Page 274 … turning The Word rightside out
Next you attempt to stretch Matthew 5:22 to fit your judgmental worldview, and yet Jesus himself would have clearly frowned upon such an endeavor. Note in this verse that the cause of the “judgment” Jesus mentions is “anger” – anger, which is nothing more than crystallized fear – another form of which is arrogance – another form of which is judgemental bigotry … And note as well (beware, even) Jesus’ call for us to refrain from calling each other “fool” – which is essentially what you & yours are doing to homosexuals whenever you claim that their sins are somehow more worthy of being criticized than your own (again, my Friend, please refer earnestly to Matthew 7:1-5!) …
My dear Lucy, at least as far as Jesus himself was concerned, neither he (John 12:47) nor his heavenly Father (John 5:22) have ever judged anyone for any sin – nor will they ever do so. Indeed, according to Jesus himself, it was “The Word” that did the judging (John 12:48) – with “word” in these verses being the Greek Logos; commonly understood in Jesus’ day to refer to the Divine Wisdom that permeated all beings in all situations – a Divine Wisdom that did mete out consequences for poor choices, and yet a Divine Wisdom that had no desire or inclination to give out more than what was due – and certainly never casting sinners into eternal torment!!!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through it, and without it not one thing came into being. What has come into being in it was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” ~ John 1:1-5
“If you continue in my Word [i.e. consistently apply my teachings], then you are truly my disciples; and you will thereby know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 8:31-32)
“At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them shall call on the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord.” ~ Zephaniah 3:9
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