Am I just that cynical?
I am a Christian. I am proud to admit that.
But I'm not a freak about it. I haven't killed one person because they don't believe like I do. I haven't bombed a single school for teaching kids that Christ was a raving lunatic that should have been committed. I haven't threatened the newspapers for printing blasphemous cartoons, even though I am offended by them.
In my neighborhood, there is a Mosque across the street from a Baptist Church which is across the street from a Presbyterian Church which is next to a Buddhist Temple. When we moved in, there were seven churches. Now there are five churches and these other two institutions. I gotta admit. When a church was sold to a Buddhist Temple so they could put up their idols, I wasn't too happy about it. But, Christ taught us to lead others to Him through love. I am working on that.
I am offended by the abomination of infanticide. It's referred to in this nation by its politically correct title, abortion. Either way it's killing babies. Eric Rudolph was a freak - blowing up abortion clinics. He missed the point. But I can't see America's point, either. People were up in arms about Scott Peterson killing an unborn child. He was charged with two counts of murder for the death of his pregnant wife Laci. Yet when anyone is concerned about the millions of unborn babies killed every year in America, they are labeled a freak because of people like Eric Rudolph.
Homosexuality is a detestable practice - labeled as such by God in the Law. And many Christians are seen as homophobic because they speak against it. But Jesus Christ taught us to love each other in His name, not hate. He ate with prostitutes, drunkards and thieves in order to teach them the truth. Teaching someone about Jesus by beating the snot out of them - or worse, killing them - just doesn't work. Sin is sin, whether your are a homosexual or you hate a homosexual.
In these verses, Jesus told us that we are not to do anything to harm a brother, even in our hearts. It is not our actions, but our motives that brings reward or condemnation. The Pharisees of Jesus' time strove to live by the law. But the law was in their minds, not in their hearts, so Jesus condemned them.
There are many today who claim the title "Christian" but do not truly have Christ in thier hearts. That is why they try to condemn others without trying first to win their souls.
I ask you, as Christians, to be humble as Christ taught us. Live your lives as if you were with Christ, for He is with you. You are in this world for a reason - to spread the Gospel as we have been commanded in Matthew 28. Humility is not humiliation. We are to be shining examples of Christ's love. Shine on!
But I'm not a freak about it. I haven't killed one person because they don't believe like I do. I haven't bombed a single school for teaching kids that Christ was a raving lunatic that should have been committed. I haven't threatened the newspapers for printing blasphemous cartoons, even though I am offended by them.
In my neighborhood, there is a Mosque across the street from a Baptist Church which is across the street from a Presbyterian Church which is next to a Buddhist Temple. When we moved in, there were seven churches. Now there are five churches and these other two institutions. I gotta admit. When a church was sold to a Buddhist Temple so they could put up their idols, I wasn't too happy about it. But, Christ taught us to lead others to Him through love. I am working on that.
I am offended by the abomination of infanticide. It's referred to in this nation by its politically correct title, abortion. Either way it's killing babies. Eric Rudolph was a freak - blowing up abortion clinics. He missed the point. But I can't see America's point, either. People were up in arms about Scott Peterson killing an unborn child. He was charged with two counts of murder for the death of his pregnant wife Laci. Yet when anyone is concerned about the millions of unborn babies killed every year in America, they are labeled a freak because of people like Eric Rudolph.
Homosexuality is a detestable practice - labeled as such by God in the Law. And many Christians are seen as homophobic because they speak against it. But Jesus Christ taught us to love each other in His name, not hate. He ate with prostitutes, drunkards and thieves in order to teach them the truth. Teaching someone about Jesus by beating the snot out of them - or worse, killing them - just doesn't work. Sin is sin, whether your are a homosexual or you hate a homosexual.
"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell "stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."
Matthew 5:21-24, The Message
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' [An Aramaic term of contempt, equivalent to 'Jerk' in modern terms.] is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."- Matthew 5:21-24, NIV
In these verses, Jesus told us that we are not to do anything to harm a brother, even in our hearts. It is not our actions, but our motives that brings reward or condemnation. The Pharisees of Jesus' time strove to live by the law. But the law was in their minds, not in their hearts, so Jesus condemned them.
There are many today who claim the title "Christian" but do not truly have Christ in thier hearts. That is why they try to condemn others without trying first to win their souls.
I ask you, as Christians, to be humble as Christ taught us. Live your lives as if you were with Christ, for He is with you. You are in this world for a reason - to spread the Gospel as we have been commanded in Matthew 28. Humility is not humiliation. We are to be shining examples of Christ's love. Shine on!
posted by ClayMan at 6:09 AM
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