And We'll Know You Are Christians by Your Love?

Question

1) Legislators in MI who refuse to pass a bill that would help make school a safe learning environment for all students because of the inclusion of sexual orientation.

2) Voters deciding to strip fellow citizens of their Constitutional rights as Americans.

3) James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Medved, Michael Savage, and a plethora of other talking heads using their bully pulpits to demonize fellow human beings.

4) Fred Phleps and family calling for the death of all GLBT citizens.

5) The Pope condemning millions of G*d's children, those created in his image.

6) Legislators in AK attempting to pass a bill to ban same-sex couples from adopting/fostering while thousands of children languish in the child services system.

7) Mark Thompson - president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes - shouting "F***ing F***got!" at my son on a daily basis.

This is how you live Christ? His love? By consciously hurting others?

Why I walked away.

Answer 1

If you use the above people as role models (or me) for model Christian behavior, you will be disappointed.

Christianity isn't about passing judgement in order to convict sinners to repentance, that is the job of the Holy Spirit. My duty, if asked, is to point the scriptures out and allow the Holy Spirit to operate within the others.

For instance, when I have had discussions with homosexuals about their sexual practices, they will ask where it specifically names homosexuallity in the Bible. For what it is worth, the word Homosexuallity is not in the Bible, but the Bible goes al around the 'men lying with men' thing. It is up to the person I am talking with to listen to the Holy Spirit to turn them to repentance (I can not save anybody, only Jesus).

What then is the responsibility of the Christian (after having the born again relationship with Jesus). To stop sinning. How does one get that power to overcome sin? By allowing the Holy Spirit to help you stop?

How do you do that? By prayer and studying the New Testament.

What are some ways to do that? There are two books that I have reread: The Pursuit of Holiness and The Pursuit of Godliness.

Am I perfect? By no means - but I am striving for it.