don’t love homosexuals yourself (possibly even hate them) and your “witness” to them is an expression of hateful judgment instead of a true outreach.

Your association with Dr. Phelps (isn’t he the man who perverts the gospel with the “God hates fags” protests?) tends to support my suspicion.

 

Sorry, but I will be doing my own part for the heterosexual community by going out on a date on Saturday night.

 

I have never met Fred Phelps. I will not judge him, for he will have to answer to God for what he believes and does. </font>[/QUOTE]Okay. Your earlier response gave me the impression that you might be working with him or at least supported his actions.

I see.

I know several persons who openly considered themselves homosexuals and I have had a much different experience. Some of them are hostile to God, some are hostile to Christians (because of people like Fred Phelps) but seem to be very open to Christ, and others who consider themselves Christians.

I have two male friends who consider themselves homosexual. One was formerly in college and seminary with me and now considers himself a non-Christian because he is of the opinion that a Christian would not face homosexual temptation – he’s also apparently been traumatized by some Christians who treated him with disgust instead of compassion. The other friend remains very close and is living a celibate life. He seems to be coming to terms with the temptations he faces and seems to be going through a slow spiritual revolution in his life. About 2 years ago he seemed ready to completely leave church life but a gay-friendly Disciples of Christ outreach to homosexuals reached out to him and pointed him back toward God. Through their influence, he realized that God loves him whatever his state and it invigorated his spiritual life. I’ve also had a chance to be a friend to him and have affirmed him as a person loved of God. I make no bones about my understanding the homosexual sexual relations are sinful, but he also knows that I be his friend even if he yields to temptation.

If it is possible for people to find freedom from the temptations of homosexuality (I certainly think its possible), it is going to be through caring relationship of Christians who share and live the good news of the gospel before them. There is certainly a need for believers to say that homosexuality is sin. But to stop there is incomplete and a perversion of the gospel. The fullness of the gospel requires that Christians present the message that God loves homosexuals and that there is freedom and grace in Christ.

Sure, David says that God hates workers of evil (that is, sinners).

Well can all find proof-texts to support certain positions including violence against innocent children in war (Psalm 137), but the broad message of scripture is that God loves sinners and has given Himself for their sake.

The fullest expression of God’s character is found in Jesus (see the beginning of Hebrews 1) and we see in Jesus an incredible love for sinners (compassion, not anger) and contempt for religious sinners who use religion to exclude needy sinners, diminish God or destroy others.

 

Psalms 5:5 is perfectly clear, but what does the very next verse say? It says that God will deal with the evil doers. I've never seen anything in the Bible telling me to protest sinners in public. From my understanding, I'm told to seperate myself.

If you truly feel that they've already been turned over to a reprobate mind, then wouldn't the better course of action be to ignore them? Every time we, as Christians, show up to protest the gays, we are playing right into their hands. The homosexual community wants to play the pitiful mistreated minority card, and we are giving them the fuel they need to burn that fire. If we start ignoring them, and quit drawing attention to them, maybe we can finally get them out of the headlines. Just my opinion.

Love in Christ,
Larry

 

Jail,

If you really want to make a distance, why don't you actually sit down with some of the marchers and ask them what would be the best way for you to communicate your love for them without indicating your support for their sexual orientation?

Joshua

 

joshua do you consider pride a sin?

 

Do they (all homosexuals) actually love sin or commit sin? Do you sin? If you do, do you love it?
Are you without sin? If all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, then you must have sin in your life. So, do you love it?