3 ms·

War against people's sexual choices? Like, with bombs and guns, or a figurative war? It's interesting to look at Jesus's actions in the area. A mob brought him

by xamuel 7y ago

War against people's sexual choices? Like, with bombs and guns, or a figurative war? It's interesting to look at Jesus's actions in the area. A mob brought him a woman caught cheating on her husband. Asking, should she be put to death? They wanted to trap Jesus: if he said "Yes", he would violate Roman law, if he said "No", he would violate Jewish law. Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her." (John 8:7). After that disbursed the mob, Jesus told the woman: "Now go and sin no more." There's nothing harder to convince a man of than the fact that he's a sinner. And yet, when I finally realized that fact and asked Jesus for forgiveness, it was more liberating than anything else in this world, more liberating than I could ever have possibly imagined. When you experience something like that, you realize: the kingdom of heaven is near.

SolaceQuantum 7y ago
"War against people's sexual choices? Like, with bombs and guns, or a figurative war?" I guess it depends on what you define conversion therapy and other 'bible camp' type activities.
- xamuel 7y ago
  Pretty sure that's a vanishingly small minority of churches. BTW, did you know Jesus provided us a protocol for correcting such misguided churchmembers? You can read about it in Matthew 18:15-17. You should accept Christ as Lord and Savior and then apply this protocol against the offending church-leaders. If they refuse to listen to you, Jesus himself sanctions you treating them as outcasts!
  - SolaceQuantum 7y ago
    The sentiment against LGBTQ people is not small at all, which is why I included 'and other bible camp activities'. Just because there is a religious tenent for it doesn't mean that religion is practicing that. Catholic institutions regularly commit systematic oppression of minority demographics, most notably by depriving women of necessary healthcare and medication. Protestant institutions in many places drive systems of oppression and ostracizing of vulnerable groups- victims of domestic violence, removing agency from women, labeling LGBTQ identities as morally wrong, etc.
    - xamuel 7y ago
      Worldly morals change from decade to decade. That is why Jesus said: "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." (Matthew 7:26) In the future, things you and I do today will be considered as barbaric as the intolerant things you're talking about there. Also, in the future, things will become accepted which you and I today think are barbaric. None of Jesus's disciples do a good job of following Christ's teachings such as "Judge not, lest you be judged" (Matthew 7:1), myself included. Discipleship is a lifelong process. Now as for myself, I love LGBTQ people, and because I love them, I hope and pray they too will know the joy and love of Christ as I know it. Some of them may be offended when I say something like that, and we Christians should try (although it is difficult and we often stumble) to continue to love them even in spite of their taking offense at our loving them.
locoman88 7y ago
"...the kingdom of heaven is near." The very first Christians were told the same 2000 years ago. I wonder what they would think if they were told that they should wait at least 2000 years.
- xamuel 7y ago
  You are mistaken because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:20-21)

by xamuel 7y ago

SolaceQuantum 7y ago

"War against people's sexual choices? Like, with bombs and guns, or a figurative war?" I guess it depends on what you define conversion therapy and other 'bible camp' type activities.

xamuel 7y ago
Pretty sure that's a vanishingly small minority of churches. BTW, did you know Jesus provided us a protocol for correcting such misguided churchmembers? You can read about it in Matthew 18:15-17. You should accept Christ as Lord and Savior and then apply this protocol against the offending church-leaders. If they refuse to listen to you, Jesus himself sanctions you treating them as outcasts!
- SolaceQuantum 7y ago
  The sentiment against LGBTQ people is not small at all, which is why I included 'and other bible camp activities'. Just because there is a religious tenent for it doesn't mean that religion is practicing that. Catholic institutions regularly commit systematic oppression of minority demographics, most notably by depriving women of necessary healthcare and medication. Protestant institutions in many places drive systems of oppression and ostracizing of vulnerable groups- victims of domestic violence, removing agency from women, labeling LGBTQ identities as morally wrong, etc.
  - xamuel 7y ago
    Worldly morals change from decade to decade. That is why Jesus said: "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." (Matthew 7:26) In the future, things you and I do today will be considered as barbaric as the intolerant things you're talking about there. Also, in the future, things will become accepted which you and I today think are barbaric. None of Jesus's disciples do a good job of following Christ's teachings such as "Judge not, lest you be judged" (Matthew 7:1), myself included. Discipleship is a lifelong process. Now as for myself, I love LGBTQ people, and because I love them, I hope and pray they too will know the joy and love of Christ as I know it. Some of them may be offended when I say something like that, and we Christians should try (although it is difficult and we often stumble) to continue to love them even in spite of their taking offense at our loving them.

locoman88 7y ago

"...the kingdom of heaven is near." The very first Christians were told the same 2000 years ago. I wonder what they would think if they were told that they should wait at least 2000 years.

xamuel 7y ago
You are mistaken because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:20-21)