One more question... If sin must be hated and/or not condoned, is not the first Commandment being broken by?

Question

allowing freedom of religion to florish and allow non believers and believers of other religions and beliefs to be able to have power, freedom, and choice?Should not all Christian's fight for a true Christian state where all the laws of God are followed and inforced?If there is something to hate and as your Chrisian duty to show people the way, shouldn't you be maing it illegal to follow any other path then that of what God commands?

I need to know because I have been really trying to understand why people would say love the sinner but hate the sin and try to make laws that address those sins.Yes, homosexuality is among those I mean.I have a lot of gay friends and I think they are wonderful.I only wish I could have the loving relationships they have.

Anyway, I need to know, if Christians are suppose to do the will of God should they not bring forth a theocracy to better serve God?

This is a follow up question to this one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvpayDNLBmTa9melDuiwDU7sy6IX?qid=20061027002118AARx2nm

If Christians are suppose to honor free will, then why take away the right of two men to get married?

Or legally define marriage so that they can't even try?

Answer 1

First of all with regard to gay marriage, there's a difference between civil sanction and religious sanction. Just because a civil court recognizes a homosexual couple as married in no way means that any religious group or denomination is required to do so. Having said that, I've come to the conclusion from Scripture that homosexuality is God's way of telling someone that He wants them to remain celibate and to focus their life on serving Him. I don't think God intends for all heterosexuals to marry either, according to 1 Corinthians 7:32-35. The first question for ANYONE shouldn't be what we want, but what God wants. Of course, non-religious people will not agree, but if by nature they are non-religious, then it would seem that the ways of God would be irrelevant. But with regard to Biblical sanction for homosexual marriage, while the state is free to do what it will, and it looks like more states are lining up (New Jersey, I think?) same-sex marriage amendments, that does not nor should it mean that any religious group should be compelled to recognize same-sex marriage. And under the doctrine of church-state separation in the U.S., this couldn't happen anyway.

So what about a "theocracy", as you mentioned? Well, I spent about half my life in Southern Baptist churches, and there's no consensus even among Southern Baptists on certain issues, so if the most cohesive, conservative Christian denomination in the U.S. can't get all of its members in lockstep, who's to say the U.S. as a nation could even think of this happening? It's not going to happen, no matter how much some people want it to happen. I started growing my hair long and started listening to Christian heavy-metal while going to some of these Southern Baptist churches. Some people probably raised an eyebrow, some were probably thinking I was on the fast-track to perdition, but some probably thought it was great that I was able to relate to non-traditional people who think that all Christians are the same. Well, not even all Southern Baptists are the same, and if it won't work for the tightest-knit Christian group in the country, it won't work for anyone.

Now as for how Christians treat gays, it's a shame that so many people forget what Jesus said in John 13:35: All people would recognize His disciples by their love. Does that mean we have to agree with what they're doing or condone what they're doing? No. But we are commanded to love them with the love that Jesus puts in our hearts. And if His love isn't apparent in the lives of people who claim to be Christians, I'd question the sincerity of their faith in the first place. It's our duty as Christians to love God and love all people and to let God draw people to Himself, with His love in our lives as a catalyst. We can do absolutely nothing without Him, but a lot of people sure try to.

Answer 2

God gave everyone a free will. A free will to either follow Him or not.

Would it be good for Christians to push for a theocracy? No. Making people follow God is not a good thing. Making people say they believe in God when they don't changes nothing.

It is not biblically wrong for one man to love another man. It is wrong when they have sex. What makes people gay? The sex. I love my brother and would die for him, but in no way is this love physical. Most of the gay people I know are great people, but being great isn't going to get you into heaven.

If you look at the gay community as a whole, you won't see too many "loving relationships". I remember hearing a gay co-worker comment that a 3 day relationship in the gay community is a "long" one.

"Love the sinner, hate the sin." Just as God loves every one of us, we should love other people. No matter what people do, we should love them. "Hate the sin" does not mean hate a person that sins. We hate the sins that they commit.

If you dont look at this applying to gay people, and apply it to other sins, it seems a more comfortable of a concept. Love the drunk, hate that they drink so much. Love the murderer, hate that they killed someone. These dont sound so extreme because pretty much everyone agrees that being a drunk and murdering are wrong. Not everyone agrees that being gay is wrong, and so this sounds bad to those who dont think its wrong.

Nobody is perfect. I have broken the first commandment before. I used to smoke and I realized that cigarettes were a "god" in my life. They controlled me. God doesn't expect Christians to be perfect, he expects us to be the best we can.

Answer 3

The Christian is never called to force religion upon anyone, or to even force someone to obey the commandments. God gives us free will, and each believer should respect the freewill of others.

At the same time, God commands us to preach the Gospel and the one and only path that leads to eternal life in hope that others will listen. He tells us "Go and make disciples of all nations..."

So Christianity itself is not meant to be changed to accommodate other religious viewpoints....but we as Christians are not meant to force anyone to do anything against their will...

Just like we say hate the sin, love the sinner....in this case, you might say "Show tolerance toward the individual, but intolerance to false teachings"


Your question regarding homosexual marriage is a good one. I think one of the issues with gay marriage is that we are asking government to "sanction" it (whereas in the case of many other "sins", for instance, government is not being asked to sanction it simply by not prohibiting it). Being a Christian nation, it is important that our laws not "suffer to contradict the laws of God..." as our founders would say. But that is a different discussion altogether...

Answer 4

God gave us freedom of choose, but He will give us the punishment if we don't choose the right path.
If God has given us this freedom, why should man try to take it away. You have to come to believe in the Bible and God's words yourself. I, as a Christian, am only to tell you about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice for your sins. We are to only "tell" about it all. Not force it. God's love and understanding cannot be forced. It is like loving your own Daddy. You know that if you don't do as he says, you will be punished. So as God has created us, if we don't do as He says, we will be punished.
With this said, I also have homosexual friends, but I don't like what they do. I love them. I don't talk about their sexuality but they know that I don't condone or condemn them. That is God's job. We are not here to judge anyone. That too, is God's job.
It is the Christian duty to tell about God, Jesus, Heaven, The Holy Ghost, and the Bible. BUT, we are not supposed to judge anyone, no matter what they do or who they are. Also, God is not a God of hate. There is no such thing to a Christian, except hating sin and satan.

Answer 5

Hmmm...the first commandment is to love the Lord thy God, and have no other gods before Him!
God does hate sin...but he loves His children. But as any parent knows that if you do not discipline your child, that child soon gets out of hand & as the years go by you soon find yourself in some very bad "predictaments" where your child is doing mean & hateful things that are totally out of control, your & his/hers. God has given us the "rules" to live by for OUR GOOD!!! Not because He wants to create barriers or divisions between us, but rather to help us to understand that these "sins" hurt us in many ways!! Ultimately if we continue in our willfull sinfulness it costs us the wonderful gift of being able to be with God in heaven! For God tells us directly..." 1Corinthians 6:9 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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Answer 6

That "theocracy" that is displayed in the Bible is for Israel. If you wish to have that type of theocracy, go to Israel and build it there. All the way to Revelation, it speaks only of Israel and in Rev it says that is the ONLY place God/Jesus (however you look at that one) will be... he will not be throughout the world. Last Chapter of Rev shows there are still evildoers outside of the city, but everyone within the city is protected.... so the "Theocracy" played out in the Bible, is ALWAYS for Israel... not the entire world.

Answer 7

you can hate the action without imposing your beliefs on others. For example, I hate that Christians teach that I am going to hell for not being a Christian, but I would never take away their right to believe that. To do so would be a sin on my part.

Answer 8

God gave us free will we have no right to take it from others. we can tell them of Gods love but not make them accept it.

Answer 9

because of sin.

Answer 10

God has already made provisions to take care of all of the problems we face. According to the Bible, he will be establishing his kingdom soon. The kingdom will have Christ as its king and will rule over mankind. It will replace all human governments. Here what that Kingdom will accomplish:

Sanctify Jehovah’s name and uphold his sovereignty

Matt. 6:9, 10: “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come.’” (Here the sanctifying of God’s name is closely associated with the coming of his Kingdom.)

Ezek. 38:23: “I shall certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.” (God’s name will be cleansed of all reproach; it will be treated as holy and deserving of respect, and all who live will be persons who willingly uphold Jehovah’s sovereignty, delighting to do his will. Upon such sanctification of Jehovah’s name the peace and well-being of all the universe depend.)

Put an end to Satan’s tolerated rulership over the world

Rev. 20:2, 3: “He [the heavenly King, Jesus Christ] seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while.” (Thus mankind will be freed from the satanic influence that has made life very difficult for people who want to do what is right. Gone will be the diabolic influence that has caused acts of extreme inhumanity and the demonic influence that has filled the lives of many with fear.)

Unify all creation in worship of the one true God

Rev. 5:13; 15:3, 4: “And every creature that is in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying: ‘To the One sitting on the throne [Jehovah God] and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ] be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.’” “Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity. Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal? For all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous decrees have been made manifest.”

Bring mankind back into harmonious relationship with God

Rom. 8:19-21: “The eager expectation of the creation [humankind] is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God [the evidence that those raised to heavenly life with Jesus Christ have gone into action as rulers]. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself [mankind in general] also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Free mankind from all threat of war

Ps. 46:8, 9: “Come, you people, behold the activities of Jehovah, how he has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth.”

Isa. 2:4: “They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”

Rid the earth of corrupt rulers and oppression

Ps. 110:5: “Jehovah himself at your right hand will certainly break kings to pieces on the day of his anger.”

Ps. 72:12-14: “He [Jehovah’s Messianic King] will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.”

Provide an abundance of food for all mankind

Ps. 72:16: “There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.”

Isa. 25:6: “Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples, in this mountain [in heavenly Mount Zion, the seat of God’s Kingdom, provision for its earthly subjects will be made], a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow, of wine kept on the dregs, filtered.”

Remove sickness and disabilities of all kinds

Luke 7:22; 9:11: “Go your way, report to John what you saw and heard: the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are being told the good news.” “He [Jesus Christ] received them kindly and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those needing a cure.” (Thus Jesus demonstrated what he as heavenly King will do for mankind.)

Provide suitable homes for everyone

Isa. 65:21, 22: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.”

Assure satisfying employment for all

Isa. 65:23: “They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them.”

Guarantee security, freedom from danger to one’s person or property

Mic. 4:4: “They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble; for the very mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken it.”

Ps. 37:10, 11: “Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”

Cause righteousness and justice to prevail

2 Pet. 3:13: “There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”

Isa. 11:3-5: “He [the Messianic King] will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. . . . And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

Safeguard mankind from any injury due to natural forces

Mark 4:37-41: “Now a great violent windstorm broke out, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was close to being swamped. . . . With that he [Jesus] roused himself and rebuked the wind and said to the sea: ‘Hush! Be quiet!’ And the wind abated, and a great calm set in. . . . But they felt an unusual fear, and they would say to one another: ‘Who really is this, because even the wind and the sea obey him?’” (Thus Christ demonstrated the power that he as heavenly King will exercise over such natural elements.)

Resurrect the dead

John 5:28, 29: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice [the voice of Christ the King] and come out.”

Rev. 20:12: “I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds [those done following their resurrection; compare Romans 6:7].”

Remove all death due to inheritance of Adamic sin

Isa. 25:8: “He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.”

Rev. 21:4: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Provide a world in which people genuinely love one another

John 13:35: “By this all will know that you are my disciples [hence, in line to be Jesus’ associates in the heavenly Kingdom or earthly subjects of that Kingdom], if you have love among yourselves.”

Bring animals and humans into harmonious relationship with one another

Isa. 11:6-9: “The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain.” (Also Isaiah 65:25)

Hos. 2:18: “For them I shall certainly conclude a covenant in that day in connection with the wild beast of the field and with the flying creature of the heavens and the creeping thing of the ground, . . . and I will make them lie down in security.”

Make the earth a paradise

Luke 23:43: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”

Ps. 98:7-9: “Let the sea thunder and that which fills it, the productive land and those dwelling in it. Let the rivers themselves clap their hands; all together let the very mountains cry out joyfully before Jehovah, for he has come to judge the earth. He will judge the productive land with righteousness and the peoples with uprightness.”

Compare Genesis 1:28; 2:15; Isaiah 55:11.