Page 851 … Summation Next — Point 5
“But we are merely warning gays of their imminent damnation.”
Hmmmm … Is this really as close as evangelicals can get to the perfect LOVE of their heavenly Father? (see Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4:18 + John 5:22) … Indeed, I would love for a fundamentalist to explain how it is possible for them to unconditionally LOVE who a person innately is by encouraging them (and in their case often threatening them) to become either who they are not &/or who they “could be” … And while he or she is at it, maybe that same evangelical could explain how it is possible for them to truly LOVE a person while simultaneously adoring & worshiping a God who they know will in all likelihood allow the homosexuals they are “loving” to burn forever in Hell?!?!? … Frankly, such silliness is as morally bankrupt as it is nonsensical.
My fundamentalist Friends, I am not asking you to like gays, or for you to hang out with them, or even for you to feel comfortable around them. And frankly, you can even continue to condemn their genetic makeup and even their “sinful lifestyle” if you wish (God knows I can’t stop you from doing so) … And yet make no mistake: there is no doubt whatsoever that you are definitely NOT Loving them in any viable way while you do so!
OK, I think that about sums it up once more … There were many other arguments that went abandoned and more than a few other questions that went unanswered, and yet the aforementioned five are probably the most important. And, seeing as how these five are still all WIDE OPEN – and seeing as how I am still sincerely interested in how any conservative Christian would respond to them &/or rationalize them, I invite anyone & everyone to offer me some insight into any one of them at any time …
Peace & Love to ALL, and please remember that there is indeed another Way to read the Bible that neutralizes all these ethical problems – namely, the brilliantly beautiful and most magnificent Way of Jesus Christ!
“This is my Commandment: that you Love one another in the same way I have Loved you.” ~ Jesus (John 15:12)
“Be perfect [in LOVE] therefore, just as [the LOVE] of your Father in Heaven is perfect … There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in Love.” ~ Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4:18
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love. The Lord is good to all, and his Compassion is over all that he has made.” ~ Psalm 145:8-9