There is a distrubing trend here in the good old USA that should stop. I see it in the news, online, posted in comments. With the exception of the first one I have posted their signs through out this blog. So you can see for yourself. It's hateful people who claim to be on the side of God. I say they don't know the God of the bible. They wage wars against the very sinners Jesus died for.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.---Ephesians 6:12
And again in the same book of the bible.
Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23
Let me take a moment to make something else clear. Only God knows for certain where that young man will spend enternity. Remember the thief on the cross. Humor me and read the words I underlined out loud.
See that, in just moments this man repented. Jesus, forgave him immediately. Promising that the thief would be with him in paradise. We should never say that we know for certain someone is in hell. We should warn people if they don't repent, of their sins they will go to hell. That should be done with love, not judgment. Our God is merciful and takes every opportunity to save.
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.--Psalm 139:13
Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.--Psalm 119:73
So how did Jesus handle the sinner?
When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?"--Mark 2:16
"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.--Matthew 21:32
Wow, even after they saw the sinners turn their lives around they still rejected Jesus. They preferred instead to hate and kill the sinner than to reach out to them. Would you come to Jesus based on hatred or love?
They said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:4-7
Ever committed a sin? Ever been forgiven? Then drop the stones and the signs of hate. Break bread by sharing the word of life and your testimony. How much God loves them and will forgive them too. Hate the sin, but love the sinner.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. --I Corinthians 6:9-11
|
AMEN GIRLFRIEND!! It is my job to love and GOD's job to do any changing (if needed) in someone else's life.
Blessings,
andrea
Amen!!!!
Analisa, did you know that most of the people holding those signs belong the same church? I forget where. They travel around doing that. Here in FL, guys on motorcycles ride up and down the road and in front of these kinds of protests. (Most of them are veterans.) I agree with your words.
Amen, and again I say AMEN! There are no words for the grief the families of the dead soldier must have endured. Our God is a merciful and faithful and loving God....I hope people do not judge Him or His by such as these picketers.
Karen's correct -- they call themselves a 'Baptist' church but do not follow doctrine that has been known as Baptist for centuries. The membership consists mostly of one family, the pastor's. The funerals they hound are not of gay soldiers, but all soldiers -- they say the soldiers died because America has gays. They do not make sense, but are making money in court. Jesus himself told us why he came:
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. [Luke 19:10 KJV]
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [John 10:10 KJV]
Hatred has no place in Christianity.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [1 John 4:20 KJV]
I so agree with you. We need to pray for these deceived ones who think they are acting in God's behalf, but are really a tool of the devil to cause division and stir up trouble.
I'm so glad you posted about this. James N. Watkins has an article on his website about this same topic.
This gets right to the point! We are not to judge, that is God's job. We do not have to like the sin, but the sinner is still a child of God, and will be judged by Him in the end. Our job is to pray for the salvation and repentance of the sinner, not to condemn him. Great post!
It is such a disturbing trend. You handled this post with beautiful sensitivity, when so easily you could have fallen into the same trap the haters are in.
Amen. Very powerful post.
Thank you Analisa.
I just wanted to say that the title of you blog says it all. We as believers must reach out to the lost souls of this world. Jesus said to love our neighbor as ourself. You will never be able to witness for Christ if you show "hate" in your heart. Thank you for sharing this post with us. God's blessings. Lloyd